Dragens Fire

Bonds of Justice 3: Dragen’s Fire Elayne S. Venton All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2005 Elayne S. Venton

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Chapter One “What’s so hot on the monitors that you missed dinner again, Tasha?” Julliet set a warm bowl in front of the new head security officer, then glanced up at the bank of surveillance screens. “Ever since Shaneal’s disappearance, I’m afraid I’ll miss something.” Julliet gripped the back of the only other chair in the control room, wishing she could put Tasha at ease, but she was as tense as everyone else. “Have you discovered anything new?” “No. Has Pandora?” Julliet sighed. “No. She’s reviewing all angles though.” No brothel owner worried more about her employees than Pandora. Healing Waters offered plush lounges, private theme rooms for every taste, fine cuisine, rare liquors, and the most sensational, highly compensated sex caterers on Callisto. Customers and employees alike praised the lavish offerings. No one left without notice. Something vile had happened to Shaneal and the unidentified threat upset everybody. “You can’t work nonstop, Tasha. Let another officer relieve you.” “Not yet.” Arguing was useless. Julliet scanned the 3D images on each monitor and the bio data feed streaming below each one. Even though the employees enjoyed their work, sometimes a client pushed them too far and only their bio scans signaled a warning. “Kelty looks like she’s having a hard time of it tonight. Ten mentrons into the appointment and her pulse is skyrocketing.” She leaned closer and squinted at the screen. “That male’s suction cup fingertips are leaving red circles all over her skin.”

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Tasha enlarged the bio record. “He’s made her come four times already. Her heart rate is a bit erratic but staying in an acceptable risk zone.” She spun her chair to face Julliet. “Have you ever had a Marsh dweller?” “No.” “They’re rough lovers, but when those finger cups tug hard on your nipples and he slithers his long, forked tongue into your cunt, the jolt will shatter you. It’s the orgasmic trip of a lifetime.” “I don’t care how fantastic he is. He’d better not bruise her.” Tasha activated multiple camera angles within the room and turned up the sound. Kelty’s hard pants echoed into the security office. Lying on her back, face flushed, the young sex caterer spread her legs wider as the rough skinned male pounded his cock into her. She stretched her neck, released a long, deep groan, and rode out another long orgasm. When Kelty’s trembling body finally relaxed, she stared up at the ceiling, puffing hard. “Dear gods,” she breathed. The thick ringed shaft tugged at the moist folds of her inflamed pussy as he slowly withdrew. Her cream dripped off the dark twitching cock onto the sheet between her legs. Kelty grabbed his forearm. “My customers don’t leave disappointed. You paid for ejaculation.” Her nails raked down his leathery belly until her hand closed around the slick, muddy green penis. The alien tilted his head back revealing sharp yellow teeth in a feral smile. Kelty leaned up and stroked him with knuckle white pulls from the base to the tapered tip. A gurgling growl vibrated his throat. He flung her backwards and guided his cock back to her entrance. He flexed his hips, his ass bunching tight, and in one thrust, he rammed hard, sinking deep. Kelty emitted a soft whimper. He drove into her faster, plunging in and out while his fingers pulled at her taut nipples. His hips slapped her raised thighs over and over, the force of his thrusts pitching her body back again and again. Beneath his arched belly, Kelty’s breasts jiggled and her stomach quivered. His smile grew. His forked tongue fluttered through his wide lips with each shove of his powerful thighs.

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Milky white slime drizzled from the corner of his mouth and splattered onto Kelty’s collarbone. The sex caterer clamped her fingers around the edges of the thick pad beneath her, her eyes clenched tight. In the security office, Julliet dug her nails into the cushioned chair back. “Thank goodness I quit before all these creeps found Callisto. They bring more income for the House, but more hassles too.” Tasha nodded in agreement. “Which is why I keep missing my meals.” She gulped down a spoonful of hearty stew. “Kelty deserves my full attention.” “I’ll ask Pandora to schedule a long break for her.” Without constant nurturing, everyone at Healing Waters had the potential to grow cynical and bitter. The hardworking souls here needed her. Otherwise, she would’ve left long ago. “Speaking of the little lady, she’s behind closed doors with Steele again.” Julliet shook her head. “It drives you crazy when you can’t spy on the boss and her man, doesn’t it?” A frown burrowed between Tasha’s brows. “I keep telling her she should at least have her rooms wired for sound, especially since Shaneal disappeared right under our noses. Her office and quarters are the only two unsecured places in the whole complex.” On screen six, Kelty mouthed, “Finish it.” “Beg me, slut,” the Marsh dweller growled, slobbering over her chest. Kelty winced. “Please, come.” The words could hardly be heard above her harsh breathing. “Louder.” He lifted the back of her head and glared at her. “Tell me how much you want my hot jism shooting into your cunt.” “Yes, yes! Pump your cum into me! Please!” Julliet clenched her teeth. Subconsciously, she fingered the thick scar covering her left cheek and half her nose. Kelty’s pleas triggered the memory of Julliet’s shock when a disgruntled client’s laser slashed across her face, burning the skin and slicing to

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the bone. She’d been fond of the man, respected his position as a foreman at the drilling site, thought he truly liked her, but like so many others before him, he’d deceived her. Then and there, she’d opted to end her prostitution career. Rather than escape the memory through reconstructive surgery, she wore the scar every day to remind her what happens when you let your guard down and lose control of a situation. She stayed at Healing Waters to lend emotional support to the workers, vowing no one else would be hurt like she’d been. “She’s in pain. He has ten sentrons to come before I blare the alarm into the room.” Tasha cocked her head at Julliet. “You’re one hell of a guardian angel. No wonder Pandora refused to let you go after… your accident.” “The longer I’m here, the less tolerant I become,” Julliet grumbled. The deep grunts of the alien snagged her attention. He widened Kelty’s legs, pushed them back, and pressed her ankles to her ears. His cock jabbed in and out of her red swollen pussy, deeper and deeper, faster and faster. Tears streamed from Kelty’s eyes. A deep gurgle rolled up the alien’s ribbed throat and he slammed in one last time. Tremors shook the client’s thighs. As soon as he stilled, he pulled his soaked shaft from Kelty and released her. He ogled her with disdain as her limbs flopped onto the bed. “Humans are so fragile. Nice tight cunt though. Here’s a tip.” He flicked his tongue over her inflamed pussy and laughed when her hips jerked up off the bed. Without another word, the alien tugged on a coarse pair of pants and a vest and sauntered out of the room. Kelty turned her face away from the pinhole vid camera and wheezed ragged breaths. A small measure of relief relaxed Julliet’s shoulders. “Whoa,” Tasha exclaimed. “Look what just walked in the front door. Be still my heart.” She switched the sound from Kelty’s room to the entrance. Soft music filtered into the control room. Julliet raised her brows at the perfect male specimen who graced the foyer of Healing Waters. Most customers left her cold, but no female could ignore this gorgeous male. The first thing she noticed about him was his shoulder length pure white hair -­

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identical to hers before she dyed it a bright pink. She fingered her long braid while she studied him. A Shoni on Callisto? White eyebrows arched over deep-set eyes. He rubbed a dark tanned hand over his smooth square jaw while he scanned the room. The long straight nose, chiseled cheeks, and white hair convinced her. It had been so long since she’d seen one of her mother’s people. Not many ventured off Terras Five since the Oskii War decimated their world. They were too busy rebuilding the planet. What was he doing here? One of the greeters rushed across the marble floor and dipped her head. “How may I service you, sir?” “Pandora requested my presence.” Surprise sizzled along Julliet’s spine. Pandora didn’t entertain customers. So why had she sought out this stranger? The greeter sashayed away, whispering to the others in the adjacent common room as she searched out Pandora. While he waited, his legs spread in an at ease stance and his hands hung loosely at his sides. His skintight black spacesuit outlined every muscular twitch of impatience in his broad shoulders. He rolled his neck and spotted the tiny video ball in the ceiling. Even though she knew he couldn’t see her, Julliet backed away from his scrutiny. “Daunting, isn’t he?” Tasha narrowed the field of view and scanned him from head to toe. “Perrrrfect.” Her heartbeat skipped. Yes, he certainly was. The view of the man wavered then filled with snow and static. Tasha cursed. All the other screens worked fine. Julliet wondered if the Shoni’s unique powers were interfering with the electronics. Just what they needed -- more trouble. Meanwhile, on screen six, Kelty had disappeared from view. She pushed the Shoni from her mind. “I’m going to check on Kelty. Finish your dinner before it gets cold.”

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Murmuring under her breath, Tasha pushed her plate out of the way and fiddled with the controls of the malfunctioning video stream. Julliet heaved a sigh and closed the door behind her. She took the employee chute down to the fourth floor and walked along the gallery, gazing over the half wall into the atrium below. The unclaimed sex caterers milled about in a dazzling array of colorful exotic outfits, the females showcasing sensuous curves, peeks of breasts, nipples, and asses while the males wore sheer thongs or cock cages to entice the clients. If she strolled among the vibrant group crowded around the Shoni, would he notice her at all? Once she would have struck awe into the visitors with her long legs, lush curves, and sultry smile. Since she’d quit selling her body, she no longer needed to flaunt her body in nipple-peeking bodices, low slung pants with a cutout for her well rounded ass, skintight Lycra, or shimmering translucent dresses. For the first time in a long time, she missed parading around in sexy clothes that lit a client’s eyes and made her feel wanted. Not just any client. Him. Even from a distance, the sexual allure of the visitor wrapped around her senses. Her skin felt alive. On fire. She wondered how he smelled -- musky, tangy, woodsy, or salty like the ocean beneath Callisto’s surface? Did his hand feel smooth or calloused when he caressed Sonja’s face? She wanted to peel off his flight suit slowly, reveal the muscular bulges from his shoulders to his calves, then rub her breasts over every centimeter of his body… Julliet shook her head. Goosebumps rose on her arms. This man held a strange appeal. No wonder the others, much closer to the male, reacted so strongly to him. As if sensing her perusal, the Shoni looked up at Julliet. His mouth dropped open. Accustomed to stares, Julliet stared back. If her face shocked him, he didn’t have to be so rude and gawk. He refused to drop his gaze. Awkwardness seeped into the stare down. Julliet backed away from the railing, not far enough to break eye contact but enough to let him know she’d stay out of his way. His sea of adoring admirers parted as Pandora approached. His open jaw closed and reluctantly he turned his

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attention to the owner, kissing her cheeks and whispering into her ear. Pandora glanced up, smiled at Julliet, then led the man away. Relief relaxed Julliet’s shoulders. Watching the pair walk away, Julliet had to smile at Pandora’s choice of a glittery navy backless gown, held together by a thin cord at her neck and waist, which displayed her bare crimson buttocks. It appeared Steele had been spanking his naughty Earthling. Julliet wandered down the hall to Kelty’s room. She knocked once and let herself in. “Kelty?” At first glance, the bedroom appeared empty, but she heard water running. Judging by the fogged bathroom door, Kelty had rushed to wash the creature’s fluids from her body. Ugh. She couldn’t blame her. “Kelty? It’s Julliet.” She slid the door open. Warm steam billowed into her face. “Are you all right?” She headed toward the large open shower secluded behind a curved glass panel. A prickly sensation touched the back of her neck as soon as she stepped around the enclosure. Too late to turn back! Someone grabbed her arm, twisting it high behind her back. Before she could spin around to see her attacker, her body flew against the tiled wall beneath the water spray. Her palms slipped along the slick surface and her forehead smacked the glass tiles. Dazed, she twirled around. The tip of a laser gun penetrated the fog. She screamed and ducked. Tiles exploded, raining pebbles of pink glass onto her head. Boots sloshed away. The cascading water and billowing steam concealed her attacker. Fumbling to her feet, she stepped out of the basin, hugging the wall even though she knew he was gone. With a deep breath of courage, she rushed out of the bathroom. Cool air brushed over her sodden gown, shocking her heated skin. She nearly tripped over the dragging hem as she charged through the bedroom and out the open door. A white haired demon smacked her spine against the side of the hall, holding her there with the full length of his body, his wild-eyed gaze shuffling between her and the

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open doorway. Stunned, Julliet froze, her brain unable to sort out the Shoni’s unexpected presence. “Are you all right? What happened?” His deep voice rumbled in his chest. He pushed long sodden pink strands of hair from her face and cupped her cheeks in his palms. Julliet sucked in a breath, and her eyes widened. No one had touched her face since its disfigurement. Crystal blue eyes, full of concern, trapped her. Time slowed. The heat of his hands infused her skin, softening her initial resistance. Unbidden desire fluttered low in her belly, catching her unaware. The attraction surprised her more than the laser gun had. This was just not like her. Her pulse beat wildly. Heat poured off his body and a heavy thigh pressed between her legs. Without a thought, her body melted against him. His hands slipped to her shoulders, holding her up. His compassionate gaze darted to the scar his palms had hidden. She stiffened at the question in his eyes and turned the blemish from his view. She wiggled for freedom. “The culprit is getting away!” Strong fingers gripped her chin and turned her face back to him. He searched her eyes, soul deep, as only a Shoni could. Julliet shivered, recognizing the Wind Spirit -the power of an empath -- swirling in the depths of his eyes, a tempest seeking to blow away her secrets and expose her inner self. “Who are you running from?” Oh, such a double edged question! “No one. I must speak with the madam!” She blocked his sensitive probing and pushed hard on his solid shoulders. “Release me!” He didn’t budge, spellbound by her face. The pounding of feet running toward her from both ends of the hall saved her from further scrutiny. Pandora’s anxious voice reached her above all the squawking. “Julliet! Are you injured?” “No. Get this ruffian off me.” The words sounded harsher than she intended, but the scorching contact with his body made her edgy. Hungry.

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The Shoni took a step back, his brows pulled down in confusion. Julliet pushed off the wall and faced Pandora and Steele. “I came to check on Kelty. Someone was hiding in the bathroom.” The Shoni’s gaze skimmed her wet clinging clothes as if he’d just realized Julliet was soaked to the skin. “Did he attack you?” Conscious of the customers in the gathering crowd, she lowered her voice. “He shot at me. I think he took Kelty. I couldn’t see through the steam.” “I didn’t see anyone on the gallery or in the air lift between floors.” The Shoni ducked into the bedroom. Steele rushed in behind him, armed with a hand laser. Julliet held her breath while the men searched the room. The Shoni came out right away with a satiny bedcover. He doubled it up and wrapped it snugly around Julliet’s shoulders, then stood behind her, rubbing her arms for warmth. “You’ll be all right,” he said softly into her ear. She glanced over her shoulder at him, unsure why he comforted her or why it felt so right. How easy it would be to lean back against his solid chest and relinquish herself into his protective embrace. Safe… Was she crazy? No male ever protected her. At least not without expecting a reward. Steele reappeared. “All clear.” “Kelty’s gone?” Pandora whispered. He nodded. “I’ll have security sweep for her bio signs.” “Thank you.” Pandora turned to the crowd of sex caterers, customers, and general employees. “We’ve had a little mishap, but it’s under control. Sorry for the disruption. The main spa is free for the rest of the evening. Enjoy a relaxing soak or an invigorating jet massage with or without a companion. Healing Waters caters to your every need.” As soon as the throng drifted away, Julliet stepped forward and addressed Pandora. “The attacker must have taken the stairs. There’s no other way.” Pandora bent over the railing. “I’ve been meaning to cut this heavy vine.”

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Julliet shook her head. “He couldn’t have gone down that way encumbered with Kelty.” The Shoni cocked his head as if to say he could do it. “No, he couldn’t,” Pandora agreed. “Since Dragen climbed up it.” She raised a brow at the Shoni. “In record time, I might add.” Her visitor shrugged, indifferent to his feat. Julliet gaped at the Shoni. “We’re four floors up!” While she admired his rope climbing skills, he’d wasted time detaining her instead of going after her attacker. “If you’d taken the stairs, you could’ve stopped him.” “You’re probably right.” He didn’t look chagrined at all. The man smiled. “But then I wouldn’t have run into you.” Julliet huffed in disgust. In the midst of a crisis, the man flirted, with her, of all people. Steele closed his com unit with a snap. “No sign of Kelty. Either someone’s blocking her bio signal or --” Pandora shuddered and Julliet felt the ripple to her toes. “Please, Steele,” Pandora said, leaning on his arm. “Don’t think that. There are lots of places on Callisto where a signal fades. We’ll search every crater if we have to.” “I’ll put together a search team, love.” Pandora perched on her tiptoes and kissed her lover on the mouth. “You’re the best.” A stab of jealousy caught Julliet unaware. She’d never been envious of Pandora and Steele before. What was wrong with her? “Dragen, Julliet, come with me to the security office.” Pandora led the way. Why the heck was the Shoni accompanying them? Julliet gathered the sagging satin covers and her wet dress hem in her fist, lifted the heavy mass above her ankles, and followed Pandora. The Shoni followed her. She could swear his gaze honed in on her sodden backside the whole way to the top floor.

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Inside the security room, Tasha slouched back in her chair, crossed ankles propped up on the console, calmly finishing her meal. The three entrants stared at her. “What are you doing?” Pandora demanded. “I missed dinner.” Tasha frowned and sat up straighter, the nearly empty bowl in her lap. “I just finished correcting a sequence of minor malfunctions.” “We have a kidnapper loose in the complex. Haven’t you been tracking him?” Tasha stared blankly. “A kidnapper?” With a furious grumble, Pandora rolled Tasha’s chair back. Her fingers flew over the keyboard, searching the files for the estimated time of the incident. On monitor six, the Marsh dweller left Kelty’s room. Soon after, Kelty trudged into her bathroom. “No one notified me of a problem,” Tasha complained. She peered at Julliet for backup. “No one saw anything to report,” Julliet said reassuringly. “I bet those malfunctions deliberately occurred to distract you.” She cast an accusing eye at the Shoni. “Don’t look at me like that. I had nothing to do with your video problems.” Julliet had no reason to believe him, but she did. The Shoni people were empaths, born with the ability to read others’ emotions. She hadn’t tried to read him, but still, the Shoni’s indignation rushed through her body like a cask of water dumped over her head. The strong reaction to him stymied her. Since his arrival, her equilibrium tottered on its edge, torn between embracing a fellow Shoni and running from this incredible attraction. He aroused her without saying a word, flushing her skin, tightening her belly, making her wet. She couldn’t deal with the unwanted distraction right now. Someone physically threatened the peaceful existence at Healing Waters. She took a deep breath and focused on her boss. Pandora flipped on the audio and a gargling noise interspersed with the sound of running water. A few mentrons later, Julliet arrived on the scene. She disappeared into the steam filled bathroom. Goosebumps rose on Julliet’s arms as she watched. The

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audio clearly played Julliet’s scream and the pfft of a laser. The bathroom door opened. A fog rolled out into the room and slowly dissipated. Then Julliet sprang across the bedroom to the hallway door. No one else appeared on screen. Pandora fast-forwarded the vid to present time. Still, no one appeared. “What the hell?” Pandora muttered. She pressed a personnel intercom button. “Steele?” “Yes, babe?” “We’ve got no I.D. recorded on vid, and no exit. Have someone search Kelty’s room again.” “Right away.” “Replay the sequence again, Pandora,” Dragen said. Julliet watched closely as she entered the bathroom and came out again. “Stop. Back up a few sentrons. Play it in slow motion. There!” Dragen pointed to the screen. Julliet stared at the steam escaping the bathroom door. “What?” “Watch the carpet.” “It’s distorted,” Pandora said. “Did you notice the door opened a short time before Julliet came out?” asked the Shoni. “Your intruder used camouflage.” “You’re right!” Tasha exclaimed. She reached around Pandora and clicked a few keystrokes on the console, zooming in on the carpet, enhancing the pixels. “I see the shadow of footprints crossing the room. The heat sensors were malfunctioning on the camera and didn’t pick him up but I hear the door clicking open. Did you?” “Yes, damn it,” Pandora muttered. “Why didn’t you hear the commotion in the room when it was happening, Tasha?” Tasha checked her log. “White noise on vid two.” She glanced at Pandora apologetically. “The malfunctions distracted me. I’m sorry.”

