Little Dragon

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon Belinda McBride All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2008 Belinda McBride

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ISBN: 978-1-60521-050-6

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Editor: Vicki S. Burklund

Cover Artist: Zuri

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Black Planet 1: Little Dragon Belinda McBride Following a devastating injury, Detective Rose “Little Dragon” Lee takes a courier job to make payments on her ship. The job was easy… safe… until her ship is captured by the dangerous, war-like Nephris. Nephris Commander Arad Soheil recognizes his captive as the one person his government would most like to capture and terminate. Arad immediately files a property claim on the dangerous female, making her part of his household. Rose means more to him than a warm body in his bed or a vessel for his children. She holds the key to his freedom and his sanity, to his very life. Because Arad is not what he seems, and his time is running out.

Prologue “What is the cost of your silence?” The General stood, hands clasped behind his back, only his eyes betraying the fear that gripped his heart. The young man before him held everything that mattered; his home, his reputation, his very heart. Dark eyes flashed briefly in anger, but that anger quickly faded. “I want what I offer. Protection.” “You offer me protection.” “Yes, sir. Tonight, you will be expected to hand her over willingly, for the entertainment of another.” In the moonlight of the garden, Arad Soheil’s long hair cascaded freely down his back, an inky spill against his official whites. The heavy fragrance of gardenias wafted through the damp air. “Tonight, I will be expected to get on my knees before my superior. Or bend over. I no longer wish to demean myself in such a way.” Commander Willings was legendary for his lust, particularly for a handsome young male. This young male. No cleric had ever had the power or the influence to call Willings to punishment for his licentious behavior. Arad stood a full hand’s span taller than most Nephris, with a powerful, graceful bearing. His face was singularly beautiful, eyes so blue as to be almost ebon. His beard and mustache only enhanced sensual lips that were uncommonly ready to smile. He was almost foreign in his beauty. The General could full well understand Willings’ lust, as his own cock tightened involuntarily in Arad’s presence. “What do you propose?”

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“You don’t wish to share your female. I don’t wish to share my body yet again. I propose that you reward me with her this evening. I will see to her safety, you will see to mine.” “And in the long run?” He knew full well that Arad had him in a dangerous spot. If word were to get out… his shame knew no bounds, but the General was powerless before the flaw in his character. “I am an excellent officer, and one of the foremost scientists on Nephris. It wouldn’t be unusual for a man of my standing to receive a command assignment.” “A ship?” Arad nodded. “I grow tired of being a whore for lesser men. For such a boon, I will protect your secret.” The General paced, his boots making little sound on the grass. Inside his home, the genteel party was growing dark in tone. Soon, they would expect entertainment. He’d hired whores for the night; bent, broken women and pretty-faced bend-over boys. But he would be a poor host for not putting his own lovely female out as well. Arad looked calm and collected, but tension rode his body. The General wasn’t certain if Arad knew, but Commander Willings had just this night requested that the young science officer be transferred to his command. The assignment would go hard on young Arad. “I don’t wish to share my female with anyone, Arad. You included. You must guarantee…” Arad laughed, a sad, bitter sound. “You may have no fear of that, sir. I am not capable…” The General turned and looked at him in disbelief. “You don’t favor females?” While homosexual activity was common, it was only for entertainment, and only the higher classes could indulge without suffering the wrath of the government controlled church. “No, that isn’t it, sir.”

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Even in the darkness, he could see the young man’s color had gone dark. “As a boy, I was caught abusing myself. The punishment was severe.” It always was; the mandated punishment for masturbation was caning to the offending body part. “I was injured. I’m not able to…” “I understand. And I’m sorry.” Arad bowed his head with dignity. “Intercourse is not possible for me, and females hold no other charm.” “I’ve heard otherwise.” The General had his own information network in place. “I heard you encountered a certain Earth Recovery Detective. You were heard to comment on her beauty.” “I can appreciate the beauty of a flower without having to pluck it, sir.” “But the Little Dragon is so much more than a pretty flower, isn’t she, Arad?” Arad was silent, not letting the conversation be diverted. The General suddenly recalled he was in a highly vulnerable position. “All right. You stay in my rooms with my female this night. You keep my secret. I will look to your future.” Arad bowed deeply. “I will see to the safety of your female this night. I will never tell another Nephris that the General has shamed us all by falling in love with his woman.”

Chapter One When her entire arm went dead, Rose Lee knew she was in trouble. Big trouble. The pain suddenly faded, leaving numbness and nausea in its wake, and she knew it was time to end this fight. She slid boneless to the floor, keeping a wary eye on Daryl Nutlisch as he guffawed, preparing to finish the tiny woman he’d just thrown into the steel wall. She caught herself going down, braced her knees, and called on some unknown reserve of strength. The idiot was too confident, certain that Rose was down for the count. Blood streaked her face and her left arm hung uselessly at her side. Her pistol had skittered under a rusty Dumpster, and no way in hell did an unarmed woman have the strength to take down a man that was easily twice her size. Overconfident, Daryl glanced away. He missed her crouch, her sleek launch from the wall, slamming a well-placed kick to his kidney. As she rode the big man to the filthy floor, Rose’s sharp teeth tore at the bracelet on her right wrist, exposing a tiny, wicked needle that fairly dripped with a double dose of Clonk. She called it ‘Clonk’ because of the sound the suspect made as he hit the floor. This needle was perfectly placed, right on that bare skin between neck and shoulder. Her kick took him to the ground before the drug took effect, giving Rose the pleasure of hearing his meaty face hit the steel floor as two hundred and fifty pounds of pure mean male hit the ground. So she couldn’t use weapons… she’d use what she could. After all, it was a matter of professional pride. And her paycheck. This month’s payment on the ship would go to the doctor, so she’d be damned if “Little Dragon” Lee was letting this big boy slip between her