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“Timed to a T,” Dragen said. “You’ve got a professional working you over, Pandora.” He looked at Julliet with a frown. “Count yourself lucky. If he wanted to kill you in that bathroom, he could have.” Julliet scowled back at him. “Who are you?” “Oh!” Pandora said brightly. “Julliet, Tasha, meet Dragen. He’s our new interpreter.” “Interpreter?” Julliet stared at him in disbelief. “Yes. With all the new species visiting us, I thought it best to have someone around familiar with alien languages and customs.” “Don’t you mean to eavesdrop?” Tasha asked. “That and more,” Pandora admitted unabashedly. “Something triggered this rash of kidnappings. If we can discover the cause of these strikes against Healing Waters, we can put a stop to them. Please give Dragen every professional courtesy.” A smile played around Tasha’s mouth. “Oh, I’ll give him whatever he wants.” “If you need me, hail me on my communicator.” Dragen wasn’t speaking to the head of security though. His disconcerting stare settled on Julliet. “Since you’ve crossed the intruder’s path, you may be the next kidnap victim.” “No one has any interest in kidnapping me,” she scoffed. Dragen gazed at her until she felt her cheeks burn. She turned a wary look to Pandora. Her long time friend slowly smiled. “Julliet is very special to us here at Healing Waters, Dragen. Make sure she stays out of harm’s way.” “Don’t worry. I won’t let her out of my sight.” A chill shimmied across Julliet’s shoulders.

Chapter Two “You’re a Shoni, aren’t you?” Dragen asked outside Julliet’s private quarters, taking note of the number sequence she punched on the keypad for entry. Her fingers trembled slightly. Dragen’s finely honed senses picked up her anxiety and her arousal. It amused and aggravated him how she suppressed her attraction when most creatures who met him instantly drew nearer. The cause of her detachment intrigued him. Not fear. He would’ve picked up on that in a heartbeat. “Yes, but I barely remember the Shoni ways.” The lock clicked and the door automatically slid open. “Good night, Dragen. Thank you for the escort.” Dragen slapped his arm across the threshold, barring her way. “Why don’t you remember the Shoni?” “What business is it of yours?” Dragen raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Indulge me. Think of it as part of the investigation.” “I left Terras Five when I was very young.” “Why?” She arched a brow and crossed her delicate arms beneath her bosom, unconsciously framing her luscious breasts. Dragen forced his attention to her lips with the intent of watching her answer, but the swipe of her tongue moistening that full pink mouth distracted him further. Oh, honey. Honey. That’s what filled his mind. Dragen slammed the mental door on those wayward thoughts before his desire raged out of control. He must remain calm, appear unaffected by her startling presence until he could understand the disconnect between them. “You’re not going to leave until you figure me out, is that it?”

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“Something like that.” He captured her gaze and let her absorb his determination to win her over. Rather than succumb to his spell, she ducked under his arm into her room and smacked the Close Door button. “My past is none of your business.” Dragen laughed. His palm interfered with the electric eye, preventing the door from closing. But he could be accommodating. One step forward and the door swished closed behind him. “You are very much my business.” The electric current between them sizzled. Her back stiffened. “Don’t think because I’m flawed, I’m an easy mark. If you seek pleasure, Pandora will ensure you’re well pleased with one or more of her courtesans. I am not one of them.” Dragen arched a brow. “I’m sure Pandora would be very accommodating.” He leaned a shoulder against the wall by the door, assuming a relaxed pose in her surprisingly spare, colorless quarters. The public rooms he’d visited had been decorated in warm reds or calming blues with thickly padded seats and soothing music. Her private space appeared utilitarian with only one white padded bench set beneath a large window overlooking a courtyard fountain. No personal touches at all. Interesting. According to Pandora, she’d lived here for a long time, yet this was no home. Because she belonged with him, whether she realized it or not. “A fuck is not what I want from you,” he said quietly. Her wary expression and underlying confusion twisted his heart. The hint of disappointment, an indication of her desire for him, didn’t make him feel any better. Probably no male had sought her out for a relationship beyond sex, and if one had, it must not have ended well. Behind the courageous front, she harbored so much hurt. If only she believed in the purity of the golden aura flowing around her. Understood how the clarity of her colors embodied her soul, what the intermingling hues from bright yellow to burnished gold meant to him, and how well they

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harmonized with his fiery colors. Had she no Shoni insight at all? No one suited him like she did. He wanted so much more than sex from her. He wanted it all. Her heart. Her soul. Julliet could give him what no other female in the universe could… fulfillment. Completion. His chest ached with familiar emptiness, all the more keen now that love stood within reach. Julliet took a tiny step backward. “What do you want from me?” Blurting out he’d found his mate probably wouldn’t go over well. How did one explain the perfect melding of auras? Instantaneous attraction? Fate? These were accepted doctrines of the Shoni people, taught over many years by Wind Spirit guides. He wouldn’t expect Julliet to accept his claims without question. He wouldn’t let her walk away, either. “I remind you of someone,” she said, rubbing her forehead. “I sense strong emotional ties to her. A lover you left behind?” Gods, she acted like a psychic entertainer. “Testing your empathic traits?” “I learned early to filter out others’ emotions, but for some reason I have little control over the surge of emotions coming from you. It’s overwhelming.” Ah. He shared that sentiment. “We are well matched.” Though he’d never expected to find his mate in a brothel, nor find her so wary of their connection, Julliet didn’t disappoint him. For him, she was perfect. Living here, mingling with so many species, she’d been trained as a sophisticate, cognizant of universal cultures, and hopefully, more tolerant of the various customs and foods he’d adopted in his travels. She was so different from the isolationist females on his home planet, Terras Five. Her refinement showed in the grace of her walk, her poise, and the kindness in her eyes for every being. Even when she sparked with annoyance, politeness soothed her tone. According to Pandora, Julliet was the house peacemaker, constantly listening, calming, endlessly compassionate. A giver. Dragen sensed more. Beneath the polished, empathetic exterior she harbored a lonely soul. Her only pleasure, pleasing others. She’d never known love, or forgotten anyone who loved her,

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he wasn’t sure which. Yet, love glowed from within. She simply needed him to show her the light. Literally. Inwardly, he smiled, looking forward to the bonding necessary to do that. Her life as a sex caterer didn’t bother him. Shoni people were givers in a myriad of ways. Besides, he was no saint, and what male didn’t enjoy an experienced female in his bed? As for her face… He delved deeper into the soul for beauty, and Julliet shone brighter than any female he’d ever met. In a place where darkness clouded everyone’s auras, she glowed in splendor and light. Amazing. Yes, she was everything he wanted in a mate. Dragen crossed his arms, trying not to reach out, grab her, and pull her into his embrace. The Shoni mating ritual required tenderness, and above all else, trust. “It’s been forever since I’ve encountered another Shoni. I’m curious why you left the home world.” I’ve been searching my whole life for you, Julliet. “I could ask the same of you, but it would be rude to pry, don’t you think?” she said with a meaningful glare. “My family was wiped out during the Oskii War. A retired spaceship crewman from Earth and his Shoni wife took me in. My adoptive father livened up my youth with tales of space adventure. I wanted to follow in his footsteps, so soon as I was old enough to leave Terras Five, I did.” A wave of sadness emanating from Julliet hit him in the chest. The clarity of her emotions astounded him. Dragen couldn’t stand feeling her pain. He took one step closer to her. “I am content despite the distance from my family.” Julliet backed away from him. “You are fortunate.” Something dimmed her aura. The energy depletion weakened his power, too. “Leaving Terras Five upset you?” “It was a long time ago.” Her gaze skidded away. Dragen softened his voice to a soothing cadence. “Tell me…”

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A line burrowed between her brows. “I’m not interested in sharing my pitiful childhood with you.” “Do you hate the Shoni people?” He knew she didn’t, but he wanted her to open up to him. “No.” “Do you hate your family?” A tick by her eye enforced the feeling he’d hit a sensitive nerve. Julliet sat down on the bench on the other side of the room, putting as much distance as possible between them. “Relentless, aren’t you?” “Just curious.” “Why? You don’t need to know my past to protect me. Not that I believe I need protection, by the way.” Dragen regarded her with indulgence. “It’s a Shoni instinct to conceal your fears.” Julliet stared blindly out the window. “True, because some Shoni can read your thoughts as well as your emotions and use the knowledge to their advantage. You never know who might turn on you.” His chest burned with her anguish. “Who hurt you, Julliet?” She blinked and turned her head to look at him, touching her cheek. “This?” “No,” he replied gently, “here.” He placed his hand over his heart. “Someone close to you disappointed you, or worse.” She stared at him a long time, perhaps debating if she could trust him. He opened up to her, letting her feel his compassion, respect, and admiration for her. The flash of brown bitterness permeating her aura mellowed away. Julliet tucked her legs up on the bench. “Why should I share my past with you?” “Because secrets are heavy burdens.” Because I’m your mate. “Instinctively, you know you can trust me.” “Ha! I couldn’t trust my own father!” She drew her long pink braid over her shoulder and toyed with the ends, masking her distress beneath lowered eyelids.

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“I’d never hurt you, Julliet.” His voice softened. “I’m bound to protect you.”

“From what?”

“Everything.”

She stared at him with a furrowed brow. “You act as if I’m a lost princess and

you’re a royal guard.” He smiled. “In a way, that’s true. You’re sheltered here better than any Shoni princess. And revered. Not everyone can see your aura like I can, but they sense its beauty. The purity of your light. How caring and unselfish you are. How kind.” A small smile tilted her lips. “You can tell all that from my aura?”

“Yes. What do you see in mine?”

She lifted her gaze and cocked her head at him. “I don’t see an aura around you.”

Frost seemed to flash freeze on his skin. “You don’t?”

“No. I never honed my Shoni skills. Occasionally, I’ll sense a flow of colors

surrounding someone, but the visual is fleeting.” Well, hell. He’d never expected the mating connection to be one sided. He’d imagined a joyful reunion. Instant flames of passion. Damn. Julliet couldn’t even see his aura burning for her. “It’s difficult to focus your talents without training, but you aren’t even trying. Why have you denied your heritage?” Her lips set into a firm line.

“Please. I need to understand.”

A moment passed, then another. Indecision wavered in her eyes, but her mouth

compressed more firmly. “For once in your life, unload your crisis, Julliet. Your secrets are safe with me, I swear. Pandora trusts me. Steel trusts me. You can too.” A small sigh escaped. She leaned back against the wall and turned her gaze toward the stars hanging low in the purple sky outside the window. “I don’t consider myself a Shoni. The reason why no longer matters.” “Then why do you still carry the hurt inside? Purge it. Isn’t that what you tell to the ones who come to you with heavy hearts?”

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She slid a warning look his way. He stared back, waiting patiently. And then words burst from her mouth. “I was young when the Oskii space warriors attacked Terras Five. In one pass of their fighter pods, they leveled our town. My parents and I were trapped in the rubble. We heard the surface troops foraging through the ruins, killing survivors, coming closer and closer. My mother cried. I wet my pants. My father used his mind reading skills and sought out the enemy’s weakness.” “Your father was telepathic? That gift is very rare.” Julliet lowered her gaze. “Yes.” “But his skills couldn’t save your family?” The flash of bitterness from Julliet took his breath away. “He discovered the Oskii warrior who found us had only one weakness: a preference for young girls. Papa bartered me in exchange for their lives.” Dragen felt her despondency deep in his soul. He could almost hear her screams as the warrior carried her away. Yet, as he watched her, the dark perimeter of her aura faded into a healthy golden glow. While she calmed, anger boiled within his chest. Suddenly he was glad she couldn’t read his aura. “Did the bastard scar your face?” He swore he’d track him down and kill him. “No. I received the scar working here.” She untangled her long legs and rose to her feet. “Eventually, both assailants paid a steep price for their offenses. A jury sentenced them to death. In retrospect, each experience made me stronger. My captivity crushed the naïve assumption that all people are good. Eventually, I learned to be cautious and protect myself, to fight back when necessary. Most importantly, not to expect too much from those you care about.” Inwardly, Dragen winced. He intended to correct those low expectations, and make her demand the best of him. She traced the bumpy scar with her fingertips. “It’s been a long road. I got this when I let my guard down. It won’t happen again.” “You’re a survivor, Julliet. You should be proud, not ashamed.”

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She mulled over his words for a long time. He watched her square her shoulders and felt the weight lift from her heart. “You’re right. I was a victim and I survived. I have a home and friends. That’s all I need.” What about love, sweetheart? One step at a time. “I’ll always be there for you. Anytime. For whatever reason.” He pushed off the wall and stretched his arms over his head, then drew them slowly down to his sides. Muscles flexed and relaxed. From beneath his lowered eyelashes, Dragen watched bright white light dart through her aura. Ah, he aroused her more than she let on. Good. “Dream of me tonight, Julliet. I’ll see you at the morning meal.” Dragen looked back over his shoulder at her as he pushed the exit button. “If you need me, hail me.” His gaze swept over her, heat spearing his body when he saw the naked yearning in her eyes. “Until then, I’ll be thinking of you.” She clasped her hands together in her lap. “Don’t think about me. Go translate or whatever you’re supposed to be doing here.” Dragen turned in the open doorway to face her. “I can’t help worrying about you.” Losing you would cost me too much. She frowned at him. “Go!” Dragen left Julliet’s quarters reluctantly, the horror of her father’s betrayal fresh in his mind. If she would have allowed it, his arms would be wrapped around her right now instead of swinging at his sides on his way back to the security office. No, she didn’t want any comfort from him. Not yet. Just as well, he supposed. A bulk of security tapes featuring unfamiliar aliens awaited translation, customers with indeterminate requests needed addressing, and the design for an upgraded voice recognition scanner germinated in his mind. Inside the security office, a bleary eyed Tasha stared at the security cameras. She rose when he entered. “Oh! Hi.” The security officer thrust out her chest and tugged at the bottom of her midriff with fidgety fingers.

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The scent of her sex intensified with every step he took. If he wished, she’d be an easy conquest. But he wasn’t interested. Only one female in this complex raised his testosterone level. Julliet. He set a small transceiver on Tasha’s desk. “If you need a translation done, input the screen ID on this keypad and I can check it out right away. Are there any aliens in the complex needing translation now?” Tasha’s expression clearly communicated her disappointment in his businesslike tone. “I don’t think so, but I’ll check.” She sat back down at the console and flipped through the occupied rooms. A voyeur’s paradise, Dragen thought, watching all the various beings engrossed in every sexual perversion. “This male from Gulvan is mumbling in Gulvanic,” Tasha said tapping the screen showing a couple, both face to groin, licking and sucking in heated foreplay. “I can understand only a few words but I don’t think they’re threatening.” “You’re right.” Moving on, he paused at the sight of Julliet on the adjacent screen. “What’s she doing?” He caught Tasha’s brows raised in an ‘are-you-stupid’ look, then she glanced at the screen he studied. “Oh, sorry, you mean Julliet.” She snickered. “Looks like she’s rolling out a fucking machine. I’ve never seen her use one.” “Why not? Does she have many lovers?” “Julliet?” Tasha gave him an odd look. “No, she doesn’t -- not a one.” The news made him smile. He imagined holding Julliet in his arms, kissing her long, wet, and deep, making her breathless. As she set up the equipment in her room, his temperature rose. Why did the blasted woman masturbate when she could have him? When his Shoni mate lay back with that ridiculous VR helmet on her head and spread her legs, the lifelike dildo poised near her entry, a blood vessel in his temple throbbed along with the hard pulse stirring his cock. The fucking machine included its own camera and display panel atop the gear box which presented a clear view of Julliet’s moist, open, but tight, pink pussy.

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“Hungry?” Tasha asked. “Very,” he replied inanely. Then he glanced down at the fruit the security officer held out to him. “Thanks.” On the security monitor, Julliet flipped the remote control switch and the dildo vibrated toward her wet parted pussy. He ripped the fruit in half and sank his teeth into the succulent flesh. “Tease.” Julliet’s sultry voice shot straight to his groin. The head of the pulsating dildo dipped into her cunt. Dragen crushed the fruit in his hand. His imagination ran wild.

Chapter Three A wicked leer twisted her fantasy lover’s lips. He squeezed the fruit in his hand. Clear juices oozed through Dragen’s thick fingers, dripping onto her pussy lips. His deft fingers smeared the tingly liquid over her mons, then strayed to probe her moist channel. Her body instantly ignited. Julliet arched her hips to meet the teasing forays in and out of her body. Each gentle plunge worked deeper and deeper, drawing more and more cream until his fingers slid in and out easily. “That’s good,” Julliet sighed, her pulse kicking up. The VR replication of the real Dragen smiled knowingly and leaned across her naked body, spread eagle on the low food prep table. “What a treat I’ve found in the kitchen.” His lips slid over hers in a sensual caress. Without reservation, Julliet parted her lips and let his tongue explore her mouth. He tasted syrupy sweet. Her tongue chased his, sliding along its length, sampling the unique flavor of fruit and male. “Hold me closer, Dragen.” Her arms snaked around his neck. The kiss turned hot and demanding. Engrossed as she was in the sexual thrust of his tongue, the brush of his chest over her nipples startled her, and she sucked the fruity tang of his breath deep into her lungs. Her head buzzed. Her body burned. Arousal twisted into need. “Make love to me, Dragen.” Instead of complying, he licked a circle around her nipple while his fingers continued stroking in and out. Turn off that blasted machine and I will. “Whaat!” Cripe. Her fantasy version of Dragen didn’t obey her orders any better than the real one. Dragen’s image blurred and fizzled out. The buzzing of the fucking grew louder. Even though she wore the light blocking visor of the VR headset, the only thing she could see was the machine at the end of her bed pad and the dildo at the end of the

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mechanical arm slowly penetrating and retreating. “What’s wrong with this stupid VR helmet?” As hard as she tried to regenerate her lover, only the machine remained. Damn it. Aggravation overlapped the arousal generated by the plunging dildo. “Come back here and fuck me, Dragen.” Turn off the machine and hail me, sweetheart. Julliet ripped off the VR helmet and glanced around the room. Nothing looked out of place, and no one shared her space. Yet she sensed Dragen’s presence. Had he activated the same camouflage the intruder had used? “Show yourself!” Everything in the room retained its crisp edges. The fucking machine continued its routine. Logic told her to turn the blasted thing off until she could figure out how Dragen was interfering with her fantasy, but her body sizzled, her cunt grew wetter and tighter with each smooth stroke of the thick cock. She was primed and ready and couldn’t stop now. Her gaze caught on the wall intercom speaker. Of course! Dragen was in the security office, eavesdropping on her, answering her when she spoke. Watching too, no doubt. The pervert. Goosebumps popped all over her body. What was he feeling? What did he think when he saw her spread eagle, pinned by a mechanical dildo, penetrated over and over, writhing with want? Her nipples tightened when she imagined his gaze, hot and frustrated, skimming over her naked body, and desire stiffening his cock. Oh, gods. Her face flushed with embarrassment. He probably thought she was a frustrated, desperate female whom no one requested anymore. Well, he’d be wrong. She’d turned down plenty of offers, preferring fantasy over reality. How sad was that? “Go make yourself useful elsewhere, Dragen. I want to be alone.” Make up your mind. You just said you wanted me to fuck you. Her heartbeat skipped. That didn’t come from the speaker. Dang it, he resided in her head! No, it couldn’t be. Her father was the only telepath in her family. She’d never read anyone’s thoughts in her life.

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The call button is right by your fingertips, Julliet. “What the -- how are you doing that?” Into the silent void, the fucking machine clicked louder. The mechanical dildo jumped to the next sequence, driving deeper and faster. To hell with it. Julliet arched into its rhythm, huffing with each thrust, pushing all thoughts aside, concentrating on the arousal building in steady waves. Pleasure tingled from her abdomen down to her clit, soaking the pulsating cock stroking within her. As hard as she tried to banish Dragen from her mind, she couldn’t stop imagining it was his cock slowly driving her mad. Each thrust rubbed her swollen bud. The contact sizzled along her nerve endings, winding her tighter and tighter. Desire spiked. Her muscles clutched harder at the dildo, eager to milk its seed, but it slipped away before sinking home again, swiping at the sensitive nub once more. Julliet gripped the bed pad in frustration. “More. Deeper.” She wiggled closer to the pistoning mechanical arm and raised one foot up onto the padded bar sticking out the side of the control box. The cock head sank deep, almost to the edge of her womb. Her back arched as a jolt of heat raced up her spine. “Oh, yes, that’s it.” Her clitoris ached and she rubbed it absently. “Make me come… please.” As the pleasure built, he was there again, in her mind, leaning over her, fucking her madly, panting in tandem with her. A strange peace settled over her. The tension of her body and the relaxation of her mind seemed at odds, yet right. Instinctively, she knew only Dragen could make her feel this way. An explosive orgasm hovered out of reach. She raised her hips up to meet it. “Dragen,” she whispered needily. You’re so beautiful, Julliet. This time she accepted his voice in her head. She needed him there, seducing her. Loving her. In her mind, she saw Dragen’s handsome face, his gaze, darkened with passion, searing into her eyes, his lips parted so she could hear every deep breath.

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“Dragen… oh gods. Yes, yes. Mmmmm.” Her murmur rose to a needy whine. “Finish it,” she begged. I want you so much, darling. Come for me. The dildo vibrated deeper within her core. “Oh… oh… gods!” A long shudder of desire rolled through her. The climax crested, teetered on the edge of sexual bliss, and burst around the vibrating cock. Every muscle in Julliet’s body tensed. Every sense focused on the throbbing ecstasy centered within her clit. Mmmm. The glory of sexual release. Damn! A smile lifted the corner of Julliet’s mouth at Dragen’s thought. She could feel the tension in his body, the steely control of his mind. Yet, behind her closed eyes, Dragen groaned deep in his throat and plunged to the hilt. He shuddered through an explosive orgasm. It hit her suddenly that she was visualizing his fantasy, seeing what he saw in his mind. Was that really possible? Yes, and it scared the crap out of her. She didn’t want to delve into his mind. Right now, she only wanted to hold him. Why did she take off the VR helmet, dang it! The tingle slowly faded away. The dildo slipped from her wet folds. A great sigh escaped from her throat and she collapsed upon her bed pad, her heartbeat fluttering rapidly in her chest. Dragen hovered over her with a smile of satisfaction on his face. Like a fool, she grinned back at him. For most of her life, sex had become a routine, nothing more. Although she’d enjoyed the act sometimes, not one of her partners had inspired a desire to repeat the performance. The fucking machine had been a better substitute, and always sated her in one session. Until now. Flushed and sweaty, dripping with juices, her pulse still racing, Julliet yearned to come again. The image of Dragen’s brawny body, slick with sweat, balanced on muscular arms above her while his heavy cock plunged in and out of her sopping cunt was just too delicious to let go.

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Unease heated her cheeks. Why him? She’d seen plenty of handsome males before. Was it the common Shoni heritage that called to her? Possibly. Or maybe he was using some Shoni mind trick to seduce her. For what purpose, she had no clue. She only knew fantasizing about Dragen while using an antiquated fucking machine beat anything real -- so far. Would making love to the real man live up to her sensual dream? She was so confused. Julliet sat up and rubbed her temples, unsure now if she’d read Dragen’s thoughts or concocted his desire for her wild fantasy. Her body hummed as though the vibrating dildo still rested inside, pushing her to another climax. Greedy for more delectable sex play with Dragen, Julliet repositioned the dildo and lay back down. Let everyone watch. She didn’t care. Only Dragen existed, big and sleek and well hung, as hungry for her as she was starved for him. The VR helmet sat firmly on her head when she saw Dragen, gloriously naked, his cock erect, crossing an open field on their home planet. The hot Mother Star baked her bare skin while she waited for him, anxious to embrace him, love him. Flames seemed to burn around him, casting an orange red glow onto his white hair. His aura. She stared in awe, youthful memories of her mother’s golden aura teasing her mind. Her heart jumped and went into overdrive as he neared. The traditional jeweled cock ring and ball cage of a male about to be bonded to his mate glittered beneath his thick, upthrust cock.

*** “Wow. That was… intense.” At the sound of Tasha’s voice, Dragen snapped out of his heart pounding daze and stared at the security officer, who sat with her hand stuffed between her clenched thighs, staring back at him with an expression of awe. “You okay? You zoned out for a while. Not that I blame you. I’d be hot too, watching someone who got off while fantasizing about me. You’ve made a big impression on Julliet. Not an easy thing to do.” Dragen cleared his throat. “Yeah.” Tasha glanced down at his crotch. “I guess the feeling is mutual.”

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He followed her gaze and his cheeks heated. A wet splotch stained his flight suit at the tip of his clearly outlined erection. Pre-cum. Thank goodness he hadn’t spurted like a youth watching his first sex hologram. It was bad enough he’d become so engrossed in Julliet he’d lost touch with reality, a potentially dangerous situation. “I’d never witnessed a female getting fucked by a machine before.” A wry smile twisted her lips. “Apparently you liked it.” “She needs a mate,” he said gruffly. The security officer’s boots dropped to the grated floor with a thud. “Volunteering, Dragen? So many females will be disappointed. Including me.” Invitation danced in her eyes. Dragen averted his gaze, looking back at the monitor. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Julliet had reset the damn fucking machine and donned the VR helmet. “Again?” Dragen nearly choked. He couldn’t stand the torture of watching another mind blowing session like the last one without release. Tasha said, flirting, “I don’t think having sex with you just once would satisfy me either.” Her statement barely registered. All he could think about was visiting the Callisto jeweler and ordering a ball cage for the bonding ceremony with Julliet. The sooner, the better. His rock hard cock ached picturing her standing in a wildflower field, naked, waiting for him, her pussy already wet in anticipation of their formal union. Unable to watch her come again without losing total control, he turned away from the screens. “Have you compiled the storage data Pandora wants me to review?” “Right here.” She tossed him a small container full of data chips. “Have fun.” He stuffed the package in his hip pocket, the bulge helping to hide the more centered bulge in his pants. If he didn’t go take care of the throbbing ache in his crotch, he was going to explode in a very embarrassing display. “I’m going to finish this in my quarters.”

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“I bet you are,” she snickered. “Hail me if you want company,” she called through the closing door. As soon as he entered his quarters, he keyed in the secret access code Pandora gave him to view the security monitors in his room. Four more keystrokes and a lifesized Julliet appeared on the wall screen, clutching the bed pad as the dildo vibrated into her cream soaked pussy. Her moan echoed around his quarters. Burning need speared straight to his groin. His cock pressed hard against the flexible material of his flight suit, fighting for release. In one fell swoop, Dragen peeled the garment from his sweaty body and grasped his thick erection in his hand. Hot flesh burned against hot flesh. A gasp lodged in his throat. He grabbed his balls to stop a spontaneous gush of semen. Julliet pushed her hips up to meet the pistoning dildo. “Damn.” Dragen tilted his pelvis, rocking to the rhythm of his fingers sliding over the smooth skin covering his rigid shaft, down and up, then twisting over the sensitive knob, rubbing his pre-cum all over the head. He studied her responses, lips parted, neck extended as her hands jerked from the edges of the cot to her breasts and then stretched over her head. The rosy peaks of her nipples stood erect, and he licked his lips. Fuck! He wanted to replace that puny dildo with the real thing, drive his cock deep into her, and flood her womb with his seed. She shifted, raising a leg for maximum penetration, exposing her glistening pink labia distended by the penis shuttling in and out of her wet center. He intended to stretch her wider than that with his rock hard cock. She wouldn’t be moaning with pleasure; she’d be screaming. With each hitch in Julliet’s breath, his hand stroked faster over his cock. He watched her expression soften, her mouth slacken as her passion rose. “Yes. Yes! Oh, Dragen. Make me come!”

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Julliet’s bucking body nearly drove him insane. His balls tightened. His heart beat so hard he could hear it thumping. “You’re so fucking hot, sweetheart. I’m gonna fuck you so hard.” Neck muscles strained as the piercing pleasure in his groin intensified. Be mine, Julliet. He couldn’t see her aura on the screen but he knew golden fire sparked outward, seeking compatible energy. Heat flared through his body in response. Perspiration slid down his temple to his chin. When their auras fused, the bond would be like two atoms colliding, the erotic combustion rivaling a sun flare. The union would create a new, unique, unbreakable compound, a blend of auras blinding in its intensity. A new beginning for them both. Oh, sweetheart. I can finally make us whole. A long groan rumbled up his throat. “Gonna come, baby. Just for you.” “Dragen,” she whispered. That’s all it took. Hot semen rushed through his shaft and splattered the distant screen. “Oh, fuck!” The orgasm rolled endlessly on. Cum dribbled over the fingers squeezing every last drop from his enflamed cock head. “Now. Now!” Julliet yelled in the privacy of her room. Her hips perched high in the air and her buttocks clenched tight. Her thighs shook violently. “Ooooooh!” Julliet collapsed on her cot, her skin glistening with exhaustion. A shiver rippled over Dragen’s skin. This had been the first time he’d beat his partner to the punch. Julliet definitely played havoc with his control. If watching his woman pleasure herself induced such a powerful orgasm, he wondered how the hell he’d react when they joined in the flesh. He laughed out loud. The anticipation alone might kill him.

Chapter Four When Julliet entered the dining room the next morning, conversation stilled and every head in the room swung her way. She wondered if she’d gone overboard by wearing a short cropped top and diaphanous balloon pants instead of her usual long flowing gowns. Not that their opinions mattered. She felt unusually warm and tired this morning and this outfit was one of the coolest she owned. Of course, if Dragen’s gaze lingered a little longer than usual, the discomfort over her change of attire would be worth it. She approached the round table where Pandora sat with key personnel. Dragen and Steele, the only two males present, rose from their seats, performing an ancient Earth custom which Steele insisted on preserving. “Good morning.” Julliet addressed the table as a whole, skimming all the familiar faces. Heat stole into her cheeks when her gaze passed Dragen, last night’s VR session still fresh and erotic in her mind. He raised his glass in a toast. “To a very… productive day.” His eyes glittered with mischievous promise. “I’ll second that,” Pandora said, raising her glass. The rest of the table occupants followed suit. Julliet felt awkward without a glass in her hand. Before she could pour a drink, Dragen walked over and wrapped her fingers around the stem of his glass. A tingle fizzled down her arm from their entwined fingers into her chest. Despite Dragen’s grin, she couldn’t read him this morning. No thoughts flowed into her head and his eyes shuttered his feelings. Gripping her fingers tight, he brought the glass to his lips and sipped, then pushed the glass toward her. She drank without thinking. The creamy liquid tasted good going down but burned her stomach, much like Earthling brandy.

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“What is that?” Dragen laughed, adjusted his grip on the stem so she could let go, and took another sip. “Tubarian’s milk.” Julliet slipped Steele a sidelong look. Ever since he and Pandora discovered his sister had been sold to a Tubarian slave ship, Pandora had banned all things Tubarian from Healing Waters. Either Dragen wasn’t aware of the rule or, as a guest, he was exempt. “It has excellent rejuvenating properties…” A secret smile lit Dragen’s face. “It’s best if you sip it.” He held the glass out to her again. As deliciously exhausted as she felt, Julliet almost reconsidered drinking it, but out of respect for Steele, she declined the Tubarian drink. A warm meal would work equally as well. She loaded a plate from the various hot food dispensers built into the wall, conscious of Dragen’s hooded gaze following every move. At the end of the buffet, she turned and gave him a gentle smile. Her stomach rumbled, partially from hunger, but more so from being so keyed up in his presence. She selected a seat several chairs down from Dragen where she wouldn’t have to look at him directly, using the space as a buffer between her and the reminder of last night’s pleasure. Pandora glanced from Dragen to Julliet, a question in her eye. With a slight shake of her head, Julliet derailed her friend. Pandora resumed the conversation Julliet must have interrupted by her entrance. “Now that we know how the kidnapper escaped Healing Waters, what is the next step?” “The security team is installing signaling devices on all the entry and exit points which will automatically generate a bio scan every time the port opens.” “Isn’t that an infraction on my customers’ privacy?” “Commerce Security protocols allow it,” Steele assured her. “The original intent of the design was to detect any virus carriers in public places.” “I haven’t found any disgruntled customers on the security vids.” Dragen scanned the room with a smile. “I learned why Healing Waters is so highly recommended throughout the galaxy.”

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“Thank you, Dragen.” The proud owner of Healing Waters turned and beamed at her ex-husband as if nothing had ever come between them. “That’s nice to hear.” A pang of jealousy hit Julliet in the heart. Every one of the sex caterers here, male and female, would offer Dragen a free sample if he asked. All the coquettish glances directed at Dragen irked her. It was an unreasonable reaction, she knew, but dang it, Julliet needed him more than anyone here. She contemplated her boss, wondering if Pandora had ever tasted Dragen’s pleasure. Probably not. Despite what Steele believed, since the day she met the handsome Earthling, Pandora had never strayed, even after their separation. “However, there are a few deep space aliens that you turned away that may be holding a grudge,” Dragen warned. “Of the four rejections, one returned with an interpreter and left a satisfied customer. That leaves three unknowns. I’ve asked Tasha to screen the footage for image distortions, especially during regular customer entries and exits. It’s possible your kidnapper snuck in behind someone.” Across the table, Tasha nodded. “I’ll get on that first thing this morning.” Dragen tossed out the idea of language translators in each room. “Some of the newly discovered species aren’t programmed in, but I can update them with basic phrases in a short period of time.” While he explained his plan, Tasha stared at him with humorous devilment in her eyes. Something had happened between those two, Julliet could sense it. When Tasha caught Julliet studying her, the security officer smirked. The knot in Julliet’s stomach tightened. For as long as she’d lived at Healing Waters, she’d never been jealous of another female. Until now. For the first time she was considering seeking out male companionship and everyone in the complex shared the same goal. The odds of Julliet winning him over were slim to none. Dragen himself had told her he wasn’t interested in her body. What else did she have to offer? Compassion. A cheerful and pleasant disposition. Friendship. Did he even care about those qualities? She didn’t want to settle

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anymore for the fantasies provided by the Virtual Reality helmet. Although the orgasms she’d reached last night blew her away, she wanted a connection on a personal level. She wanted Dragen. Her appetite gone, Julliet sat back and listened to the cadence of Dragen’s voice. It had a soothing quality many of her kind shared. Healers dominated Shoni society. As empaths, they possessed a natural affinity to help others. The sudden disappearance of females she considered under her care pressed heavily on her conscience. There must be something she could do. The sound of her name caught her attention. “She knows the missing employees better than anyone,” Pandora said. “Perhaps she can assist you in compiling common attributes among them and their clients.” A disarming twinkle danced in the madam’s eyes. “I’ll help any way I can.” Julliet could’ve kissed her friend for putting Dragen within her reach. He might not want her physically, but she could daydream, couldn’t she? Dragen leaned forward and rested his forearms on the table edge. A slow grin spread across his face. “I’m glad to hear it. Meet me in my quarters after you finish your meal.” Mixed emotions swirled through Julliet’s mind. “Pandora’s office might suit better. The client log is there.” “I have business meetings today.” Pandora pushed back her chair and stood, petite in stature but exuding power and self-confidence even though she wore a peach dress with the V-neck down to her bellybutton. “As a matter of fact, I’m going to be late for the first one if I don’t hurry. I’ll forward Kelty and Shaneal’s records to the computer in Dragen’s quarters.” Steele rose and flanked her. “Send Carlton’s info too.” “Carlton?” “He may have been the first one abducted.”

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Pandora cocked her head. “Carlton left me an e-message saying he was going home to Jupiter.” “Well, he didn’t say anything to his favorite client, Percel, who swears Carlton wouldn’t leave Healing Waters without telling him. Percel hasn’t been able to contact him and he’s worried.” Tasha made a rude noise. “Carlton’s leaving didn’t stop Percel from visiting Healing Waters again and finding someone new to scratch his itch.” “But they spent a lot of time together, on and off duty, when Carlton was here,” Julliet said, remembering Carlton’s infatuation with his client. “Whenever Percel had a long business trip, Carlton borrowed my VR helmet so he’d feel close to Percel.” Tender amusement radiated from Dragen. Julliet blushed. “Sounds like the situation is worth looking into,” Pandora said, starting toward the door. “Absolutely.” Dragen rose and winked at Julliet, then joined the couple at the portal. She stared down at the food on her plate. How much of her fantasy experience had she actually shared with Dragen? He’d seen and heard her making phantom love, she was certain. It wouldn’t take a telepath to figure out she fantasized about him. She’d talked to him, called out his name. But was he capable of reading her mind too? She didn’t think so, but how could she be sure? Holy Mother Terras. She’d just met the man, and she couldn’t stop thinking about him. Her cheeks flushed hotter. She should go with them, but she needed to eat something. “I’ll be along shortly.” Conversation buzzed as soon as the trio moved out of earshot. “You are sooo lucky, Julliet!” “He’s pure prime male.” “I’d like to -- ah -- do some business with Dragen.” “He seriously wants you.”