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fingers! She’d need the hazard pay that came with taking down Daryl “the Nutcase” Nutlisch. Gritting her teeth against the searing pain in her arm, Rose released the microfiber netting from her utility belt, draping it over his body. Grunting, she rolled him onto his back, fumbling to secure the flimsy fabric. She desperately needed to immobilize this man before the drug wore off. She twisted the safety clips and activated the netting, and then slapped him with her tag, a subcutaneous marker with the official charges and her badge ID. She didn’t need some asshole freelancer coming in to hijack her takedown. Surveying the growing crowd with cynical displeasure, Rose propped herself against the bloody station wall, warily watching her captive. She frowned. The communicator on her left wrist hung uselessly on a dead arm. She braced against the wall and used her blood-slick right hand to work the tiny radio loose. “Station Dispatch, this is Detective Rose Lee, badge number 110249, calling in a request for transport.” She waited numbly for the call to route to the appropriate authority. “Hey, Little Dragon, this is Police Dispatch Matthews. You have a prisoner for transport?” “Bagged and tagged, Matthews. Warrant J-201, suspicion of…” she coughed and spit, uncomfortably aware of blood pooling in her mouth, “…suspicion of aggravated rape and sodomy, murder, and attempted murder… torture…” “Damnation, Rose! You got the Nutcase there?” She winced at his breach of protocol, glancing at the growing crowd. The press was undoubtedly monitoring her transmission. “Damn it, Matthews!” “Sorry, Detective.” He sounded embarrassed. “I’d also like to request Medi-vac. I need help.” Silence greeted her request. She waited as the dispatcher relayed her message. “Detective Lee? Lee?”

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She blinked, slowly becoming aware that the dispatcher had been calling her name repeatedly. Shock. She watched in abstraction as Nutlisch began to struggle against the impregnable silk netting that held him nearly immobile. The crowd that had closed in on him reared back in an exaggerated wave. They’d scattered during the fight, but she had no doubt the battle had been recorded by some enterprising civilian. It’d hit the news links within hours. “Detective Lee?” “Suspect has regained consciousness.” Her voice sounded distant, and to her surprise, Rose had slid to her haunches on the hard floor. It reminded her of how her grandpa squatted when he smoked. Her numb hand brushed a rusty metal grating. Her khakis were torn, black military boots were bloody and scuffed. He’d torn the knit tank right off her body, baring her breasts. Her head rolled to the side, cheek resting on the cool metal plating of the wall. She smelled tobacco. Grandpa. “Transport will arrive momentarily, Detective. You just keep talking to me… Medi-vac’s on its way.” “Thanks…” “Detective Lee… come on, Rose, keep talking to me, Rose? Come on, Rosie… Rose?”

*** “Well, Rose, those station doctors did a decent job of patching you together.” Dr. Branson strode briskly into the room, illuminating the monitor that displayed her xrays, and other vital stats. “Still hurting?” “Like a son of a bitch.” Her tight smile was only slightly feral, and the short, grey-haired man didn’t react. After two decades of attending to the medical treatment of the elite Retrieval Squad, Dr. Branson was well used to the alpha posturing of injured detectives. “So, you bagged and tagged the Nutcase all on your own?” He frowned, looking only at the display. “Bastard’s more than double your height and weight, and you had

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the balls to take him solo?” He finally glanced at the tiny woman on the exam table, raising a bushy brow, conveying his opinion of the stupidity of her action. “Daryl never saw me coming. He didn’t see me as a threat, and I’m not his victim type, so the actual takedown was pretty short and sweet.” “Well, I’d hate to see what he’d have done if the fight had lasted even a minute longer, Rose.” He sat on a rolling stool and swiveled the monitor her direction. “So, Detective, aside from a punctured lung, broken ribs and collarbone, plus a minor concussion, other rather significant damage occurred when you hit that wall.” He pressed a key and the image on the screen illuminated, looking like a map of a major city. “This is an image of the nerves in your shoulder and left arm. The green lines are nerves that are healthy and functional. The red indicates injury.” A cap of red surrounded her entire shoulder joint. “I don’t understand how he did that much damage. I hit the wall on my right side. Why is the left arm injured?” “Either he yanked your arm with enough force to damage the nerves or when you hit the wall with your right shoulder, your left lashed outward, causing the damage. Whatever the cause, it is permanent.” Permanent nerve damage? To her entire arm? Her breath caught painfully in her chest. “I’ll never…” “You will never regain use of the arm.” His fingers trailed over the red area on the image. He sat quietly as she absorbed the news. “Nothing? Not even sensation?” “Not as it stands at present.” “Is there any alien tech, maybe alternative treatment? Maybe my grandpa… he does chi healing…” “I suspected you’d ask that question, so I did a bit of research. As you know, the Thalians have done some progressive studies on human physiology. They’ve developed some interesting treatments for this sort of injury.” “Thalians.” She frowned. Damned Thalians were notorious for treating humans like lab rats.