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The last comment, from Tasha, seized Julliet’s notice. “I’m the last female he wants.” Tasha chortled. Julliet didn’t like the scheming look in Tasha’s eyes. She sensed the security officer possessed a secret which might help or hurt Julliet, she couldn’t tell which. The ambiguity in Tasha’s behavior surprised and worried her. She rose from her seat as nonchalantly as possible. “We all have work to do. Let’s get started.”

*** Julliet enjoyed working in Dragen’s quarters. The space looked like an inventor’s lab. In fact, the bed pad had been stored out of sight. He’d set up several workstations for various tasks, from computer research to electronic hardware assembly. At the moment, they were sitting side-by-side in front of a large vid screen, sorting through the missing employees’ client lists. “Clarnick. A regular. Kelty liked him.”

“Why?”

Julliet took a deep breath. “Simple. He treated her well.”

“Was he obsessed with her?”

“No. He had a favorite female sexpert at every space port.” She paged through

the long list. “Now Hebert… where is he? He’s obsessed. Every payday, he’d seek Kelty out and claim her for half the day. Ah, here’s his file. He’s worked at drilling site #847 since it opened.” Dragen keyed remarks into his electronic notepad. “I’ll have security check him out.” “Hebert had no interest in Shaneal though. I can’t imagine why he’d kidnap her first.” “Let’s start with Shaneal then. Who might want to break her out of here?” Julliet frowned at him. “This isn’t a prison. Anyone can quit and walk away, if they want to, without repercussions.” “I thought most prostitutes on Callisto were sold at auction when they arrived.”

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“Only the ones who’ve broken the law. There are plenty of law abiding sex caterers who seek out Healing Waters. Pandora never attends the auctions.” The lie stuck in her throat. “Well, she bought a sex slave once, but it was a favor for Blade.” Julliet winced. That made Blade sound inhumane. Steele’s brother might be stubborn and intimidating, but his purchase corrected a huge error. “It’s a long story.” Dragen chortled. “You’re talking about Blade’s wife? Steele told me about that unlikely union.” “He did?” “Yeah. I’ve known Steele a long time.” Julliet blinked in surprise. “So Steele asked you to come here?” “Yes… er… no. Pandora and Steele both did, without the other knowing.” He grinned. “They still think with one mind and they don’t even realize it.” One body. One mind. His thoughts filtered into her mind and shocked her anew. The newly discovered telepathy scared her. So much power to influence others. So much responsibility. She didn’t want to know everyone’s darkest secrets. She wanted to be normal. “So who did you meet first, Steele or Pandora?” “Steele. I accompanied my mother to one of his botany seminars here. Steele developed a root system that thrives in any soil, even in the frozen northern hemisphere of Terras Five.” “Speaking of the Arctic, could I ask you to adjust the temperature? I’m a little chilly.” The sex last night must’ve worn her down more than she thought. “Computer. Raise temperature two degrees Celsius.” Concern emanated from him, which warmed her more than the increased heat. “Thanks.” “Your comfort is important to me. Let me know if I can do anything else for you.”

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Heat burned her chest. She tugged her bodice up to hide any telltale blushing across her breasts and willed her rapid pulse to settle. “So, besides being an interpreter and a tinker, you’re a botanist?” “No. Thought I’d be bored out of my mind, but Steele and I connected right away. He’d just separated from Pandora and I -- We were both learning to live without a partner.” Julliet bit her lip. She wanted to ask what happened to his partner, but that would give him an opening to delve into her personal life. Besides, they were getting off track. A kidnapper threatened Healing Waters, her home. Her life. A shiver raked across her shoulders. Dragen gave her an anxious look, pushed back his chair, and rolled over to the next station where his med-scanner lay, partially dismantled. As soon as he moved away, the temperature around her cooled even more. She almost pouted. A nice snuggle with Dragen might warm her up. With a few quick snaps, Dragen reassembled the handheld scanner and then waved it from her neck to her thighs. “You’re running a low grade fever.” “I never get sick. I don’t know what’s the matter with me.” I do. You need to bond with me. How convenient. Julliet frowned at his arrogant diagnosis, but a part of her wondered… Dragen held out his hand to help her out of her seat. “Let me take you to the med-station. An antibiotic booster might help.” She let him pull her upright but she wrinkled her nose at him. “I hate those things. They make my muscles limp.” How odd. Standing chest to chest with Dragen made her feel better. I can think of pleasant ways to warm you up but you’d still feel boneless when we finished. Julliet stared at him. Gods, why didn’t they fuck and get it over with? “Did I tell you everyone in my father’s line has the telepathy gene?”

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A single white brow rose in response. “I never explored the possibility I might have it. I didn’t want anything from my father. My father used telepathy for personal gain and ruined my youth, isolated me from my family and my people. I don’t want the power to manipulate anyone based on their thoughts. And I don’t want to invade their privacy. Now it seems telepathic thoughts reach me without me trying.” “You might not have a choice, sweetheart, until you learn to block them. Or you may be so sensitive to others’ emotions you believe you know what they’re thinking.” “Maybe. Can we test it? Speak to me with your mind.” “Okay.” Our bond is growing stronger. He cut off that train of thought. I can make you feel better. Julliet smiled at him, knowing exactly where he was going with that thought. She’d been wrong about him -- all he ever thought about was sex. With her. “Very sure of yourself, aren’t you?” The brow arched higher. “You can read my thoughts.”

“Only yours, it seems.”

There’s a reason for that.

“What reason?”

He hesitated for a heartbeat or two. “We’re both Shoni.”

Julliet cocked her head at him. “You’re hiding something. There’s more to it than

that.” Gods, Julliet. Can’t you see? Did he mean his aura? She concentrated hard on the air around him. At first, his aura manifested as clear, shimmering heat. Slowly, the sheen separated into golden waves with flares of red and gold. “You look like you’re on fire.” For you. You’re… Either she was losing complete thoughts or he was getting better at shutting her out.

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“An aura can tell you much.” Dragen’s hand floated above her shoulder and down her arm without making any contact, and yet Julliet could feel his gentle caress warming her chilled skin. “The first time I saw you, I knew you were… special.” He raised his other hand and skimmed it along her other side. “Stunning.” Heat flushed her skin. “You must be blind. There are many females here more beautiful than I.” The tips of his fingers swept along her jaw line. “You’re wrong. There’s no one more beautiful to me than you.” His hand slipped through her hair and cupped the back of her head. His soft gaze searched hers. “Kiss me.” Instead of taking exception to his command, she embraced it. She wanted to kiss him, and so much more. Her palms smoothed over his chest, slid up his neck, and cupped his solid jaw. Their lips met in a gentle slide. Heat flared from inside out, soothing the goosebumps on her arms. “Mmm.” His broad hands pressed against her back and slowly drew her body flush with his until her breasts crushed against his firm chest. Warmth seeped into her bones. Mouths parted. Tongues parried experimentally. Flames flickered through her core and she plunged her tongue into his mouth. If he wanted her to kiss him, she’d show him everything she had to give and then some. It might be her only chance to savor him. His fingers kneaded her ass through the thin fabric of her pants. I want you, Julliet. So much, so very much. This craving for him scared the hell out of her. She’d spent years fighting emotional attachments -- with her parents, her captor, her lovers, her clients, even her friends. She’d lived through enough relationships to know, good or bad, they all ended in pain, and she feared being that vulnerable again. Let Dragen take what he wanted and be satisfied. No, damn it! Not this time. This time she wanted it all. She wanted Dragen licking, sucking, biting, caressing her, craving her as much as she craved him. Worshiping her body. Loving her.

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Oh gods. She balled her fists at her sides. She wanted too much. Butterflies swarmed in her belly. “I want you too.” A deep growl rumbled up his throat. He broke the kiss and bent her backward, his lips nibbling their way down her stretched neck, over her collarbone, and into her exposed cleavage. Her breath caught in her throat. The feel of Dragen’s tongue dipping between her breasts, his hot breath fanning her skin, the murmurs of uncontrollable desire vibrating his throat, cast a shiver over her shoulders and down her arms. This was what had always been missing in her previous relationships. Passion. Hers. The pulse pounding in her neck. The warm flush heating her skin. Desire drenching her core. Exhilaration. Anxiety. She feared the fingers pressing into her back, holding her up, would slip away too soon, leaving her yearning for him. She couldn’t let that happen. With steady fingers, she unclasped the front of her cropped top and let it fall open, exposing her full breasts for his hungry mouth. Dragen pulled back, the light in his eyes gleaming. “Gorgeous.” He latched onto a spot near her heart and left a rosy circle before his mouth meandered around the curve of her breast, spiraling toward the apex. Julliet let out a soft sigh of relief, a little too soon. Tension vibrated her body when the tip of his tongue circled one nub until it stiffened, then retreated, working his way over to the other nipple, already hardening with anticipation. His tongue lapped around and around, his steamy breath driving Julliet to distraction. “Suck it,” she pleaded, pushing her breasts higher. He ignored her, nibbling down the inner curve, his teeth scraping and his lips soothing. So delicious. Was that her thought or his?

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He supported her back with one hand, while the other glided from her waist up to the underside of her breast. He molded the plump curve in his large palm and mumbled a masculine sound of approval. Julliet gripped his arms and arched into his hand. His palm slid up and closed over the fullness, fingers first plucking then caressing, massaging in circular movements, his fingertips now digging deep into the ample flesh. She whimpered at the heaviness spreading through her body. Warm wet heat saturated her vagina. For the first time in her life, she didn’t need any mental or physical preparation before sex. One look at Dragen’s scorching gaze and she melted. With him, she’d discovered what sex should be. No, not sex. Making love. She never knew… couldn’t have even imagined… so overwhelming. Arousal consumed every inch of her body, bringing it alive, and pushing her beyond anything she’d ever experienced. “Dragen, please…” Finally, his hot mouth closed over the aching nipple and slowly teased it fully erect, drawing it in, slurping at it, then tugging hard. “Oh!” A jolt of electricity raced from the stiff nipple, through her breast, down her belly, and flashed into her womb. Cream dripped from her pussy. Her hips strained against him. “Fuck me, fuck me.” She was about to jump out of her skin. His mouth popped off her nipple. “Not yet, love.” Another shiver racked her body when he slid his moist lips over to her other nipple. With each inward draw, she pressed her mons against him, desperately riding his thigh. Gods, he made her body sing! The feeling went beyond physical lust though. Not love. She didn’t know him well enough for that. Yet, there was a connection. She knew she belonged to him. And he belonged to her. She shrugged off her strange empathic conclusions as a new wave of erotic heat hummed through her veins. “I want to taste all of you, Julliet.”

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“Yes. Yes!” Dragen drew her shoulders upright, then bent down and shimmied her pants over her hips until the thin layers pooled at her feet. His fingers brushed aside the skimpy triangle covering her mons and delved through the damp white curls. “Here is where you hide your Shoni heritage, eh?” He untied her G-string and pressed his soft yet firm lips against her sex, and she heard him inhaling deeply. “Hmm, so luscious.” His breath puffed out in a warm mist. Her head swimming, she spread her legs. “Dragen…” Dragen caught her by the waist and stood, lifting her onto a table he cleared with a swipe of his arm. I need you. Julliet leaned back, supporting herself on locked elbows. When he pushed her legs wide, a cool breeze swept across her hot wet pussy. Her inner muscles contracted, eager for the penetration by his long rigid cock. Finally, she’d learn if fantasy outweighed reality. “Hurry, Dragen.” But instead of stripping off his pants, he knelt and separated her lips, his thick, tanned male fingers exposing her honey drenched center. “Hmm. Perfection. Pink and juicy, pulsing with desire. Your sweet scent is making me so hard, do you know that?” Julliet couldn’t speak, could barely shake her head. She felt as if she might explode and he hadn’t penetrated her yet. He breathed into her opening, filling her with warm moist air. His sultry breath fluttered up into her belly and straight on to the clog in her throat. Oh, gods. She tensed and held her breath, anticipating the titillating contact on her pussy. His eyes flared hot and then his tongue stabbed into her core and swirled around, sampling the liquid heat inside. Julliet gasped and her hips bucked off the table. She’d underestimated him. Them. This heart pounding pleasure would never be enough. She needed him in her life. Always. Her breath sawed in her chest. “Easy, love.” A palm glided over her mons, the motion calming, while at the same time the rough texture tormented.

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She exhaled deeply. Although tempted to fall back on her sex caterer training to stifle her desires, she resisted. Dragen chose to pleasure her. She’d be a fool not to enjoy his attentions to the fullest. His other hand slid down to her inner thighs, gently stroking, and then his mouth closed over her opening, drawing deep. Desperate to touch him, she shifted to one side and slid her fingers through his silky hair, communicating her delight by gently massaging his scalp. The suction eased into little sips and then his tongue slipped back inside, tickling and teasing. Each slurp of his tongue produced another gush of cream. She’d never experienced anything like it. Weak with tension, she lowered her back onto the tabletop. Without stopping his gentle onslaught, Dragen drew her hips closer to the edge, humming and moaning while he licked and probed. Each vibration, each hum took her higher and higher. Heavens, she could lay here like this forever, her lover pleasuring her with his mouth. Tiny contractions gripped her cunt with every sensuous flick of his tongue, blazing a trail of fire through her nerves. The chill had dissipated. A flush of sensual heat permeated her body. A hard spasm caught her unaware. “Oooh.” Her breath hitched. The pulse in her neck thumped faster. “More, Dragen. More.” A few hard thrusts of his tongue over her clit and then his mouth suckled the center of her passion. “Oh, gods!” Thick fingers prodded the entrance to her drenched pussy. “Yes.” She pushed against the probing digits. “Yes!” A quick lift of her legs and she pressed her heels against his solid shoulders, then opened wider, tilting her hips to give him better access. Two fingers slid in deep. “Oh… my… oh…” Between the pull of his mouth and his plundering fingers, every cell in her body was alive. She pressed her sodden pussy against his face, demanding more. Everything he had to give. “Dragen,” she panted.

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“Hmm?” His voice vibrated deep into her body. He made her soar. She bucked and strained, wrapped in a vortex of golden fire, squeezing tighter. Tighter. No one had ever made her feel so good. So pleasured. So wanted. “Draaagen!”

Chapter Five The climax blasted throughout her body in convulsions of heat and light. Her nails dug into his shoulders. Her heartbeat raced. Hard panting hurt her lungs. Pleasure crashed through her, then rolled out into gently lapping waves. “Holy Mother Terras,” she breathed. One last slow lick over her sensitive bud and her inner muscles constricted around his implanted fingers, sucking them in, as if trying to keep them inside her. Her weak body shuddered. “Stop.” Sliding his fingers free, Dragen pressed his other palm over her rampant heartbeat, the heat of his hand burning at the same time it soothed her. “Rest, my darling.” “Rest! I can’t rest when I’ve just had the best orgasm of my life,” Julliet panted, hoping the tingling between her legs never stopped. “In fact, I didn’t know how intense an orgasm could be until now. Couldn’t even imagine…” A slow smile lit Dragen’s face. “What you just experienced is but a ripple on surface water compared to the tsunami when we join.” He stood up between her legs and massaged the muscles in her thighs. Julliet leaned up on her elbows and laughed breathlessly. “Oh, gods, you’ll kill me.” She glanced down at the considerable bulge at his crotch and wondered if she could handle him. It had been such a long time since she’d had a real cock inside her. And by the looks of it, Dragen’s generous dimensions surpassed anything she’d experienced in the past. Why he wanted her still mystified her. He could have any female in the galaxy. Why settle for damaged goods? Granted, she was the only Shoni female on Callisto, but

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if he wanted a Shoni so bad, Terras Five wasn’t so far he couldn’t whiz home and seduce a Shoni female. “Don’t worry, sweet,” he assured her. “We’ll fit.” “If you say so.” “Now is not the time to join.” He clasped her ankles and lowered her legs. “Why not?” She sat up with a scowl, confused and a little angry he’d denied her total satisfaction. Oral sex was great, but she wanted him. “Your body has accepted me, but your heart and mind have not. You don’t trust me. You don’t believe in me. In us.” She couldn’t deny it. She wanted everything he had to give but panicked at the thought of opening her heart to him. It wasn’t selfishness or cowardice; it was selfdefense. The father she loved had betrayed her. Over time, her captor made her believe he cared for her. But he didn’t. He’d used her like all the other sex partners in her life. She couldn’t bear it if Dragen tore down her defenses and then walked away. “How do you know what I think? Are you a telepath too?” “No, but my empathic ability is strong enough to sense you holding back, blocking me out. You’re afraid, not of me exactly… Hmm… What I represent? Your heritage? Commitment? I’m not sure.” He pushed her long bangs out of her eyes. “We can tackle your demons together, love. I’m right here for you.” “For how long?” He swallowed hard. “That’s up to you.” A lump caught in her throat. Could she trust him with her heart? “Believe me, my body burns for you, Julliet. I’ve never been strung so tight. But I need more than that. And so do you.” He smoothed the furrow between her brows. “Our time will come. It is fated.” “I don’t believe in fate. Every action results in a reaction. Some good, some bad. Don’t take me for granted, Dragen. If we don’t have sex now, you may never get another chance again.”

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Dragen grinned. “Oh, I think I will. Repeatedly. We’re on the right path. Trust me. When you no longer question our link --” “Link… pfft.” Julliet hopped off the table and scooped up her clothes. “That is the biggest jumble of double talk I’ve ever heard. I do believe there’s a connection between us. At least for me. But since you’re not willing to have sex, you’re wasting my time.” She jammed her arms through her crop top’s armholes, tugged the front over her tender breasts, and clipped the two halves together. “I’ve never been so attracted to a male, but I’m sure that’s routine for you.” The fine layers of her balloon pants billowed as she jerked them up and secured the top band at her hips. She huffed at the G-string still lying on the metal floor. “I guess you get off by giving your lovers a taste of ecstasy and leaving them hungering for more. Is that why Tasha looks at you like a starving pet? Is she waiting for seconds? Well, count me out. I won’t play that game.” She glared at him, her chest heaving with indignation. Dragen clasped his hands around her arms in an angry grip. “Stop it, Julliet. You sound like Steele. Jealous over nothing.” He gave her a little shake. “Listen to me. No one, at Healing Waters or elsewhere, means more to me than you. The sooner you accept that, the sooner we can bond.” “I’m supposed to believe you? Such a smooth talker. I’m just an easy --” Strong arms yanked her close and his mouth crushed her lips. Julliet struggled, but only for a moment. The taste of her on his lips sparked a longing so strong she melted against his body. The hard erection pressing against her belly told her how much he wanted her. So why didn’t he take her? Why? The explanation tumbled around her brain. One body, one mind. Our time will come when you accept our link. Trust me. Open your heart -- your soul -- as you have opened your body. No one had ever asked for more than her body. No one cared if her heart and mind were engaged or not. Only the cold mechanics of sex mattered. If she gave Dragen what he asked, she feared he’d shatter her heart in the end. No one had ever looked

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beyond her disfigured face, her protective shield, to the woman beneath, and now that she stared love in the eyes, panic drove a wedge between them. In his brash kiss, he communicated not only sexual frustration but heart-rending distress. Believe in me, sweetheart. Love me. A flutter of tenderness filled her heart and she accepted Dragen wasn’t as shallow as she made him out to be. Shame clenched her heart. From the moment he’d cupped her face in his hands outside Kelty’s room, sincerity and empathy emanated from him. She’d twisted his feelings into something dark, put him on the same level as every other male she’d ever known. But Dragen was different. He truly cared about her. Deep down, she knew loving this male would be easy. Too easy. Tense shoulders rippled beneath her fingers. She skimmed her hands up the cords in his neck and over his smoothly shaven jaw. Her fingertips played between their mouths, slowing his assault. Gradually, she pulled away and he became occupied with nipping at the fingers stroking his lips. Then his tongue moved out to play, slipping between her slender digits. Goosebumps danced on her arms. This time, the chill wasn’t due to cold. “Oh, Julliet.” Watching her with smoldering eyes, he pressed a wet kiss against her open palm. “Trust… You ask a lot of me,” she said softly. “I know.” He pressed her arm down to her side and stepped back to put space between them. “You don’t yet understand.” “What I --” A blaring siren interrupted her. “What the hell is that?” Dragen shouted. “Accident at the drilling site! Prepare for a tremor.” Julliet grabbed onto a bar bolted into the wall with one hand. Although the low bar usually served a more sensual purpose, it worked well for simple support. At the first rumble beneath their feet, Dragen lunged over, grabbed the bar, and bent over, protecting her body with his own. “Does this happen often?”

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In order to be heard above the screaming alarm, Julliet pulled his head down and replied directly into his ear. “They’re drilling through miles of ice to an ocean below the moon’s mantle. Sometimes they hit a volatile gas pocket. The gas rushes to the surface and water pours into the void. The displacement rocks Callisto.” Electronic components vibrated across the worktables, several pieces shimmying over the edge and clanking onto the floor. Dragen enfolded Julliet in his arms, holding her tight as the floor wobbled beneath them. A moment later, the tremors stilled. “I’ve got to help the med-team with any injured workers.” Julliet leaned back and pushed at his chest. “Let me go change my clothes.” “I’m going too.” “Fine. They’ll need another pair of brawny arms.”

*** She’d seen worse disasters. It was almost frightening how she’d gotten used to the devastation a drilling site accident produced. Crumpled beams lay twisted and scorched from the explosion. Medical personnel, a growing career path on Callisto, hustled from body to body, tagging and prioritizing. Burned exoskeletons splattered with melted rig parts lay sprawled out around the site, some still writhing in pain. Julliet helped calm those creatures first. One particular Earthling, stable but weak against the relentless pain of a missing limb, refused to let her hand go. Julliet soothed him with a hand on his brow. “I’ll come with you to the medcenter, all right? The med-team can fix you, I promise.” Inside the nearby hospice, medical equipment hummed and specialists repaired what they could. Familiar with the routine, Julliet followed whatever orders the medteam shouted at her. Only the new personnel took a second look at her scarred face. More than once in the past, a med-technician had offered facial restoration. It was an easy procedure learned in the first year of training. Sometimes the offer came out of pity, or the opportunity for practical experience, but more often than not, the young interns saw a way to reap future sexual favors. She’d always refused. Now,

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catching a glimpse of her scarred face reflected in a glass wall, she wondered if the disfigurement had served the purpose she’d hoped. The scar might remind her how she’d been “burned,” but she still hadn’t mastered how to protect her heart. From selfserving interns and horny customers, yes. But Dragen… “Julliet! We need you outside!” As soon as she jogged through the portal behind the med-tech, she automatically searched for Dragen. His fiery aura served as a beacon. Pride swelled when she spotted him clearing heavy debris off survivors. Golden light indicates goodness, Julliet. Her mother’s words. The memory startled her. She could see her mother holding her tiny hand, the two of them walking through town. When you meet your mate, his aura… His aura what? She couldn’t remember. She didn’t want to remember! Not the sweetness of her mother’s voice or her golden light. Dragen brought those memories back. Is that why she pushed him away? Distrusted him? It wasn’t fair, she supposed, to judge him by her past. Every time she thought of him, her heart mellowed -- and fear climbed up her throat. “This group requires sedatives,” the med-tech instructed. Julliet blinked back to the present. “No problem.” The battered bodies barely registered. On the other side of a pile of rubble, she saw Pandora, still scantily clad, passing out antibiotic patches. She caught her friend’s eye and smiled weakly. Business would improve when the spared workers visited Healing Waters to bury their fears, pain, and loneliness in the soft comfort of a lover’s embrace. Not far away, Steele delivered a section of greenhouse wall to be used as a temporary buffer over the cracked environmental shield while engineers repaired the rift. Julliet was certain he gave the safety manager an earful, again, about the lax safety measures at the drill sites. Many Healing Waters employees had shown up to help. The masseuse used her soothing relaxation skills until help arrived. Tasha helped out with the site security

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team. Even the prima donna prostitute, Danielle, assisted with the loading and unloading of bodies. Pandora had chosen her business partners well. Cleanup continued into the early evening with no sign of completion in the near future. Julliet dragged her tired butt into the med-center for a short rest. “Is the nutrition processor still functioning?” she asked a passing tech. “Sluggish, but working,” he replied without stopping. Without thinking, she scanned each med-pad she passed and stretched out a comforting hand to those deep in depression. One young male, blackened with soot, his face and torso covered in gashes, reached out and grabbed her arm in a surprisingly strong grip. “Julliet,” he rasped. She looked harder at the injured patient. Her hand flew up to cover her shocked gasp. “Carlton! What are you doing here?” “Meeting Percel.” He coughed and blood trickled from a deep cut on his cheek. “Percel? Your client?” She knelt down next to his bed, dabbed at the blood with the thermal cover, and kept her voice low. “You never should’ve run off without a goodbye.” “Didn’t.” The grip on her arm weakened. “Taken.” Her heartbeat jumped. “By whom?” “Thugs. Heard them mention the Captain. Woke up on slaver ship.” “Oh, Carlton.” She stroked his sooty face. “I’m sorry.” His hand slipped off her arm. “Need Percel. Please find him.” “Yes, of course. What site does he work? I’ll find him for you.” “This site.” Oh, dear. “Okay.” She wanted to ask him more about his capture, but right now he needed his lover. His injuries didn’t appear life threatening. There’d be time to talk later. The patient manifest scrolled down a four-sided computer screen hanging from the ceiling, but reading the names from this distance proved impossible. She patted

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Carlton’s hand. “I’ll be right back,” she said, and weaved through the cots for a closer look. The names and bed numbers rolled by twice, before she heaved a sigh of relief. No Percel listed. She turned back, saw a tech at Carlton’s side, and raced back. “What are you doing?” “He needed a sedative.” The tech turned his back on her and walked away. “Not now.” Her shoulders slumped. It wasn’t until she noticed blood no longer seeped from Carlton’s cheek that she realized he no longer breathed. “Carlton!” She placed her fingers over the protruding artery in his neck. No heartbeat. When she scanned the room for the supposed healer, he’d disappeared. “Med!” A different tech showed up at her side, but it was too late. The scanner indicated massive brain hemorrhaging as the cause of death. Panic struck her hard in the chest. She had to find Percel. Julliet ran through the med-center’s portal and slammed into Tasha’s back. Grabbing hold in a balancing act, she took a moment to right them both. “Tasha, I need your help,” she said breathlessly. “I need to find Percel. You know, Carlton’s favorite? He might be in danger.” Cool as can be, Tasha nodded. “Can you point me in the right direction?” “He works this site and he’s not in the med-center. That’s all I know. He’s got to be around here somewhere.” “I’m on it.” “Thanks. You’re the best.” Tasha smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Julliet didn’t have time for Tasha’s lack of compassion right now. She had to find Pandora or Steele. And Dragen. Where was Dragen? As if she’d conjured him up, Dragen turned the corner. One look at her face and he rushed forward. “What’s wrong?”

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She didn’t bother to ask how he knew she needed him. “I found Carlton. Then I lost him. We’ve got to find Percel. He has the answers.” “Whoa. Slow down.” The gentle strokes over her arms calmed her. She took a deep breath. “I found our first missing sex caterer, Carlton, injured, in the med-center. He told me he’d been kidnapped. Before I could learn more, someone got to him and killed him.” “You’re sure he didn’t die of his injuries?” “Yes. The med-scan showed he had a lethal dose of cocaine in his system. It caused a brain hemorrhage.” She covered her face and kneaded her forehead. “I only left him alone for a minute. I even spoke to the tech who injected him. I’d never seen him before and then he disappeared. I couldn’t find him again.” “So what does Percel have to do with this?” “Carlton said he was meeting him here, so Percel knew Carlton was coming. He might have purchased him from the slaver or stolen him back. Who knows? Whatever the case, someone didn’t want Carlton connecting with Percel.” “Is there anyone back at Healing Waters who can access the client base?” “Kira, I think.” Dragen pressed the locator button on his handheld. “Kira. Healing Waters.” A blink later, Kira answered. “This is Dragen. I need to know what section Percel worked at the drilling site.” “One moment.” Keyboard keys clicked rapidly and they got their answer. “The Quality Lab.” “Thanks.” “It’s this way.” Julliet grabbed his hand and led Dragen toward a distant building at a fast clip. She approached the entrance, hope riding high. “He’s probably in there crying over his ruined test samples.” An eerie quiet shrouded the lab. The harsh smell of chemicals assailed her nostrils and burned her eyes. A few spare emergency gas masks dangled from the ceiling.

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Dragen grabbed her hand and held her back from moving too far into the room. “Everyone probably evacuated because it’s not safe.” “Percel?” she shouted. Her voice echoed back. “Not here. Let’s go.” “Wait. Listen.” Blinking back the stinging tears in her eyes, Julliet turned toward the faint whir coming from an enclosed side office. “A generator?” Dragen prevented her from stepping forward. “He might be in there,” she said in exasperation. “Mother Terras help me,” Dragen mumbled. He grabbed two gas masks and secured Julliet’s first. “Make it fast. I don’t want my skin peeling off.” “Wimp.” The response came out unexpectedly, a poor attempt at humor to break the anxiety gripping her. Dragen rolled his eyes at her and slipped on the protective gear. “Come on.” Dragen led the way, pushing hard against the sliding portal to gain entry. “What the hell?” One quick look at the body on the floor and Julliet turned away. A burn singed the edges of Percel’s ragged, open skull. It didn’t take a med-tech to tell her laser fire killed him. “We’d better notify Steele and Pandora,” Dragen said, guiding Julliet out of the room. She stumbled, all the horrors of the day hitting her at once. Dragen scooped her up and chanted a soothing string of unintelligible sounds. Julliet looped both arms over his shoulders and hid her face, gas mask and all, in his neck. A natural nurturer, she’d never had someone take care of her before. Warm and languid, she cuddled closer. Outside the lab, he removed his gas mask, then hers. “Trust me, Julliet. I’ll protect you.” Her lips settled on his sweaty skin and she gave him a brief, hard hug. They found Pandora wandering around the perimeter of the site. “I can’t locate Steele. Have you seen him?”

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Dragen set Julliet on her feet and supported her wobbly legs by looping his arms around her waist. “He promised to bring extra force field cones from his plantation. He should be back anytime now.” “He doesn’t answer my call.” Dragen whipped out his locator. “Steele Kevlar.” Lights flashed across the screen, indicating the minicomputer found his bio signs, but no one answered. “Oh, shit.” Pandora twisted her hands together. “Where is he?” Her voice squeaked with worry. “At the shuttle launch pad.”

Chapter Six Julliet cocked her head at Dragen. “What is Steele doing at the launch pad?” A sense of dread raced through his veins. “By the fading signal, I’d say he’s speeding into space.” “What?” Pandora grabbed the locator from his hand. Her face paled as she studied the screen. “I don’t understand.” Frantically, she pressed a series of buttons. “Why doesn’t he answer his communicator?” “Any chance he’s meeting Blade?” Julliet looked over her friend’s shoulder at the locator readings. “It wouldn’t be the first time the brothers met under secretive circumstances.” “Steele would have told one of us he had to leave. Something’s wrong. I can feel it here.” Pandora clutched a fist to her heart. Silently, Dragen agreed. First a kidnapped prostitute died suspiciously, then a client was murdered, and now Steele had disappeared. “Let’s get everyone back to Healing Waters. You’re too exposed out here.” Neither Pandora nor Julliet protested. They spread the word and soon they loaded onto the big-wheeled Trovers heading back to the colony. His heart went out to Pandora. He’d be fighting tears too if he thought something terrible had happened to his love. Julliet sat between Dragen and her friend, holding Pandora’s hand, absorbing Pandora’s misery. Steele’s unknown circumstances split Dragen’s priorities. If it weren’t for Julliet’s weakening state, he would’ve trailed Steele in a heartbeat. Instead, he’d called in a few favors from space traveler friends and notified Blade, Steele’s brother, a reformed renegade who excelled at tracking criminals in space. As for Julliet, he had to maintain a physical link as much as possible until they mated.

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Dragen laid his hand, palm open, on the seat edge between their thighs. Julliet slipped hers over his and entwined her fingers. The small gesture comforted his waning spirit. Julliet glanced up at him, color slowly seeping back into her pale cheeks. The energy drain always affected females more, partially due to size and relative strength, but Dragen wasn’t immune. They needed to bond, any way at all, in order to maintain their strength. If she didn’t choose to mate with him on a permanent basis, the power they shared would eventually diminish and he’d have to rely on a drug supplement or settle for a less perfect match in order to stop his body’s weakness and finally, disintegration. Either way, he’d never regain normal energy levels let alone enjoy the happiness and fulfillment he’d found with Julliet. The woman who controlled his future looked at him and gave him a small smile. Encouraged, Dragen slid his leg over until their knees touched. Another sizzle of energy buzzed through his veins. On an indrawn breath, Julliet sat up straighter and snuggled up to him shoulder to shoulder. He smiled at the dawning revelation crossing her face. One body. One mind, Julliet. She stared at him, a little afraid, yet curious. He gave her fingers a light squeeze. Now wasn’t the time to explain the power linking them. Soon, in private, he’d show her how the slightest touch intensified the connection between them. Back at the complex, Pandora sent away the remaining customers with lavish gifts in their hands and secured all portals. Blade hailed her on her communicator and she locked herself in her office to answer the call. “Pandora is crushed,” Julliet said on the way to her quarters. “She’s putting up a strong front. Inside, she’s fractured. We have to tell her about Carlton and Percel, but I’m afraid the news might break her.” “When I contacted Blade, I filled him in on everything. He has a suspect in mind.” “He does?” Julliet walked into her quarters and waited for Dragen to enter behind her. “Who?” “A Captain Pickford. He kidnapped Blade and Steele’s sister --”

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“Zara. I remember him. He tried to kidnap Blade’s lover too.” Dragen watched, mesmerized, as Julliet stripped out of her grimy rescue work clothes without a hint of shyness and donned a sheer pale pink robe. She’d done it so naturally, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Julliet sat on her window bench, oblivious to her allure. “Last I heard, Pickford dwelled in a high security retention center.” He swallowed and refocused. “That wouldn’t prevent him from orchestrating a revenge scheme against Blade’s family.” “I suppose not.” She twisted her hair over her shoulder, deep in thought. “I’m confident Blade will retrieve his brother,” Dragen tried to assure her, but worry dimmed her eyes. “In good health?” “If the kidnapper expects to live, he’d better take good care of Steele.” Dragen crossed the room and knelt before Julliet. “I’m more concerned about you. How are you feeling?” He skimmed his palms over the gauzy fabric covering her thighs. Julliet gasped aloud. “How do you do that? It’s like gulping down an ice cold power drink every time you touch me. My head spins and I feel like I can bend titanium.” He smiled. “Our strength lies in each other. When we touch, we become one.” “Is this true of all Shoni?” Forbidden by ancient law to manipulate a female to mate, even if her aura indicated a match, Dragen hesitated to reveal too much. Yet, a Terras Five raised female would know all the nuances of the mating ritual. Julliet deserved to make her choice based on the same understanding. “Not every Shoni experiences a connection like this.” “It’s our auras, isn’t it?” “Partially… Similar hues create a stronger bond. The rest is simple male female attraction.” She glanced up through her eyelashes. “I thought all females were attracted to you.”

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“Hmm. Maybe.” He grinned at her teasing tone. “But none attract me the way you do.” “Not even the females on Terras Five with similar hues?” Dragen drew a deep breath. He wanted to tell her their auras blended flawlessly, they were made for each other, but she’d have to discover that for herself. His thumbs stroked her inner thighs. “No. I’ve never met a female as perfect as you.” Julliet clenched her legs together. “Does this bond also make me weak when I’m not touching you?” Dragen blew out his breath. How to explain this? “The truth will do.” “Reading my mind again, Julliet?” “I catch snatches of thoughts without trying. Sorry.” “It makes me walk the straight and narrow when I’m around you.” “As if you don’t anyway.” Her observation surprised him. Pleased him. “Do you truly believe that?” “Yes. Now quit stalling. Does the connection weaken me when we’re apart?” “Not exactly. You’re going through a phase called Bridging where you’re expending more energy than normal.” Heat rushed up his neck to his face. “Are you sure you don’t remember your mother talking to you about this?” “Yes, I’m sure. Continue.” He took a deep breath. “When you’re in the vicinity of a bondable male, your, ah, hormone level increases. Your skin tingles. Your pulse races. You feel hot. Fidgety. Yes?” A pretty blush colored Julliet’s cheeks. He felt a quiver run through her legs. “Yes.” “Your aura burns brighter, using more energy reserves.” He glanced down at his hands caressing the top of her legs. “When there is physical contact with the male, the energy you expend is absorbed by him and you absorb his energy in return. It’s a give and take. That’s why you feel powerful. More sensual.” He watched her reaction,

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excited by the sultry blaze in her eyes. “You reach a higher level of equilibrium, completeness, which makes you feel weaker when you’re apart.” He gave up on slipping his hands between her legs and slid them along the outside of her thighs up to her nicely rounded ass. She wiggled on her seat. “The weakness is usually temporary.” “How temporary?” “Bridging lasts about five days unless you choose to eternally bond with the male, which by the way is always the female’s decision. She must choose carefully because the physical and emotional passion achieved during mating is permanent. The more contact before mating, the stronger the bond.” Julliet giggled. “That’s funny?” He tensed at her blithe attitude. Many a Shoni male, on a sexual whim, got caught up in the power of an eternal bond without protection and permanently connected to a female who might not be the best mate. Although he didn’t have to live with her afterwards, living without her made him weak in body and mind. One had to witness such a pitiful union to understand it, so he let her laughter slide. “Sounds like a line to get females to bond with you.” She lowered her voice to a baritone. “Come on, baby. The more we fool around, the better the high.” He frowned. He’d be lying if he claimed he’d never propositioned a female like that when he was young and reckless, before he understood the importance of a strong bond. “I haven’t used a line to get a female in my bed in a very long time.” Julliet made a face at him. “Yes, yes. Creatures swarm all over you begging for sexual favors.” “Don’t tell me you haven’t had your share of fans, Julliet.” “Not lately. One look at my face and they hustle away.” Dragen gripped her chin and studied her face, both good and bad. “Fools. They don’t know beauty when they see it. It’s all around you, Julliet.” With a wicked grin, he pulled her off the bench and across his lap. Her robe fell open. Finally, he had access to the heavenly scent driving him mad. He kissed her while his fingers explored her pussy, dipping into her creamy center and then rubbing the moisture over her clit.