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“It’s very cutting edge. They’ve combined cellular regeneration with neural therapy, similar to acupuncture. The outcome has been impressive.” Rose bit her lip. Without her arm, her career was shot. No job meant no ship. She’d sold her little house in Oregon in favor of living on the Dragon. She’d be homeless and unemployed. Yes, she’d pull a disability pension, but the stipend certainly wouldn’t cover the monthly payments on the ship. “Is the department willing to foot the bill for the treatment?” Dr. Branson was ominously silent. “What aren’t you telling me, Doc?” “It isn’t an approved treatment. But,” he cleared his throat, “the Thalians will take you as a volunteer test subject.” Well, shit. The Thalians had been suspected of using their human test subjects in an unethical fashion. But still, risk at the hands of the Thalians had to be better than a future with a crippled arm. “Any other options?” He shook his head. “I did search, Rose. In all honesty, the arm has too much nerve damage to be of any use to you. If you were a dog, I’d amputate the limb and send you home. That isn’t an option for you.” “Well, goodie for me.” He chuckled at her cynical comment. “So sign you up?” She bit her still swollen lip, looking at the man who’d tended every broken bone, every injury she’d sustained over the past decade. And there had been many. She trusted him in a way that she trusted no other. “Let’s go over the pros and cons, and then I’ll give you my answer.” He nodded and opened a new screen with the proposal, the risks and the potential side effects of the procedure. An hour later, Rose had signed the waivers, and met the scientists who would either cure her or kill her. Rose was hoping for the former.

*** “Nihau, Rosie!”

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Oh God. Not him, not now. Four weeks after treatments had begun, Rose was feeling anything but attractive. Her hair had grown out to a really funky length. She simply hadn’t been able to use her own arms to run the buzzer over her scalp. Her skin was rough and pallid, an unfortunate side effect of being sick as a dog. She’d lost weight that she couldn’t afford to lose, robbing her body of any remaining feminine silhouette. And she hadn’t bothered with makeup today. “Hey, Kit.” She smiled, hoping it didn’t look as sickly as it felt. He stood there, in radiant health and even better looks. Kit Jung was fairly new to the force, still working freelance. That meant his assignments were low risk, generally administrative in nature. If the force liked him, they’d invest in his training and eventually sign him on with full bennies. For now, he caught what he could and hustled jobs for off-world embassies. His black hair was glossy and precisely styled, and his friendly smile tilted those beautiful brown eyes even further. He wasn’t that tall, but towered over Rose. His Cantonese was passable. Mandarin would be better, but her parents would still be ecstatic if she were to bring him home. Blood rushed to her cheeks, and Rose automatically dropped her gaze to the floor, tongue-tied and more flustered than she usually was in Kit’s presence. Mortified by her lack of control, she blushed even more. “How’s the arm?” She twisted slightly, showing him wiggling fingers protruding from the tip of the sling. “I’ve got fingers.” “Wah! How great is that!” His enthusiasm was contagious, and she relaxed a bit. In the two years that Kit had been with the force, Rose had suffered a painful crush on the younger man. Two years of blushes, hot dreams and unfulfilled needs. He’d never so much as noticed that she was female.

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Rose was accustomed to men being intimidated by her, confused and put off, but she’d never been so completely overlooked by the object of her affection. Kit liked blondes, tall and buxom. He’d dated the cute office manager, and Tanya over in Vice. He’d even spent some serious time with Sammie Liu, who’d once tried to be Rose’s buddy. Sammie hailed from old Hong Kong, and said that the HK girls should hang together. After she’d dated Kit, Rose couldn’t look at her friend in quite the same way. The only white girl she knew he hadn’t dated was Brenda, the physical therapist with the Georgia peach accent. She said Kit was too vain to date a girl prettier than himself, and too shallow to date homely girls. Rose didn’t think that Brenda fell into either of those categories. The redhead was too kooky to be glamorous, and too stunning to be homely. Bren was beautiful, and had no clue. “I have an appointment, Kit.” She started walking through the airy quad, forgetting to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. Undeterred, Kit walked beside her. “Staying up on the Dragon?” “No, with my parents.” She didn’t elaborate. Didn’t tell him about the fiery pain and agonizing hours of her recovery. The countless hours that her grandpa had spent before the family altar, praying to General Kwan. No, he didn’t need to know about that. “So, the Dragon’s just sitting in dock?” She climbed the steps to the Med Center, slower than usual. Pain was snapping away at her left arm. The fractures in her torso had healed, but still ached. “Yeah. Just sitting.” “So how’re you making payments? I know you’re probably drawing partial, but…” She turned away and walked faster. Payment was due, and she didn’t have it. “Jeez, I’m sorry, Rosie. That was… well, I’m just sorry.” “The bank’s working with me.” Only a small lie. They weren’t going to foreclose as long as she made partials. But they’d only give her so much time, and she was still looking at major rehab. Maybe up to a year.

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“Listen, I might know of something…” He hesitated, his face holding excitement. “I picked up a job, good pay, but it’s freelance. I need a long-range ship; you have one.” She slowed, waiting to hear more. “It’s just a courier job, but it’s got a high payout. A small shipment of raw ore to one of the frontier planets. It’s embassy approved.” “What sort of ore?” She didn’t want to be shipping explosives or anything that might be a biohazard. “Topaz in matrix.” She gave him a hard glance. Hardly raw ore. “Come on, Rosie, it’s just a common, semi-precious gemstone. It’s uncut. The royal family of Parsis is having a wedding next year. They need a lot of the stuff for the bride and groom’s outfits and ritual jewelry. They still haven’t recovered the crown jewels that were stolen a couple years back.” The Parsians were normally peace-loving, but when their royal jewels had been spirited away, it had nearly caused war between them and their nearest neighbors, the Nephris. The very thought of the Nephris made Rose’s blood go cold. “It’s for the Parsians?” “Yup. Got the paperwork right here.” How long had he been hanging around HQ waiting for her to show up? “Why the Dragon? Can’t you hire a ship or take a shuttle?” He shook his head. “The Nephris are talking about an embargo. They haven’t declared war, but they’ll be monitoring public transport and will probably seize anything going to Parsis on scheduled runs.” “You are absolutely not taking the Dragon into an unstable zone! Jeez, Kit, what are you thinking?” “It’s insured, isn’t it?” “Yes, but…” “So if anything happens, you’re covered. And like I said, no hostilities have been declared. It’s totally safe.” He was working her. The dimple in his right cheek flashed, his eyes twinkled. Her heart quickened just a bit, and that treacherous blush spread across her cheeks.