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She sighed into his mouth. Her body relaxed against his firm embrace. Any resistance he’d once felt in her dissipated. Their mind connection grew stronger every moment. In time, she would manage her telepathy and learn all his secrets. Not that he cared. He had nothing to hide from her. Soon, he hoped, she’d open her heart, and choose him for her mate. Julliet clung to him, and then her hands began roaming. Energy flared between them. “Mmm. Dragen…” She planted butterfly kisses on his jaw. “Yes?” “Let’s see how high we can fly.” He wasn’t about to refuse that offer. He rolled her beneath him and pressed his lips to hers. “No, no,” she complained, pushing at his shoulders. He stopped. “What?” A mischievous flicker lit her eyes. “My turn to please you. Taste you.” She leaned forward and licked from the indent between his collarbones up the column of his neck to his chin. Then she pulled his head down and whispered into his ear. “Strip.” Good thing his unitard stretched or he would’ve split every seam removing it. After shucking off his boots and wrenching free of his clothing, he knelt before his cross-legged enchantress. Her gaze seared him as it wandered over his body, settling on his thick upright cock. “Holy Mother Terras,” she mumbled. “Is that for me?” His shaft jerked. “You bet.” A grin tugged at the corner of her mouth. She raked her nails down the center of his torso to the thin white trail of hair below his bellybutton, then up again, swirling the sharp tips around his nipple. Heat flares trailed the path she drew on his skin. Julliet poked him between his pecs. “On your back, big boy.” Gods, he liked being at her mercy. “Yes, ma’am.” He stretched out on the cool metal floor, eager for her next touch.

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“Hands behind your head.” His pulse kicked up. “What am I, your prisoner?” “Yes. My prisoner of desire.” Julliet pressed his arms up and he locked his fingers behind his head. Her wicked smile matched his. She dragged her palms down the underside of his arms to his chest. “I love your body. You’re so… solid.” Strong fingers kneaded his pecs, then drifted lower… lower. He sucked in his stomach when she circled his bellybutton with a fingertip. “Climbing up atrium vines, hefting twisted beams, and chasing down a beautiful female keeps me in shape. Ugh!” The slap to his stomach stung. “You! I’m talking about you, Julliet!” He tugged her on top of him and kissed her soundly. When she pulled back and beamed at him, his heart stood still. With a contented sigh, she slipped to his side and traced the lines across his abs. “I want to explore every ridge and valley of your body.” She rested her chin on his chest and breathed deeply. “You smell like citrus.” “What a coincidence. Since I’ve met you, I’ve had a hankering for fruit -- soft and juicy, something I can sink my teeth into.” “Really. Hmm.” Her sensual investigation changed from fingertip strokes to a flat palm caress. “You have such smooth skin for a male.” “Is that good or bad?” “I like it. Some females prefer a hairy chest.” “Who cares about them?” She smiled and flicked her tongue at his puckered nipple. “You do have some rough spots.” “Mmm.” Julliet’s exploration flamed his fire, especially when her hand dipped down, skimmed over his rock hard staff and gently cupped his balls. A sharp intake of breath filled his lungs and burst out in a rush. Gods, she drove him wild. Dragen held perfectly still as Julliet kissed her way down his muscle packed torso, and swirled her tongue on the skin a fraction away from his throbbing cock head.

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“I sincerely hope you’re not going to tease me and leave me over something I said which may have assaulted your female sensibilities and I’m unaware I committed.” Julliet chuckled. “Feeling guilty, Dragen?” “No. Just desperate.” He could feel her smile as she nibbled her way down his throbbing shaft, millimeter by agonizing millimeter. When she reached the base and laved his balls, he grunted at the jolt that ripped to every nerve ending in his body. He lifted his head to watch her lick up the other side of his thick shaft, his ardor growing with every flick of her tongue. It was a sight he planned to carry with him forever. Then she whirled her hot wet mouth around the broad head and the room faded away. Nothing existed but Julliet’s supple caresses, her pink hair tickling his thigh, her smooth hands wandering over his torso, the scent of the floral perfume she wore to cover the lingering smell of ashes and death clinging to their skin, the sound of her little moans as she flirted with the crown of his cock. He felt suspended in air. Just when he wanted to nudge his dick deeper into her mouth, the lusty tormentor stopped and looked up at him, her expression full of innocence. “I’m simply testing your theory about the increasing energy levels of a connected pair.” Dragen swallowed hard. “Please… test away… It’s working for me. How about you? Feeling stronger?” “Oh, yes.” Holding his gaze, she closed her luscious mouth over his cock head and sucked. The muscles in his legs twitched. In order to retain some self-control, he dropped his head back onto the floor with a thud, cutting off his view. However, the action failed to stop his mind from imagining her sensual play as she licked and sucked his cock. Finally the minx slid her mouth over his cock, trying to engulf the whole length. When she’d swallowed all she could, she backed off, wrapping one hand firmly around the base, fucking him with her fist while her glistening lips glided over the head.

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“Julliet…” He needed to guide his cock back into the warm depths of her mouth. His shaking fingers tunneled through her pink tresses. She raised passion glazed eyes. “Hmm?” One hand skated up his stomach and tweaked his nipple. He nearly lost it right then. “You’re killing me, darling.” He inhaled sharply when she picked up her pace, slurping his cock in and out of her sopping mouth, teasing the slit at the tip with her tongue. “Yeah… oh, yeah. That’s it.” His fingertips tightened on her skull. He fought the yearning to shove the shaft deep into her throat. He wanted to fuck her mouth so bad. With a wicked gleam in her eye, she worked his cock to the back of her throat, deeper than any female had ever taken him before this way. She slipped her hands beneath his ass and squeezed his cheeks, moving him in and out of her mouth while she held still. Whoa! Her telepathy definitely had its advantages. Carefully, he rocked his huge dick into her warm wet mouth. Fuck, it felt good. Both her hands roamed over his torso now in long gliding strokes. Passion blazed. He sensed how much she wanted to please him, and that alone electrified him. “Oh, Julliet. You were made for me, sweetheart. Suck me…” He was going to lose it. “Oh gods!” His thighs trembled. “I’m going to come!” Julliet responded by plunging her lips toward the base of his rock solid cock while her fingers played with his balls. “Fuck!” For a sentron, he thought about pulling out. His seed belonged in her womb. But a burning spasm lifted his hips and any decisions were yanked out of his mind. Besides, Julliet never stopped loving him with her mouth. Sperm gushed down her slender throat. The welcoming hum from Julliet spurred another jolting spasm from his balls. “Gods, sweetheart.” Dragen pulled back and let the remaining cream dribble down his shaft. He reached out for her and dragged her on top of him. “Right now, I feel like I could fly to Jupiter without a ship.”

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Julliet smiled at him, her face flushed, her eyes bright. “I think there might be something to your Bridging theory after all.” Dragen swept her sweaty bangs off her forehead and gave her a quick kiss. “Did I mention that it makes you insatiable too?” “Oooh, now you reveal the catch.” She bit him playfully on the shoulder. He sat up, supporting her back and swinging her legs past his hips. “I’ll never tire of loving you, Julliet.” The shy smile she gave him made his heart expand in his chest. She was ready for him to slip his cock inside her, to join in the ultimate expression of love, and he was well past ready, but he couldn’t. Not until she pledged herself to him. He gave her a quick kiss and slapped her ass. “Now that we both feel rejuvenated, let’s go see how we can help Pandora.” She hesitated for a heartbeat. “Sounds like a plan. As soon as we’re decent for company.” Her hand skimmed over his chest in a final impulse to connect. I love you, Julliet. He knew she heard his thought by the sensual glance she slid his way.

*** Pandora answered Dragen’s knock on her office door with a look of disgust. “You’re both glowing. In normal circumstances, I’d congratulate you, but I’m not feeling very cheerful at the moment.” Dragen dropped an arm around Julliet’s shoulders, so glad she was safely by his side. “Any news from Blade?” “Not yet, but I received a threat.” “What?” Julliet leaned into his side. Pandora flipped on the intercom and a distorted voice warbled over the speakers. “Shut down Healing Waters and evacuate the premises or your lover dies.” Pandora shut off the communication with a shaking finger. Julliet had been right, her boss hovered on the brink of a breakdown, though looking at her, no one would ever know. Cool and composed on the outside, only her hollow eyes and dim aura

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revealed her pain. Before now, Dragen hadn’t realized how much Pandora truly loved Steele. As their friend, he wished he could fix the rift between them, but only they could heal those wounds. Julliet must have sensed Pandora’s desperation too because she shot him a long, anxious look before turning back to her boss. “I don’t see how shutting down your business benefits Pickford. Maybe this message is from someone else taking advantage of the situation. A competitor?” “Or Pickford isn’t involved at all,” Dragen said. “Why would he arrange the kidnapping of three of your employees? They have no tie to Steele or Blade.” “Maybe the kidnapper thinks Steele and I are still business partners. A ransom request might come through.” Dragen smirked. “As an outsider, I can tell you, Pandora, everyone on Callisto knows you and Steele have altered your relationship from partners to lovers.” Seeing Pandora’s knees tremble, Dragen walked over and guided her to a nearby chair. “The best lead we have is that the kidnap victims have been removed from Callisto and most likely sold to slavers. There’s no need for ransom when he’s getting paid by a criminal. It’s personal revenge the captor is after.” Julliet followed them to Pandora’s desk. “Has anyone looked for Kelty and Shaneal at the other prostitution houses on Callisto?” “Steele sent a team to search every building in the region. They didn’t find the victims’ bio signs,” Dragen told her. “As a safety precaution, I suggest you keep Healing Waters’ portals closed for the time being. I’ll give the voice recording to Tasha. She should be able to unscramble the distortion and give us a true voice.” Pandora stood, strong and confident once more, despite her trembling hands. She balled her fists and pounded them on her desk. “I will not risk Steele’s life over a place we’ve argued about since he left me. We will all leave the premises.” Arguing with the strong willed female would be a waste of time. He, however, had no intention of giving in to a fanatic. “Do you have a safe place to go?” “Steele has a hacienda on his property large enough to accommodate us all.”

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Dragen frowned at her choice. “Isn’t there somewhere without a tie to Steele?” “Don’t worry. When Blade sheltered his fugitive lover there, he secured the place from outside threats.” “All right. Leave in small clusters so you don’t attract attention and make sure there’s a security officer in each group. Don’t reply to the demand message until you’re safely inside the secured zone at Steele’s place.” Julliet stared at him. “Where are you going to be?”

“Here.”

Her spine stiffened. “If you stay, I stay. We’re linked, remember?”

Chapter Seven The second to the last group left Healing Waters on bogus errands. So far, so good. Julliet and Pandora thought it best to keep the staff’s true destination a secret, even from those who traveled there. Only the security team knew the plan. Each group had checked in with Pandora upon arrival at Steele’s fortified hacienda, easing the owner’s worry, which in turn relieved Julliet. The last group included herself, Pandora, Dragen, and Tasha. “Are you ready?” Julliet sincerely hoped the shutdown of Healing Waters wasn’t a ruse by a jealous competitor and Steele would truly be freed once they all left. “I need to download some files and erase the rest,” Pandora replied. “I’ll meet you at the front lobby in a few.” “Okay. I’ll go see what Dragen and Tasha are up to in the security office.” The walk through the quiet halls filled her with an emptiness she hadn’t acknowledged in a long time. Her whole life she’d been giving without taking anything in return. An expert at reading others’ feelings, she buried her own. Dragen had changed all that. Now, she wanted something for herself. Not simply a male lover, but a partner. Someone to love. And to be loved by. Her steps slowed. Finally, she’d found someone she could trust, someone she believed would stand by her side through thick and thin. Oh, Dragen. You’re everything to me. I love you, Julliet. She smiled, unsure if she read his thoughts now or conjured up the memory of the first time he’d thought those tender words. “I love you too, Dragen.”

Elayne S. Venton

Bonds of Justice 3: Dragen’s Fire

- 73 -

Saying the words aloud warmed her heart. She’d gotten used to Dragen by her side, and she wanted him there forever. She needed him. They’d been apart a short time today and already her energy seeped away. She missed that magical bond between them. She missed him, big ego and all. A lock onto his aura, his heart and mind, meant she’d carry a part of him inside her always. Joy instilled a light skip in her step. When this ended, she’d ask him to eternally mate with her. She expected no hesitation from him. He’d made it clear he wanted her from the moment he arrived. Fate, he’d said. Well, maybe. The reason no longer mattered. The belief in their love was enough. With a huge smile on her face, she entered her passcode into the lock outside the security office door and waited for the eye scan to process. Her heart beat a happy rhythm when the door slid open, then faltered when she saw the empty chairs at the console. “Dragen?” Her gaze tracked his answering grunt through the square room to the far left side. Her knees wobbled when she spotted him on the floor. Blindly, she grabbed the doorframe for support and jammed a finger, but the pain registered no more than the sight of Tasha, kneeling beside Dragen’s prone naked body, running her oiled palms over his cock and balls. “Hello, Julliet,” Tasha said pleasantly. Her hands closed around the base of Dragen’s supple shaft and slipped upward to the large crown. “Quite a cunt full, isn’t he?” “It’s not what it looks like, Julliet.” He didn’t raise his head and look at her when he said it. His hate filled stare remained locked on Tasha’s face. “It’s not?” Tasha chuckled. “Your cock feels pretty stiff to me.” “You’ve got a gravity field sucking on my back, arms, and legs, a laser aimed at my neck, and Julliet’s safety hanging over my head, to ensure my compliance.” “All that and I still excite you.” “My dick’s grown harder watching bugs mate.”

Elayne S. Venton

Bonds of Justice 3: Dragen’s Fire

- 74 -

Tasha slapped his face, slamming his head to the side. “I will have you. You see, Julliet,” she said without looking at her, “I know all about your Shoni mating rituals. Once I crank up his ardor and his sperm gushes into my womb, our DNA will bond, and he’ll be linked to me forever.” “It’ll never happen,” he spit out. “Oh, I guarantee it will.” She reached between his legs and squeezed his balls. Dragen winced. “Or your pink-haired infatuation will fry.” Tasha pointed her laser at Julliet’s feet and fired. Metal twisted. Sparks flew. Julliet jumped back. She inhaled sharply, more shocked by Tasha’s malice than the stinging spray of laser fire that glanced off the floor and burnt her ankles. “Don’t look away!” Tasha commanded. Julliet glanced up in time to see Dragen stare heatedly into Tasha’s eyes. “I’m the only female worth having and don’t you forget it.” The security officer resumed milking Dragen’s cock with her slick hand. Julliet ground her teeth in anger, ignoring the tingling of the laser burn. If she had a chance, she’d rush Tasha, but she’d never make it over there before Tasha fired at her again. Plus the security officer wore anti-gravity boots which meant as soon as she stepped off the gravity field grid, she’d be flying across the room at Julliet. There had to be another way. Use your mind. Julliet stared at Dragen. Yes, they had one advantage. “Tell me what you want me to do.” “I don’t want anything from you,” Tasha snapped, believing Julliet spoke to her. “You’re dispensable. It’s all Pandora’s fault. She killed my mate.” Julliet’s mouth dropped open. She glanced at Dragen, then back to Tasha. “What are you talking about?” Tasha glared at Julliet, her face scarlet. “Percel!” The memory of Percel’s split skull flashed in her mind. Did Pandora kill him? Julliet refused to believe it. “Why would Pandora kill a prominent client?”

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Bonds of Justice 3: Dragen’s Fire

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“She didn’t,” Dragen said quietly. “Shut up!” Dragen grimaced at the rough friction of Tasha’s hands. Julliet -- there’s a stun gun with my pile of clothes. I’ll keep her talking. ”What happened between you and Percel?” Tasha stared at him, anger blazing in her eyes, then her expression softened. One hand reached up and rubbed his chest. “Since we’ll be mated, you should know what happened, what I expect of my mate, Dragen, so you don’t repeat the same mistake.” Her stomach queasy, Julliet slowly inched her way toward Dragen’s clothes. Tasha’s fingers dug into Dragen’s bulky muscles. “I quit a good security job to follow Percel here. Did he care? No. Carlton caught his eye --” “So you had Carlton abducted.” “But Carlton came back.” Tasha pounded Dragen’s gut with her fist. To his credit, he barely flinched. Julliet blinked in horror. “You paid a tech to kill Carlton, didn’t you? You watched to make sure the deed got done, then left the med-center. I almost ran you down on the way out.” “I like you, Julliet, but you’re a meddler.” Tasha did a double take at Julliet’s altered location. She lifted the laser gun again. “Sit down where I can see you. Pull that chair away from the console and put it in the center of the room. Touch the console and you’re dead.” Julliet did as she was told, taking note of a few key controls before she rolled the chair away. Tasha resumed stroking Dragen’s cock, her lips clamped shut. Beneath Tasha’s rage, Julliet sensed her desperation, her deep love for a creature who wouldn’t love her back. “When you told Percel that Carlton died, what happened?” An angry hiss spewed from Tasha’s stiff lips. “He rejected me again!” “You killed Percel.” Julliet blew a stray hair out of her eye. “And decided Dragen would take his place. A lover who would never leave you.”

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Bonds of Justice 3: Dragen’s Fire

- 76 -

“Don’t sound so jealous, Julliet. It’s not like he would have chosen you over all the others.” Stupid, isn’t she? Joy blossomed in her heart, followed quickly by fear. He had chosen her and no one was going to take him from her. A sneer tugged at the security officer’s lip. “Feeling lusty yet, Dragen? I’m getting impatient.” Tasha stood and removed her uniform. Her athletic body glistened with oil. A blue gray aura formed before Julliet’s eyes. Still unused to the newly discovered phenomenon, she blinked at the strange light waves surrounding Tasha. She recognized the tiny black dots dancing through the lighter colors. Her father had those when he handed her off to the Oskii warrior. If she’d only seen them sooner… The security officer spread her pussy lips, exposing her creamy center, and rubbed her clit. “Isn’t this pretty, Dragen?” She stepped over his shoulders and crouched down over his face. “Lick me.” When he didn’t comply, Tasha wiggled down and smeared her cunt juices over his nose and mouth. Disgusted, Julliet focused on Tasha’s blue gray aura which smothered Dragen, like water dousing flame. In synch with Dragen, Julliet’s energy flagged with each tick of passing time. She had to make a move soon. Dragen turned his face away from Tasha’s dripping cunt. Tasha bristled and jerked upright, feet planted on either side of his chest, clear fluid trickling down her shiny thigh, fists balled at her sides. The rage blasting from Tasha squeezed Julliet’s chest and stole her breath away. Fury slammed against her temples. Why won’t you love me? Why doesn’t anyone love me? Resentment darkened the gray in her aura. It’s her, isn’t it? Tasha spun toward Julliet with a scowl. Looks like I’m going to have to kill you, too.

Elayne S. Venton

Bonds of Justice 3: Dragen’s Fire

- 77 -

Julliet’s brows drew together in a frown. That wasn’t Dragen she heard. She winced. The last thing she needed was everyone’s thoughts randomly popping into her head. On the other hand, knowing Tasha’s thoughts might help her escape this situation. A pain lanced through her heart. She’d sworn to never use telepathy for gain, but for Dragen, she’d break her own rule. For the first time, she had an idea of the terrible choice her father faced. Save himself and his mate and lose his child, or death for them all. Not that she’d ever forgive her father for handing her over to that pervert. A huge lump blocked Julliet’s throat. “I think Dragen is a bit distracted by my presence. He acts like he wants me, but he refuses to fuck me. If you’ve been watching us, you’ll know that’s the truth. You’ll have better luck. Let me go and you two can mate without interruption.” She felt more than saw her lover’s confusion. “Afterwards, you’ll be inseparable. He’ll always want you -- love only you. Isn’t that what you want?” She heard Dragen growling in her mind. This had better be a ploy, Julliet. I swear, I’ll never love anyone but you! His words resonated with both anger and anxiety. She wished she could tell him to settle down. Didn’t he have more faith in her than that? They belonged together. She’d kill Tasha before she let the security officer bond eternally with Dragen. Tasha shrugged absently, her gaze locked on Dragen. “He wants anybody but me. Even you.” “Don’t be ridiculous. He’d take you to his bed. But he has pride. A strong male like Dragen doesn’t like to be treated like a whore from one of the lesser houses in the colony, forced into submission. No wonder he’s balking.” A smug smile lifted Tasha’s mouth. I did bag a lot of lovers to make Percel jealous. “You know you can get anybody you want, Tasha, if you approach him the right way. Since you’ve come to Healing Waters, you’ve had a dozen willing lovers. Nobody wants me. You know that.” Her own words sliced her to the bone. How long had she been hiding the fear of rejection behind her scarred face?

Elayne S. Venton

Bonds of Justice 3: Dragen’s Fire

- 78 -

Until Dragen came along. “I saw Dragen masturbate while he watched you amuse yourself with your fucking machine.” “What?” Julliet gawked at her, then turned unbelieving eyes on her lover. She didn’t care that he’d watched her. She’d known he had, but masturbating in front of Tasha rubbed her the wrong way. “Right here. We watched you beg Dragen to fuck you. You really liked that, didn’t you, Dragen? Julliet fantasizing about you while the dildo rammed into her pussy.” Julliet stared at him and the small twitch in his cock. Tasha laughed. “See! I’m right.” “Foolish of me not to realize you’d spy on me in the privacy of my room. But then, all I could think about was Julliet.” Her face red, Tasha picked up the laser and aimed it at Julliet. “You’ve got to die.” “No!” Dragen shouted. “Let her go. I’ll mate with you. I’ll give you the ride of your life.” Now it was Julliet’s turn to mentally scream. What the hell was he promising that bitch? Tasha’s smile was both pleased and malicious. “Babe, you’re going to mate with me anyway.” Venom slithered into his voice. “You can bind my body and mind, but only I can give you my heart, Tasha. Kill Julliet, and you’ll never earn my love.” The smile on Tasha’s face faded. “I could fall in love with a female that is as strong as me. Intelligent. Attractive.” He looked at Tasha, but directed his thoughts to Julliet. Like you, Pinky. “But she must possess a compassionate heart as well.” “I didn’t kill your friend. Or the females.”

Elayne S. Venton

Bonds of Justice 3: Dragen’s Fire

- 79 -

Julliet gasped. Shaneal and Kelty’s disappearances clicked into place. The two sex caterers had been Percel’s favorites after Carlton disappeared. Guilt flooded Julliet, weighing down her shoulders. She and Dragen never finished the cross comparison of the abducted. If they had, they would have found the connection between the three missing sex caterers and prevented Steele’s kidnapping. She rubbed her temples. Pandora would never speak to her again. Julliet wanted to jump in and ask where the females and Steele were, but she didn’t want to break the spell Dragen weaved around Tasha. “Don’t destroy the goodness in you by killing Julliet.” “You’ll love me?” “Free them all and I’ll start loving you right now for your generosity.” I don’t trust you. Julliet pounced on Tasha’s thought. “I’d ask for a token of assurance. A kiss?” Tasha perked up. “That sounds fair. Make it good, Dragen. Convince me.” She knelt down beside Dragen. “Put the laser down,” Dragen ordered. “I don’t want to be burnt by accident.” Tasha slid the weapon beneath her leg, making it inaccessible, but Julliet didn’t care. The way to freedom lay in the opposite direction. Tasha pressed her lips over Dragen’s mouth. Julliet gave Dragen two sentrons to captivate Tasha and then she spun in her chair and lunged for the control panel. A laserbeam streamed across her outstretched arm and exploded into a video screen just as Julliet spun the gravity dial. Then she dove for the side of a storage unit to hide, and slammed her shoulder into the wall. She could have saved herself the pain. Dragen captured Tasha in a bear hug so tight, the security officer passed out. Julliet released a huge sigh of relief. “Well done, love.” Dragen reached out a hand to her while he set his unconscious burden in the chair and secured her with an invisible barrier. Energy crackled between them when their fingers entwined. Julliet smiled, but anxiety crowded her happiness. “Think she’ll tell us where the others are?”

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Bonds of Justice 3: Dragen’s Fire

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“If she doesn’t, Blade won’t hesitate to do whatever is necessary in order to discover his brother’s whereabouts.” Her lover dragged her into his arms and kissed her forehead, her eyelids, both cheeks. Julliet lifted her face for a kiss on her mouth, but Dragen leaned away. “Julliet, I don’t want to get that close to losing you again.” As if he couldn’t resist, he pressed a quick kiss on her parted lips. “It’s against Shoni customs, but I’ve got to do it. I’m asking you to bond with me. Eternally.” A smile tugged at her heart. “Couldn’t wait for me to ask you, huh?” She’d never seen him look so serious. So anxious. “I have one question.” “What is it?” “You told me when you first met Steele, you both were learning to live alone. Did you lose a mate?” “Only you.” A frown pulled at her brows. “What do you mean?” “Finding adventure in space wasn’t the only reason I left Terras Five. I couldn’t find my mate there. Turns out she’d been stolen by an Oskii warrior when she was a child.” Julliet tilted her head at him. “Are you saying you’ve been looking for me all this time?” “I didn’t know your name, but as soon as I saw you standing at the rail, your golden aura crackling around you while you looked down at me, I recognized you as my mate. My future. My love.” Her pulse skipped. “Are you sure you won’t regret bonding with me? I’ve had many, many men use me since then.” “Did you love any of them?” “No.” Dragen brushed his thumb pad over her lips. “Then it doesn’t matter to me because I’m the only one for you. Nothing in your past can change that.”

Elayne S. Venton

Bonds of Justice 3: Dragen’s Fire

- 81 -

A knot formed in her throat. Julliet poured all the love in her heart into the smile she gave him. How had she gotten so lucky? “When would you like to mate?” “Oh gods, Julliet.” His voice broke. He gathered her in his arms and buried his face in her hair. “I’d make you my own right now if I could, but the ceremony should take place on Terras Five, don’t you think?” “After everyone is back safely.” “Of course.” His lips crushed hers. Julliet wound her arms around his waist then slid her hands down and squeezed his smooth, muscular butt. A growl in his throat, Dragen pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. “What are you two doing? I’ve been waiting --” Without breaking the kiss, Julliet glanced sideways at the portal. Pandora stopped in her tracks, her mouth hanging open. “Nice tush, Dragen,” she said dryly. Her gaze skimmed the room. “What’s wrong with Tasha?” Pandora started toward the security officer. In one long stride, Dragen swooped up his shirt to cover his groin and grabbed Pandora with the other hand. “Don’t. She’s the brains behind the kidnappings.” Pandora looked shocked. “Is she dead?” “Passed out.” Julliet looped her arm through her friend’s arm and led her out into the hall so Dragen could dress. “Contact your ex-brother-in-law, Magistrate Blade, so we can question her.” “He’s a Solarian Judge now,” Pandora said, a little dazed. “Tasha is the one? I don’t understand.” Pandora’s petite body shook. “What did she do with Steele?” Julliet gave her friend’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “He’s not dead. We know that much.” “Thank the gods.” Pandora picked up the pace and hurried back to her office. Julliet dogged her steps. She listened intently while Pandora sent Blade an urgent message.

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Blade replied immediately, promising to arrive before sunset. Pandora dropped her head back on her high backed chair. “Can we trust the rest of my security team?” “I don’t know. For now, we’ll have to rely on Dragen.” Unable to withhold her good news any longer, Julliet blurted, “Dragen and I are going to seal our bond with the Shoni mating ritual.” Pandora jumped up, her eyes shining with joy. “Congratulations!” She blinked away the welling moisture in her eyes. Julliet rounded the desk and gathered Pandora’s hands in her own. “As soon as Steele is home again and we know Kelty and Shaneal are safe, we’re going to Terras Five. We want the two of you to come. Perhaps Dragen and I can convince our two stubborn friends to reunite?” A tear plopped onto Pandora’s cheek. “I’d like nothing more. You know that.” “So do it.” The light in Pandora’s eyes dimmed. She shrugged. “It’s not up to me.”

Chapter Eight “You’re too late, Blade,” Dragen said upon greeting him in the entrance hall. “Our kidnapper broke down and spilled her guts. Zara has already disabled the slave ship carrying Kelty and Shaneal.” Blade shook his head. “I can’t get used to my little sister as a spaceship weapons controller.” Dragen smiled. He’d never met a more overprotective male. “Where’s Steele?” Blade asked gruffly. “He’s on his way.” “Is he all right?” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “A little bruised, nothing more.” The sound of his brother’s voice spun Blade around. He winced at the sight of Steele’s black eye but relief poured from him in waves. Dragen grinned when Blade crushed Steele in a bear hug, gave a great roar, and lifted all six-feet-two-inches of his brother off the ground. “Ugh,” Steele complained and Blade set him down. Only then did Blade take a good look at Steele -- the puffy nose, the smeared dried blood below his nostrils, the cut on his cheekbone, and his torn, bloody shirt. He scowled. “A little bruised? Somebody whipped your ass.” Steele punched him in the chest. “Whipped me? Don’t think so. You think you’re the only hard ass in this family. I’m back, aren’t I? And the other three guys won’t be getting up for a while.” The two men faced off, grins playing at their mouths, awkward silence between them. Finally, Blade slapped Steele on the back. “Good to see you, bro.”

Elayne S. Venton

Bonds of Justice 3: Dragen’s Fire

- 84 -

From within the house, a pair of heels clicked in rapid succession on the marble floor. “Steele!” Pandora screamed, running toward him, her arms outstretched. Behind her, Julliet glided shyly into the entrance. Steele broke away from his brother and scooped up his fragile looking lover by the waist. “Missed you, babe.” “Babe? Oh, Steele.” Tears flowed down Pandora’s cheeks. She tenderly traced the puffy skin around his black eye. “Are you okay?” Her hands skimmed his shoulders and down the arms holding her high off the floor. Steele kissed her mouth, her cheeks, her nose, and sealed his affection with a noisy smooch. “Better and better.” He shifted his hold, tearing the fine fabric of her gown in the process of wrapping her legs around his waist. His large palms squeezed her butt cheeks. “Nothing’s wrong that you can’t fix, lover.” Pandora sobbed loudly. “I was so worried…” She dropped her head onto Steele’s shoulder and cried in earnest. Julliet walked over to Dragen and slipped her hand in his. “Stop feeling guilty. Some good will come out of this,” Dragen whispered. “They needed something to shake them up and make them realize how stupid they’ve been.” Julliet nodded. “Welcome back, Blade. Thea’s not with you?” “She’s on the ship, directing the unloading of a present for Steele. She’s anxious to see you again. Something about an apology.” “There’s no need. She thinks she deceived me when she escaped my watchful eye, but I’m no fool, Blade. I knew she would run as soon as she got the chance. I counted on you to stop her.” “I’m surrounded by devious females.” Blade glanced down at her hand clasped in Dragen’s. “I hope you can handle her, Dragen.” “We plan on traveling to Terras Five to bond permanently. It would be an honor to have you and Thea attend.” Blade slapped Dragen on the back. “Congratulations! When do you plan on leaving?”

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Bonds of Justice 3: Dragen’s Fire

- 85 -

Dragen cocked a brow at Steele and Pandora. “Depends how much time we have to give those two to themselves.” “I happen to have time in my schedule now and I’ve been promising Thea a vacation. She’ll love Terras Five. It’s a lot like Earth used to be. She’ll feel right at home.” Blade nudged his brother’s shoulder. “Hey, Romeo. Time for that later. Come to my ship. You can clean up and then make up with Pandora on the way to Terras Five.” “Terras Five?” His eyes lit up. “They have some unique vegetation there I’d love to cross pollinate with the plants in my greenhouse.” “My mother will be excited to see you again, Steele.” Steele nodded, then looked down at Pandora. “You up for some bonding, love?” “Yes, but this time I get to spank you for making me worry so much.” Dragen guffawed. Blade choked. “I’d almost like to see that.” “Another voyeur,” Julliet mumbled. Blade cocked a brow at her. Dragen laughed and slipped an arm around Julliet’s waist. He loved his spirited mate with her pink hair and subtle fortitude. Each day her spirit grew stronger, more playful. She opened her heart, not only to him, but to her friends as well. He knew how vulnerable she felt, yet she faced her fears with courage and fortitude. Finally. Love sparkled all around her. “Before we go to Terras Five,” said Julliet, “I’d like to make a stop at the rejuvenation salon.” “Why, sweetheart? You already look beautiful enough.” He meant it too. His lady glowed from the inside out. Julliet pulled him aside and ran her hands over his forearms in a loving caress. “I want reconstruction surgery on my face. I’m ready to put my past behind me and move forward, with you at my side.” “I’m glad to hear it.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, tucking her body close to his. “But when we bond --”

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Bonds of Justice 3: Dragen’s Fire

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She placed a finger over his mouth. “I know… you’ll make me whole.” “Yes. One body, one mind.” He kissed her fingertip and then grinned. “What I wanted to say is the power of our bond may fade the scar. I’ve seen it happen before.” “Really?” He could tell the idea lifted her spirits. “Love is a powerful cure for body and soul.” A slow smile lit her face. “Yes, yes it is.” She gave him a hug, laying her head on his shoulder; then grasping his arms, she held him at arm’s length. “Just the same, I want to be beautiful on the day we give ourselves to each other.” She gazed into his eyes for a long moment and he sensed her determination. “You know why I never had the scar repaired, don’t you?” “You used the scar as an excuse to keep from getting too close to anyone.” Her mouth dropped open. “Absolutely right. Every time I opened my heart to someone, I got burned. When a client I admired shot me with a laser, literally burning me, the symbolism was too strong to ignore. I wore my scar like a shield, deflecting anyone who showed an inkling of interest in me. But you crashed right through that barrier. Scared me to death. You opened your heart and showed me what it was like to love someone, the depth of your feelings, your desire to spend every moment with me, never giving up on me even when I tried to make your interest into something petty. You were always there when I needed you.” She slid her hands down his arms and entwined their fingers. “I no longer need to hide behind this scar because no matter what happens in the future, your love will carry me through the rest of my life.” “Oh, my sweet.” He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her with gentle seduction. Behind them, Blade cleared his throat. “At this rate, we’ll never get to Terras Five.” Dragen smiled into Julliet’s sparkling eyes. “You’ll always be beautiful to me, no matter what, sweetheart, but I understand your desire to wipe away your fears by

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getting rid of the scar. As it happens, I have a purchase to make in town too. We’ll head in together, okay?” “Great! I’ll get my wrap.” Julliet wiggled free, a huge smile on her face. She bounced over to Pandora and pulled her away from Steele. “Let him go, woman. You’re coming with me.” “Oh, poo,” Pandora pouted. “When you see him again, he’ll be nice and clean and ready…” The women glided away and their lovers gazed after them hungrily. “Gods, I’ve been a fool,” Steele said. Dragen rolled his eyes. “You think?”

*** Standing at the end of a flagstone aisle flanked by wildflowers, Dragen gaped at the gorgeous female waiting for him by the altar. So many times, he’d lost hope of finding his mate, the one female who’d make him complete. He marveled at his luck. He might have preached the inevitability of fate, but he hadn’t always believed it. Now, he wondered if destiny had drawn him to Julliet after all. He pulled the white feather cape tighter around his shoulders to hide his burgeoning erection, embarrassed and afraid he wouldn’t make it to the highest level in the ritual before he lost control. He loved her more than he imagined love could be, and he couldn’t wait to start their glorious journey together. Nervous energy bounced off his skin in hot and cold waves. At the midpoint of the path, Blade and Thea sat on grass mats on one side of the aisle and Steele and Pandora sat on the other, facing him, a script for their ceremony parts on screens lying on the ground. The only other guests included Zara Kevlar and her husband, Kyros, and his good friends, Katar and Mai. He’d tried to convince Julliet to invite her mother, but she’d refused. After the bonding, she promised to reexamine her relationship with her parents. She didn’t want regrets or sorrow clouding her bonding day.

Elayne S. Venton

Bonds of Justice 3: Dragen’s Fire

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His lovely mate-to-be stood in front of the wide stone altar, draped in diaphanous veils that hinted at the luscious curves beneath, watching him with a secret smile on her face. At her feet, jewel colored pillows lay scattered about. Julliet raised her arms shoulder high, signaling the beginning of the ceremony. “Dragen,” she called across the distance. “You are my chosen one. My soul hungers to join with you. My body yearns for you. My heart is barren without you. Will you accept me as your mate forevermore?” “One body, one mind,” he shouted back. “I promise to fulfill you.” “Come to me.” He started up the aisle. The guests began humming a heart lifting tune. Halfway to his goal, he stopped. “Show us your desire,” his friends said in unison. Dragen locked gazes with Julliet and opened his heart and mind to his beloved. “Let the powerful beating of my heart express my longing to call you my own, the fire of my aura show you the perfection of our bond.” Julliet smiled. “You please me.” Dragen bent on one knee between Thea and Pandora and held out his hands, palms up. The two females anointed his palms with clear nutty oil, then placed his hands together as if in prayer. “We bless your union with this oil. Go. Join your mate.” He rose again and the guests cast honeysuckle before Dragen as he approached the altar. The sweet fragrance of the petals crushed beneath his long feet filled the air, yet, standing before Julliet, her scent pervaded the air, fresh and intoxicating, like a dewy spring morning. Julliet looked more beautiful than Dragen imagined she would, but it wasn’t the perfection of her body and face that gave her beauty, it was the love sparkling in her blue eyes, radiating happiness for them and for their future. “Welcome, my love.” Julliet reached out to him and placed her palms on top of his. “My body to your body.”