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Hell, this was her ship… her home! “I’m… really sorry, Kit, but I just can’t.” She started away again, slowly climbing the steps. Kit hung back a moment then hurried to catch up. “Okay, listen, Rose. What if you came along? I’m a good pilot, but I was going to hire someone to help. It’s a long flight and it’d be nice to have someone to back me up.” She paused, her heart speeding up a fraction. One month, alone with Kit Jung. It would be yet another of those kill or cure behaviors she was so good with. Wordlessly, he handed her the official paperwork and contract. Her eyes widened at the fee Kit was drawing for this little gig. “A third of that is yours, for lease of the Dragon and her pilot.” It was enough to cover payments for six months, at the very least. And she didn’t think that her disability pay would end if she leased her ship and expertise. She didn’t need her left arm to fly. “How soon?” “Two weeks. There’s no tight deadline, but they’d like the shipment inside of two months.” She hadn’t stepped onboard the Dragon in over a month now, and that had been brief, to check systems. She’d been Earth-bound for almost two months. A trip to another system, another planet, sounded heavenly! And with Kit Jung… She reached the door to the facility and paused, looking up at Kit’s handsome face. “If I can get medical clearance, I’ll do it. But only if I can pilot the ship. And you have to get a guarantee the Nephris won’t bother us. Otherwise, it’s off.” She could feel his suppressed excitement; his enthusiasm nearly took him to his toes. He leaned down and gave her a good, hard kiss, jostling her arm painfully in the process. She hissed in pain -- he probably assumed her gasp had been pleasure -- but for the first time, Kit was suddenly looking at her as though she was a woman. A desirable woman. Their eyes held for a long moment and Rose felt her body go warm, the reaction taking her by surprise.

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Once more, Kit leaned forward, kissing her light and soft. She blinked once, twice, and then turned, almost hitting the automatic door on her way into the building. “I’ll wait here!” She nodded, retreating through the smoked glass doors.

*** Kit Jung leaned back against the pristine marble wall of the complex, a contented smile crossing his face. So, little Rose was a bit sweet on him, eh? He’d heard the occasional guess regarding her sexuality, the butch haircut and clothing better suited to a soldier than a woman. There was a running pool in the freelance barracks, first in her pants takes the pot. He only needed proof that he’d nailed her. Bonus if it was her first time with a boy.

*** She flinched at the long, elegant hand hovering over her shoulder. Rose couldn’t help it. “You will forever associate the touch of a Thalian with pain.” The velvety voice was sad, slightly mournful. As beautiful as the face that went with that voice. Why did the Thalians have to bear such a strong resemblance to Raphael’s angels? The scientist’s golden hair tumbled to his shoulders, celestial blue eyes saddened by her fear. “I’ll get over it.” “Perhaps.” The elegant hand carried a hypo spray that he’d used to administer a neural stimulator. Already, her hand was tingling uncomfortably. But the real pain, the pain that he referred to, had passed, and would hopefully never visit her again, save in her dreams. In reality, Dr. Nomi and his partner, Dr. Sala, were gentle and considerate, so absurdly opposite everything she’d ever heard about the Thalians and their questionable scientific processes. Nomi turned away as Sala drifted in, peering intently into Rose’s eyes. They were so similar in appearance that Rose wondered if they were siblings. They synchronized so well that she also wondered if they were lovers.

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“Neither.” Sala smiled gently and touched her chin.

Damn aliens were highly telepathic and touch sensitive.

“That accounts for our synchronicity.”

“The telepathy?”

Sala nodded and turned away.

“But I know for a fact that Sala thinks my… err… posterior is quite attractive.”

Nomi’s smile held quiet humor. “But he prefers the females of our species.” “And you?” Nomi smiled and leaned in close to her ear. “I prefer the females of your species.” His whisper was surprisingly erotic. Shocked, she leaned back, looking hard at the seraphic face. “Are you flirting with me?” Sala chuckled and Nomi’s cheeks went faintly pink. “You are incredibly charming, Rose, though I don’t quite know what I’d do with a female as diminutive as yourself.” Yeah. They were tall. Incredibly tall. Tall, brilliant, beautiful, and one couldn’t discount those wings, hidden away under their lab coats. Great, feathered wings. It was clear where the mythos of angels had originated. “I’m sure that the size disparity could be compensated for. Nomi’s twin brother favored females such as you.” At Sala’s comment, Rose found her cheeks had gone very, very pink. “You are Asian.” “Chinese. My family lives in Hong Kong, in a coastal area called Saikung.” “We visited in the first week of your recovery.” They had? She looked to Nomi for confirmation, and he nodded. “It was very beautiful, very green. The rain fell often. I enjoyed sitting on the porch of your room, just inches from the falling water.” She drew a deep breath. She didn’t remember.