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Warmth seeped through his veins. “My body to your body.” The guests hummed louder, their voices rising and falling in a lyrical chant. Then silence. “Let the bonding begin.” From the high circular piping surrounding the altar, disguised with glittering jewels and colorful flowers, a curtain of water enclosed them, shutting off all but their shadows from the world. Hidden from view, Julliet dropped the sheer layers of her gown from her shoulders and stood gloriously naked before him. Her body, dusted gold by the overhead sunlight, glowed all the more brightly with the reflection of her aura. Star struck by her splendor, Dragen suspended the ritual just to stare. “I am so lucky.” “Your turn,” Julliet whispered. Mindlessly, Dragen twisted the catch that lay against his neck and the feather cape fluttered to the ground. After giving her a moment to look her fill, he impatiently reached down and spread out his cape on the stone altar slab, feathers facing down, a satin lining for their bed. Julliet’s fingertips brushed his arm. “My heart is beating so fast, I can barely breathe. Tell me you’re mine. Tell me that I’m not dreaming and this isn’t just a holographic fantasy.” “If it is, I hope the program continues forever.” He cupped her chin between a finger and thumb. “I can’t live without you, Julliet, bonded or not.” Moisture glistened in her eyes. “I feel the same way, my heart.” His throat clogged with emotion, Dragen bent down in front of the altar and retrieved a seashell filled with almond oil. He whisked two fingers through the thin liquid and drew a line between her breasts, down and around her bellybutton, to her pussy already wet and swollen. The scent of her arousal permeated the air. Julliet dropped her head back and moaned when Dragen traced her puffy outer lips. She split her legs wider and then he dipped his slippery finger between the folds and swirled the slick ointment around her clit. A gasp caught in her throat.

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He gathered more oil and ringed each nipple. “May our hearts lock together as our bodies join in the eternal bond.” Julliet’s face glowed as she knelt on one knee and untied the ceremonial ball cage he’d purchased on Callisto. It was an intricate weaving of fine gold wires and jewels that matched his cock ring. She spread the wire netting flat on her knee and stretched it into a long band. She handed it to Dragen and he secured it around her neck. “With this band of jewels, I claim you as mine.” When she looked up at him with a shy smile, he knew there wasn’t another female in the universe for him. With an answering smile, he handed her the oil shell. She rose gracefully and tipped the remaining oil across his shoulders. Warm liquid trickled down his back and chest, dripping onto his butt cheeks and sliding down his belly into the thatch of hair surrounding the base of his aching cock. Her smooth palm trailed through the flowing oil following the same line he’d drawn on her, down the middle of his torso, a finger slipping into his bellybutton making him suck in his breath before she drifted lower. He braced for the flow of her slick hand over his cock and balls, and still the powerful jolt from her feather light touch made him flinch. An unusual and intense bolt of energy seared through every nerve ending and froze Julliet in place, her hand firmly wrapped around his cock. She never expected the physical aspects of their joining to be so sensual, so sensitive. It felt as if each inch of her body was alive. Heavens, they had barely started. Her pulse raced so fast now, how would she survive the rest of the ritual? Dragen smeared the oil from his hands over her breasts, caressing the full globes, stroking and plucking his fingers over her nipples until they pointed into stiff peaks. She reciprocated by massaging the oil in sensual circles into the firmly toned muscles of his chest. “Body to body,” Dragen said, then leaned forward and whispered into her ear. “I love you.” Julliet rubbed her entire torso over his, soft curves sliding over hard. “Body to body. I love you too.” She reached up behind him and smoothed the rivulets of oil over

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his entire back, then massaged it deep into his back muscles and shoulder blades. Her heart soared when he groaned his delight. Pressed tight, breast to chest, she reached up as far as she could reach, then tickled her fingertips down his spine to the apex of his firm butt. His cock twitched against her belly when her fingers slid between his crack. He dipped his knees and ground his erection over her mound while she probed deeper, sinking her fingers between the cheeks. “Ah, here it is,” she sighed. Dragen grunted as she pressed against his dark hole. He shifted his hips back and she lost contact. No problem. She slipped her hand around to his front and fondled his balls, quickly finding the taut rose behind the heavy sacks, and circling it with her oily finger. Dragen twisted away again, but she could tell he liked her caress by the sexy rumble in his throat. She’d save that exploration for another time, when she was in the mood for a good ass fucking too. The radiance around him seemed to glow bright orange with hints of red. Everywhere their bodies connected, warmth seeped into her skin. Everywhere his hands glided, trails of pleasure followed. The arousal between them grew stronger. Higher. So much so, she thought if she stepped back, she might find their bodies had fused together. Leery of any sort of separation, she molded her body against his and stretched up on tiptoes to capture his lips in a searing kiss. He devoured her, embracing her so tightly she thought he might bruise her ribs with his enthusiasm. Just as quickly, his grip eased. His kiss did not. His tongue skimmed over her teeth and danced with her tongue, plunging and sucking, tasting and sweeping across every millimeter of her mouth. Her breasts swelled against his chest, aching for his touch and the strong pull of his mouth on her taut nipples. Desperately, her knee skimmed up his thigh to his hip and she wrapped her leg around his, pressing her wet pussy against his sex. A light chuckle from Dragen startled her. “You’re skipping ahead, love,” he admonished, speaking over her lips. Breath melded with breath, hot and spicy. “First I must pay homage.” “To me?” Dragen’s attention to her desires still stymied her.

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I love you so much. Then again, maybe it didn’t stymie as much as amaze her. To find someone so in tune with her, so dynamic and giving of himself… well, she never believed anyone would love her the way Dragen did. Hard muscle slithered down her belly as he lowered his knees to a circular pillow at her feet. Her raised leg dropped to the ground, but she barely noticed. His tongue laved her glistening nipple, then the mouth she craved closed over the aching tip, drawing it deep. Oh, nirvana. She held his head while he sucked and teased, relishing every tug. Creamy dew collected in her vagina, preparing the way for his rigid shaft. She sighed when he swapped nipples, but his fingers filled in for his mouth, plucking the sensitive peak until she panted for release. Fingers spread wide across her back, Dragen pressed his face into her deep cleavage, marking the inner curves with love bites. Mine. “Yours forever, Dragen.” Her skin flushed with heat, burned with desire, ached for this male to make her complete. With a growl of possession, he sank back on his heels, his mouth retaining contact with each sliding kiss down her waist to her pussy. “Dragen…” His name slipped out in a breathy whisper. Her legs spread of their own volition. And then he was there. Feasting on her again. Thrusting his tongue in and out of her core and slurping on the sopping juices of her cunt. He lifted her ankle to his shoulder and delved deeper than she thought possible. Julliet leaned back and grabbed the edges of the altar for support. Her clit ached with each thrust of his tongue. Oh, how she wanted -“Say it, Julliet.” She stiffened, the possibility of him reading her thoughts shaking her up a bit. Now she understood how he felt. “Mind to mind,” he prompted.

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Her tense shoulders relaxed. He hadn’t developed telepathy. He wanted her to say the ceremony words. What had he said? Oh… “Mind to mind.” For the life of her, she couldn’t remember the next step. Blind arousal thwarted every thought. “Suck me, Dragen!” He teased the stiff nub with the flat of his tongue. His hands stroked her inner thighs, soothing and exciting. Her raised leg quivered. “Oh gods, more.” Hot breath blew across her clit. “Mind to mind. Heart to heart…” She trembled all over. Then she remembered. “Mind to mind.” She rocked her pelvis against his face, flushed with need. “Heart to heart. May we join and never part.” In one swift move, he rose to his feet and impaled her. His huge cock wedged tight a short distance into her. Julliet cried out. “Shh.” He kissed her into silence, withdrew from her body, and lifted her onto the soft cover on the mantle. He gathered some pillows and propped up her back, pressing her bent knees wide. “Heart to heart, Julliet.” “Heart to heart,” she repeated. He scraped oil from the area of his heart with his finger and inserted it into her wet opening. Then he repeated the process with oil from between her breasts. The finger glided in and out, then he added another, sliding in gently and pushing deep. A spasm of pleasure ripped through her abdomen. Her pussy contracted around him, trying to draw his fingers in deeper and deeper. He added another, pushing in slowly, firmly. She gasped at the dull pain as he stretched her wide, making her ready for his massive cock. Cream gushed over his fingers as they sank deep and retreated. “You were made for me, Julliet.” His aura darkened, burning hot. He impaled her slowly, tormenting her with long strokes until her pussy juices soaked his fingers and dribbled down to her anus. Sooner than she imagined, her sopping cunt rocked toward his thrusting fingers. “Now, love.”

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“May we join and never part.” She held her breath. One last swish of oil over his cock and he slipped in, stretching her to the limit. “May we join and never part.” A little nudge and then he plunged as far as he could go. Julliet cried out, afraid he’d split her in two. Pleasure throbbed along the same path as the burning sting. “Ohgods… ohgods.” “Relax, love.” Dragen gathered her shoulders close. A sheen of perspiration covered his handsome face. “I’m molding you to me.” She pictured her pussy creating a cushiony nest for his cock, soft and wet. She blew out a long breath, trying to relax. The gentle music of the water falling around them reminded her of the courtyard fountain on Callisto, a place she visited to soothe her soul. The tension in her muscles slowly eased. “That’s it, sweetheart.” His hips rocked gently, pushing and pulling in small increments, letting her get used to him. Her mind focused on the burning slide of his shaft, stuffing her full, molding her, making her his own. A spark of pleasure coursed through her veins. Oh, yes. The raw ache inside swelled into undeniable need. He leaned forward and lowered her shoulders back onto their feather bed. The shift in position rubbed an internal spot so sensitive she whimpered over the pleasure of it. “Oh. There. Dragen… don’t stop.” She locked her hands around his thick wrists. He obliged with short jabs over the same spot, again and again. Goosebumps rose on her arms. She could barely catch her breath. Lost in the prickly sensation, she rocked back against him. Her teeth ground together. “Yeeeesssss.” “You feel so good, love.” He slowed. “Let’s make this last.” Her heartbeat pounded hard. As much as she craved an instant orgasmic release, she also had no desire to douse the burning desire that consumed her. Her eyelids fluttered closed and she inhaled deep shaky breaths. Dragen’s lips closed over her earlobe, suckling the tender flesh, then slid lower and teased the spot just below her ear. Soft kisses cascaded down the sensitive column of her neck. Cool air brushed over the wet trail he left behind, making her shiver. He

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paused at the juncture of neck and shoulder, his moist breath fanning hot over the throbbing pulse point. Julliet turned her head and brushed her lips over his brow, then she arched up in a slow glide, forcing his cock deep. “Oh, yeah, babe.” His voice turned gravelly. Long scorching strokes of his shaft accompanied gentle love bites on her neck. His fingers kneaded her hips. They rocked in a mellow motion, his broad cock slurping in and out of her sopping pussy, pumping deeper with each powerful push. The scent of sex flooded her brain, musky and pungent. Desire coiled tight in her belly once more. She’d grown accustomed to his size and now she craved a new sensation, something just as forceful. Yes, even painful. Something to push her to the edge of endurance. As though he read her mind, his thumb slipped over her clit. Julliet moaned, pushing back against his caress in a silent plea. Her bud stood out from its hood, hard and desperate, aching for his touch. “Please, Dragen, please.” He crimped her clit between his fingers and squeezed, building her passion into a roaring blaze. His hard cock thrust deep into her and she gloried in the burn inside and out. She strove to discover that splitting sensation again, the one that shoved her to the peak of pain and pleasure. This time she’d be ready. Waiting. Heat flushed her chest. “Love me, Dragen. Harder.” He gave her exactly what she needed, twisting her clit while he pounded between her wide spread legs. Sweat broke out on her forehead. Mother Terras, it hurt. And yet she’d never experienced something so erotic, so powerful, it made her whole body shake. He released her nub and it throbbed painfully. She didn’t care. The ache made her feel vibrantly alive. With a firm grip on his arms, she let him set the pace. Hard and swift. The heat of his pistoning cock set her ablaze. “Are you ready for more?” His low voice reverberated in her head.

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“Yes, my love. Yes!” Her fingernails cut into his wrists, bracing for his complete domination. Yearning for it. Then he tugged hard on her swollen bud. A cry tore from her throat. He pulled out and plunged deep, grinding against the entrance to her womb. Hunger sizzled through her. She bucked hard, her thighs slapping his hips, laboring toward fulfillment. With his free hand, he grabbed her flailing legs at the ankles and set both heels on one shoulder. The new position closed her thighs and tightened the opening around his forceful thrusts. Julliet gasped at the sharp arousal spiking through her. He fucked her in earnest, plowing deep, stroking hard. All the while he plucked her clit, each tug shooting fire into her belly, taking her higher and higher. The muscles in her ass tightened. “Right there… oh… Dragen… Dragen.” Her shoulders tensed with anticipation. Her vision blurred and their auras melded into red tipped golden spikes. A strangled moan filled the air around them. His. Her rapid heart beat loudly in her ears. “Julliet. Oh, gods, come, Julliet.” He wrapped an arm around the legs resting on his shoulder and pummeled into her, his heavy thighs smacking hard and fast against her buttocks. A heated flush crept into her ass cheeks with each sharp slap of flesh against flesh, the warmth working its way to the engorged folds of her cunt. Cream had never soaked her pussy so much. Her hands slithered up his forearm, her fingers squeezing his muscle each time her pussy contracted around his sliding cock. “Take me to the stars,” she gasped. He groaned, long and loud, his face scrunched in pleasure-pain. The tightness in her abdomen dropped lower, strangling the breadth of his cock. His jaw taut, he drew her legs down and wrapped them around his waist without a break in his relentlessly pounding. Her knees gripped his sides and she thrust forward, driving him deep. He gasped. She cried out. And the world exploded.

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The orgasm unwound at lightning speed, thrashing through her cunt, flushing milky cream over the head of Dragen’s bucking cock. Stars exploded before her eyes leaving trails of gold shimmering light. “My mate!” she screamed. Dragen swept her up against his chest and thrust deeply, his big damp body on fire. Julliet pressed her cheek to his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist, shaking from the intense contractions pulsing through her. A hard spasm rocked him and hot sperm gushed to her womb. Dragen roared. His body jerked a few more times and he shouted, “My mate!” with labored breath. Julliet drifted in body and spirit, too weary to move. His cock felt swollen inside her. Stuck. Sealed. Her inner muscles contracted and Dragen grunted but didn’t withdraw. He held her sweaty, oil slicked body wrapped around his, and nibbled on her neck with deliciously tender kisses. Julliet sighed and clung to his waist. She couldn’t seem to stop convulsing around his shaft, as if her body insisted on milking every drop from his cock. Her insides tingled. Throbbed. Her cheeks felt flushed and feverish. Her pulse refused to slow. “Dragen…” Her head lolled back. “We’re bonding, Julliet.” Dragen touched his forehead to hers, panting hard. She turned her face away. “Hot. Too hot.” “The energy level is so intense…” He stopped to catch his breath. “We’ll soon be one.” The overwhelming urge to mate again -- now -- caught her off guard. She pressed against him, her arms clutching him. Her hips pivoted upward. “I want you… so much…” “Same here, sweetheart. Didn’t I tell you bonding makes you feel insatiable? Plan on spending a lot of time making love, sweetheart.” The pulse in his neck throbbed in time with the hard fast thumping in her chest. Julliet stared in awe. Hearts beating as one.

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Another orgasm, urgent and deep, rippled through her pussy. She shivered and held her mate tightly. “Will this happen every time?” Dragen grinned. “Do you want it to?” “Maybe… I think the strain shortened my life span. Too much of this would kill me long before I was ready.” He smoothed her limp bangs out of her eyes. “You’ll be surprised how much stronger you’ll feel once you’ve rested.” He lifted her drooping chin. “My puny cousin turned into a hard body sex machine after she mated.” A bubble of laughter caught in her throat. “A personal fucking machine, huh? I’ve already got one of those back on Callisto.” “Oh, you won’t be needing that relic anymore, babe. I’ve got everything you need right here.” He pitched his cock in and out of her sopping pussy, making loud slurping noises. It still felt rock hard inside her. Julliet briefly closed her eyes as little bubbling orgasms rocked her world. “You’ve got so much more than any machine, love. Just your loving arms around me makes me feel complete. I don’t need an orgasm to remind me how much I love you.” But nonstop sex with her mate held a lot of appeal. Dragen grinned as he slowly withdrew from her drenched center. “As horny as I am, I still need a little rest, love.” Julliet groaned through every disappearing millimeter, feeling stretched and empty, lost without the connection. She pressed her cheek to his shoulder and clung to his neck, feeling vulnerable. “I’m here, love, always.” His reassuring warm breath wafted through her hair. She closed her eyes and floated, holding tight to her mate so she wouldn’t crash to the ground. Nothing in the universe could top the sense of belonging right here, wrapped in her lover’s arms, safe and loved. Dragen’s arm dropped from her back to her waist. Julliet groaned. “Don’t move. Forget the world and stay right here.”

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Soft lips met the top of her head. She tilted her head back and gazed into eyes shining with love and contentment. “I love you.” The words came out in unison. Julliet shook her head and laughed. “This one body, one mind thing is a little scary.” “The ritual isn’t done yet. Once the ceremony is over, we must bond three more days to complete the cycle. If you think you’re tired now…” With a mournful moan, she dropped her legs from his hips and released him.

Dragen found a cloth, wet it beneath the water curtain, cleansed her flushed body, then used it on himself. Making love to Julliet exceeded his wildest expectations. She’d been so courageous, so bold, and so beautiful. Soft when he needed her to be and strong when passion ruled his head. The warmth of her love flowed through his veins now. He was equally certain his love burned through hers. Julliet. His mate. A brush of her hand, a loving glance, and his heart soared. He’d never felt so incredibly alive. So complete. Refreshed, he pecked his mate on the lips, afraid if he kissed her more intimately, he’d lose control. She had to be sore and he loved her too much to cause her any pain. “Love you.” Julliet’s eyes sparkled. “Love you too, beloved.” She hopped to the ground and slipped into her sexy mating gown. “Will we be making a home on Terras Five?” “If you want.” His gaze lingered on her glowing aura. “Pick any spot in the galaxy, love. Wherever you are is home to me.” He swirled the feather cape, a little worse for wear, over his shoulders. With one arm wrapped around Julliet’s waist, he waved his other arm through the cascading water and it slowed to a mist. The fine spray cooled his overheated face as he stepped forward, smiling wide to greet his guests. “We are one.” The small group clapped. We are horny.

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Dragen’s brows shot up and he stared at his new mate. A chuckle escaped him. Did he just hear what she thought? He shook his head. Oh, this union was going to be fun. One body, one mind. Forever. Julliet smiled up at him, her eyes bright. Forever…

The End

Elayne Venton Elayne Venton is a travel-aholic -- even if she’s confined to the window seat of her computer and flying over the Internet. You’ll find her stories set anywhere in the world… and beyond. From a remote mountain cabin to the largest city in the universe, there are men and women burning with passion, destined for each other, waiting for their story to be told. After fifteen years working in the corporate world of Communications, Elayne turned her writing talents to something more creative and enjoyable: Erotic fiction. She’s since won several Romance Writers of America awards. Having lived on the East Coast all her life, from New Hampshire to North Carolina, Elayne has met characters -- oops -- people from all walks of life. Currently, Elayne lives in the inner coastal area of North Carolina with her industrious husband, two teenagers, a lovable golden retriever, and a pet rabbit.