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“You don’t remember because you were very ill. In so much pain. We induced a coma.” Nomi’s voice again sounded heavy with sadness. They were so damn expressive. And this telepathy, except for when she was having embarrassing thoughts, was pretty damn convenient. “You meant to ask us about taking a job…” Yup, damn convenient. The pair took nearly identical poses against the wall, observing her. Side by side like this, she could see that while similar, the two weren’t identical. Sala’s hair was a paler gold than Nomi’s, his eyes more grey than blue. His lips were slightly fuller, mouth wider. Nomi had a shorter, straighter nose, his cheekbones were wider. His chin had a dimple. “I guess you guys don’t all look alike after all.” For a moment they looked puzzled, until they pulled the foundation of the joke from her mind. As one, they smiled. As a whole, the species wasn’t given to joviality. But she was finding that they had a definite sense of humor. That was good. Laughter made her less afraid of them. “You will need to continue your injections for one more week, and then therapy, starting today. Nomi has created your physical therapy schedule.” “If you promise to do exactly as I instruct while you are gone, I believe that you can take the trip without interfering with your recovery.” Sala nodded in agreement. Rose thought of her traveling companion and flushed, knowing what she needed to ask next. “If I…” As one, the men smiled that secret, very male smile. “Yes, but use common sense. Nothing gymnastic. Keep your arm secured in its brace during activity, just for safety.” “Oh, God.” She covered her face with her hands. “You are a randy bunch, aren’t you? I had no idea!” “Humans are usually afraid of us. We don’t often get a chance to enjoy your physical companionship.” This time, Sala sounded as sad as Nomi. How long had they been here on Earth, with only one another for company?

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“Rose, could I ask you a question?” “Sure. Shoot.” Nomi again went slightly pink. “Most human females wear their hair long. Why do you keep yours cut off? The color is so lovely, and now that you’ve let it grow out a bit, it’s so glossy and thick. So very beautiful.” She hopped from the table to the floor, looking up at the men. They were roughly six foot four to her five foot one. “I’m on the small side, even for a female.” They nodded in agreement. “I once had a suspect pick me up by the hair. Aside from being very painful, it was frightening. Since then, I never let it grow long enough for someone to get a grip.” Nomi reached out and ran his long fingers through the black fringe. It had grown out enough to give her pixie bangs. Her mother had trimmed the sides short to her scalp and neck, leaving enough length on the top to give her face a softer look. She had also left long, whimsical sideburns that traced the front of her ears. “Our women pride themselves on the length of their hair. But to me, this magnifies the beauty of your face.” He had a crush on her! Dr. Nomi had a crush on her! She quickly diverted that thought so she wouldn’t embarrass him. “What happened to the suspect that used your hair?” She turned to Sala, a slight smile on her face. “I kicked him in the tender bits. He was a rapist, and I promise you, he’ll never use that part of his body again.” “Good.” Nomi took her by surprise with that. They seemed so damn passive. His face retained that look of serenity. “We do not suffer rapists to live.” As one, the Thalians turned away and began packing their supplies, preparing to vacate their borrowed exam room. “We are not such a peaceful species as you might think, Rose. And we revere women. All women.”

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With wide eyes, she watched as first Nomi, and then Sala leaned down and kissed her gently on the forehead. She was speechless as they left the room.

*** What were you about there, Nomi? Sala’s inner voice was sharp, almost irritated. Jealous? What do you mean?

You flirted. With a human. A patient.

Together, they strode down the hall, long legs carrying them with deceptive

speed. It just… hurt to see the fear in her eyes. That’s all. As one, they turned a corner, and then another, moving to the other end of the complex. You have feelings for her? Nomi glanced sharply at his companion. He didn’t confirm, but he didn’t deny. Nomi, how long since your last cycle?

It wasn’t that long. I have plenty of time, two, perhaps three months. Yours?

Sala stifled a snort. He’d spent his two seasonal weeks in frustration while they traveled to Earth. Nomi certainly hadn’t forgotten his moaning and complaining. Did you plant the device, Nomi? I did, and I don’t feel particularly good about doing that. She is our patient.

It may save her life.

She’ll hate us if she finds out.

Sala was silent at that. It had been bad enough seeing fear in her eyes. He didn’t

want to see hatred as well. “Hey, ya’ll!” A flirtatious voice followed them down the hall. Their eyes met, and both saw panic in the expression of the other. We should say hello to her. We should run. Sala did not want to be waylaid by the flame-haired human coming their way.

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“Hey, boys, I was wondering if you were trying to avoid me!” Blue eyes almost as brilliant as Nomi’s peeped from a mop of long curls. Her curves filled her skintight workout suit without a trace of self-consciousness. She was loud, boisterous and completely shameless. She stood only an inch or two taller than Rose. Brenda Roarke struck terror into the hearts of the Thalian men. “Good morning, Miss Roarke.” “Brenda. I’ve told you boys plenty of times my name’s Brenda, not Miss Roarke.” She pushed her way between the two and hooked her hands into their elbows. “You boys headed for the gym? You have Rose Lee’s therapy notes ready for me? Well, I’ll just keep you company then. I really enjoy having you two around to chat with!” Over her head, the Thalians exchanged helpless looks as they were dragged down the hall by a tiny red-haired tornado.

Chapter Two It had taken only a week in Kit’s company for the cure to take effect. Two weeks and she was ready to drop kick him out the hatch. Two weeks and one day, well, Rose was settling into a mild sense of amusement over her former crush. Contrary to her expectations, being alone with Kit did nothing for her sex drive. The nagging pain in her arm effectively killed the mild simmer. Take away the chemistry, and they really had nothing in common. Worse, she could find nothing particularly interesting about Kit. He enjoyed his favorite sports teams, regaled her with stories of his romantic conquests, apparently in a juvenile effort to titillate her. But his greatest flaw? He laughed at her Bruce Lee poster. And in Rose’s book, teasing a martial artist about the Dragon was just poor form. As a tiny child, Rose had looked to Bruce for inspiration. After all, he’d been small himself. Small, but mighty. If not for him, Rose would never have gathered the self-confidence to stand up to the larger kids in her grandpa’s school and later, to take on the criminals that frightened even the big guys. It didn’t hurt that Bruce had been the most beautiful man in God’s creation. So while she might have fantasized about Kit in the yellow jumpsuit, no more. The yellow jumpsuit belonged with Bruce and would never fit another, not even in her dreams. Rose started to stretch, abruptly remembered her injuries and modified her movement, rising from the helm and carefully rotating her upper body. Kit had once again skipped his shift at the bridge, and in all honesty, she didn’t really care. He spent most of his time in his berth doing whatever the hell he did in there. But the tiny alarm Nomi had implanted in Rose’s system was alerting her to the time and her overdue

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therapy. She’d like to take care of therapy in the activity center, with a semblance of professionalism. Usually, she ended up doing her exercises on the bridge. She sighed, and went in search of her missing co-pilot. “Kit?” She was answered by a low moan. Was he sick? Injured? She followed the sound to the activity center, and stopped dead in her tracks. Kit was lying stretched out on the lounge chair… her lounge chair… pants wide open, engorged penis firmly in hand. Quickly, she ducked behind the door, dismissing the coy look he shot her direction. Granted, normally she kept herself well-pleasured during a trip, but damn! At least Rose kept it behind closed doors. She risked another peek. Kit had dropped his chin to chest, mouth open, breathing hard. Another moan slipped out and his body undulated. From the doorway, she could see that his cock was growing dark. Tiny dribbles of moisture leaked from the eye. She could hear the slap of skin on skin. “Rose…” His voice came as a hearty moan, drawing heat to her cheeks. Rose… She blinked. Another voice, not Kit’s. She turned away from the spectacle, distracted. Rose… It whispered through her mind, soft and sweet. Had the Thalians implanted something other than the therapy program? The voice that breathed through her mind was like a cobweb in the breeze, there, and then gone. As Kit power-stroked himself to completion, Rose wandered back to the helm, puzzling over what she’d just heard. Or had she imagined it? She slipped from her jacket, loosening the harness that held her left arm immobile. For long moments, her arm tingled with returning blood flow. She wiggled her fingers, and then activated Nomi’s therapy program, following the instructions given in his gentle voice. To her delight, her range of motion had increased even from the morning’s exercise. “Thank you, Nomi, Sala.” She squeezed her eyes closed, allowing the pent up fear, the uncertainty about the future to wash over her, and then away. Rose felt muscles engage, nerves fire in their proper sequence. She looked closely at her hand,

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noticing that her nail beds had recovered their normal, healthy pink color. For the first time since she’d put herself into the care of the Thalians, Rose knew she would recover completely. She stood, tears stinging her eyes. She returned to the exercise, allowing Nomi’s gentle voice to usher her recovery. When she finished, she’d email them her thanks.

*** “Hey, Kit, can you come up to the bridge?” She really hated using the PA system, but something out there was giving Rose a case of the willies, and she didn’t want to leave the bridge. She tapped her fingernail on the flight console, finally glancing up at Kit as he settled next to her in the co-pilot’s seat. He looked slightly drowsy and more than a little grouchy. She hoped he’d cleaned up her chair. “Listen, I need another set of eyes here.” She gestured to a small display. “I keep thinking that I’m seeing some sort of displacement, but then it resolves. Would you watch for a sec, see what you think?” His brow furrowed as Kit stared down at the console. “I don’t see… oh… there!” Whatever it was disappeared quickly. “Do you think we’re being tailed?” He looked to Rose for reassurance. After all, she had several years of deep space experience. “I don’t know. Possibly. But if we are, they have amazingly sophisticated cloaking abilities. There are some non-allied species that use it, but we’re in friendly space.” She frowned as the shimmer once again manifested on the display. They were closing distance. “I suppose I could engage the Davey Drive. That might buy us some space.” The Davey Drive was fairly new technology, named after a young Chilean boy who’d dreamed up a radical form of hyper-light propulsion. His genius had burned fast and bright, and various governments had battled to control young David Molares and his family. In the end, they disappeared, most likely to assassination. Personally, Rose believed they’d fled to another, more advanced planet. Perhaps he’d sought refuge with the Thalians.

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She engaged the drive, and as stars blurred around the tiny ship, she sat back in relief. The drive was only a short burst, a temporary measure, but possibly enough to free them from any bad situations. Neither one wanted to say anything, but they were crossing near the borders of Nephris controlled space, and Rose was beyond frightened at the idea of encountering the fierce humans who had colonized the desert system. Rose. She glanced at Kit, who was scanning the sensors. He obviously hadn’t said anything. She’d left her injured arm loose and felt goose bumps rising on her skin. She rubbed the aching limb. “You’re spooked.” She glanced at him in annoyance. “Well, frankly, Kit, you should be too. Being taken by the Nephris would be a bad thing for either of us.” Her in particular. They were an isolationist society, misogynistic and paranoid. Women in the Nephris culture were several steps lower in society than the family dog. They existed in prison-like conditions, valued only for their ability to produce offspring. Human rights organizations had been trying for years to influence the society, to no avail. Kit looked surprisingly pale, with bright spots of color on his cheekbones. If they were taken, his lot would be better than hers, but only marginally. If nobody found him attractive enough to keep as a private sex slave, he’d be offered first to bordellos, and then to general slavers. Given Rose’s past history with the Nephris, she’d be shot. No, it wouldn’t be that simple. They’d make certain she was raped before she was shot. For over an hour they traveled in silence, monitoring local space. If this was a preview of the next week, Rose was almost ready to turn around and go home. She didn’t need the money that bad. “Why don’t you take a break? Things look quiet enough now.”

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She pulled a deep breath, suddenly aware that she hadn’t done so for a very long time. “Here.” Kit got up and stepped behind her chair, leaning down to massage her tight neck and shoulders. She had to work to relax enough to enjoy his skilled touch. To his credit, Kit remembered to avoid her left arm. “Better?” His fingers skimmed through her hair, trailing warmth and relaxation. She nodded, letting her eyes drop closed as he made small circles on her temples, down to her jaw. Soon his lips followed the path of his fingers, trailing lightly across her jaw, down to her neck. “I’ve wanted to do this…” Her slight intake of breath didn’t prevent him from lowering his lips to hers. “I want you, Rosie.” Now, her goose bumps came from arousal. She remembered him in the chair, stroking his cock, her name on his lips. She stifled a smile. “Why don’t we go back to the activity room? Things are fine here.” He nipped the skin of her jaw, and his hand settled on her shoulder, its weight an uncomfortable reminder of being taken unaware and off guard. Reluctantly, she pulled away. “We’ve got to stay alert, Kit.” Behind her, he frowned, and then pressed his erection into her arm. “Here then…” “No. This just isn’t a good time, Kit.” She breathed deeply, tamping down the mood. Turning away, Kit slapped the back of her chair and then collapsed into his. She frowned at his attitude. Since when was she obliged to give him sex? Rose turned back to the console and went over scans. Their small sprint had obviously cleared them of their phantom, but she still felt uneasy. She rubbed her eyes, fatigue weighing heavy now that the initial emergency was over. “Rose, go take a break. I’ll hang around up here. If anything looks off, I’ll come get you.”

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She got up and left the helm, no argument needed. If anything should have worried her, this was it. She was too damn tired to argue. Her personal quarters were on the upper deck. It wasn’t the largest berth, but closest to the bridge. When she traveled alone, she left the door open. The computer would handle most minor situations, but if a true emergency came up, she was just steps away. This time she let the door slide shut behind her and engaged the lock. Kit hadn’t taken her “no” very well. She didn’t need him to come sliding in while she was napping. Yawning, she slipped off her jacket and rebound her arm. It had taken some adjustment, having to sleep on her back, but as the fractures healed, she could roll to her right side for short periods of time. Boots came off next, and she stifled another yawn. Her head hit the pillow, and she automatically set her bedside alarm for fifty-five minutes.

*** The hand wasn’t gentle or elegant like Nomi’s. The skin wasn’t fair and golden like Sala. It was hard and dark and heavy. She shivered as the calloused palm slid down her bare belly. Not a gentle touch, but just perfect for Rose. Just perfect. She struggled to open her eyes, to wonder at the sudden change in Kit’s touch, but the weight of the hand was all wrong. It was broad, almost broad enough to span her narrow waist. The thumb and middle finger pinched the skin on her belly and then journeyed to her breasts, the rough skin playing havoc on her nipples. That’s when she remembered that she wasn’t naked. She’d been fully dressed when she lay down for her nap. With the harness and her weakened arm, struggling out of her suit was too much effort. Rose tried to open her eyes, but the lids were too heavy. Besides, she could almost see the dark eyes that burned down at her, the white teeth in the darkly tanned face.

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Nephris! Fear thrilled through every cell in her body, only to translate to arousal as the hand pinched and circled her tender skin. She heard a low murmur of speech, heavily accented, unrecognizable, except when he whispered her name. Rose. Like a dog trained for response to a bell, her body grew heavy and moist. She had only to think and she was naked, waiting for his rough, expert touch. That hand traveled down, skimming lightly over her black curls, never hesitating. He was Nephris. Shouldn’t he be repulsed? Instead, she heard the breath catch in his lungs as those harsh textured fingers circled her mons, then went straight for the prize, surprising a cry from Rose. Two thick, hard fingers curled into her sex. The heel of his hand crushed down onto her mons. She was caught in a hard, merciless grip. The tips of his fingers ground into her G-spot. His hand slowly grazed her clit in circles. His hard palm pushed mercilessly into the soft flesh above her pubis. She screamed as she came, shuddering convulsively, sweat breaking over her skin, stinging her eyes. She screamed because her body and her mind were so completely stunned to come at the hands of a stranger, no foreplay, no soft words of seduction. It was brutal, it was painful and it felt good enough to die over…

*** “Rose!” Rose… Her eyes fluttered open, her heart pistoned rapidly, and sweat pooled between her breasts. Her body heaved, breath rushing into her lungs. Her cunt was so slick, she’d have to visit the head to clean up. What the hell had just happened? Rose glanced at the clock. She still had fourteen minutes left. “Rose!” Kit was rapping at the locked door. “You’ll want to come to the bridge.” His voice sounded tight. Afraid.

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Rose jumped up, slipping into her unlaced boots, ran out the door without bothering with her jacket. She was still self-conscious about the appearance of her arm, but it was safely strapped to her body, and she didn’t have time for vanity. “Look. It just appeared.” Rose frowned at the scanner. The familiar shimmer appeared, followed by another. “Great. They brought friends.” She settled into the pilot’s seat and strapped into her harness, noting that Kit did the same. “Ready the Davey Drive?” “Ready, but don’t engage. Let’s see who they are and what they want.” The remnants of the dream still clung to Rose like a shroud. Absently she smelled her sweat, the smell of her sex. But now, the rapid beat of her heart was from fear. The adrenaline coursing through her veins had nothing to do with arousal. Given their unknown enemy, it might have everything to do with gender, though, and her heart kicked up another notch. “Prepare for evasive maneuvers.” She could smell Kit’s fear, acrid and sharp. With disapproval, she noted a tremor in his hand. Fear was understandable, but not panic. “Kit, is there anything in that shipment you didn’t tell me about?” His silence was telling. She’d examined the cargo herself, admiring the gleaming crystals in matrix, but hadn’t discovered anything but the rough topaz. “Kit?” “Nothing that should be important to anyone but the Parsians.” “Hell, Kit, if it’s important to the Parsians, it’s going to be important to the Nephris! They’ve been harassing the Parsians for decades now.” “It’s just the topaz, Rose. That’s all, I swear!” Enough talk. Rose keyed in a command and sent a text greeting. She’d almost hailed them verbally, before remembering the Nephris’ attitude toward women. This is the private cruiser Dragon, Earth registry K-7729-A. We are on a peaceful journey. Please identify yourself.

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Rose waited a minute, two before re-sending. Another long wait, before the radio cracked in her ear. “Dragon, this is the Blessed Vessel Blade, Nephris registry. You are in controlled space. Please prepare for boarding and inspection.” “Shit!” Her fist came down hard on her chair. “Shit! Shit! Shit!” “Rose, you’re an officer. They aren’t going to do anything that’ll cause trouble with Earth.” She rolled her eyes, he was so naive. “They don’t exactly play by our rules, Kit.” She dug into a cubby in the console and found what she needed, a tiny silver button that she adhered to her throat. “Blessed Vessel Blade. We apologize for our trespass. According to our most recent system maps, this territory is neutral. If you would transmit current charts, we will immediately leave your space and continue our journey.” Her voice had morphed into a male tenor. Young sounding, but male. Kit looked at her in surprise. She had more surprises ready. For once, she was grateful for the weight she’d lost. Still monitoring communications, Rose dashed into her berth and dug into her drawers, pulling out a tight spandex bodysuit. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she struggled out of her clothing, ignoring Kit’s amazed face. She tugged on the bodysuit, which flattened her breasts and narrowed her hips. Next came a loose t-shirt. She stomped back into her boots and checked the mirror. A swipe of makeup cut the pink of her lips and cheeks. Gel made her hair stick up in a spiky crew-cut. She looked like a very young Asian boy. Hopefully, Kit could hold it together enough to come off as the Captain. She glanced at his white face and gave up that hope. Back at the console, the ship had glimmered fully into view. It was an Ell series, older than the Dragon, but undoubtedly faster and better armed. The crew capacity on the Blade would be approximately twenty, possibly more if they lived in Spartan conditions. A second ship shimmered into view. Since when had they developed such sophisticated cloaking?

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A grapple was launched. With little effort, Rose nudged out of the way. The second ship deployed their grapple, and once more, with a twitch of movement, the Dragon avoided the magnetic restraint. “Prepare for boarding, Dragon. This is not a request.” The hard voice sounded angry. “Blessed Vessel Blade, we pose no threat to you. Please transmit current system map, and we will retreat.” Rose bit her lip, debating the wisdom of running. At this point, they were blocked from a hyper-light surge. When another grapple launched, Rose lightly side-stepped. “Maybe we should just let them board, Rose.” Kit’s voice had a tremor. Fine for him, he wasn’t the one looking at a lifetime of imprisonment and abuse. A death sentence if they identified her. A third Nephris ship arrived, and Rose took a deep breath, settling her nerves. “Prepare for evasive maneuvers.” “Damn it, Rose, they’ll shoot us down!” “Kit, have you ever heard the phrase ‘a fate worse than death’? Well, that’s what’s waiting for us.” She focused, and then banked hard to port, slipping from the tightening net of the Nephris ships. As they broke away to engage, Rose began rolling and looping, avoiding their fire. “I just need a little free space… prepare hyper-light…” When Kit didn’t respond, Rose cursed, and freed her left hand. She didn’t need a co-pilot, especially one that was so damn sluggish! The ship rocked as a cannon blast exploded nearby. A warning shot. She rolled the Dragon away, setting up for escape. “What are you doing? We’ll collide!” She ignored Kit’s alarm, bringing the Dragon around to face the aggressors. Rose glanced at her computer, and then opened her acceleration, straight into the path of the Blade. If she calculated just right, she’d enter hyper-light right… under… his… “Whooo hoo!”

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“Shit, Rose! Shit!” Kit’s voice was harsh with panic, and the acrid smell of urine filled the air. He’d peed his pants. Rose shook her head. No doubt she’d get stuck with clean-up. “Do not leave your post, Jung.” He was rising, slightly unbalanced. All of a sudden, Rose was gripped by fury. “You choked, Kit. I gave you a direct order, and you disobeyed.” He turned on her, anger sparking in his eyes. “You were going to get us killed! And I hired you, Rose.” “This is my ship, Jung. In a crisis, if I give a command, you obey. Do you understand?” “Bitch.” She stared long and hard at Kit. His eyes sparked with more than anger… with hatred. Contempt. It was as though a mask slipped away from his face; gone was the charming, affable young man. “Get off my bridge.” She wanted to face him down, force him away, but even in the height of her anger, Rose was aware of her weakness. Her vulnerability. She hated it. “Now.” Kit stood. Her eyes dropped briefly to the darkened spot on his trousers. It was his pride. She’d simply wounded his pride. He’d get over it. “They’re tracking us, Rose. You can’t do this alone.” “Right now, Kit, I need you away from me.” She was shaking with anger. With fear. He was right; they were tracking the Dragon. How they were doing it, she didn’t know, but damn if she’d let them board! “Take five minutes, then get back up here.” She turned away, breathing deep and steady, getting the anger under control. The fear. A decade of law enforcement hadn’t prepared her for this. Even those minutes when she thought the Nutcase might end her life hadn’t frightened her this badly. A few years back, she’d encountered a crew of Nephris on a small station. They were large, dark, brutally handsome men. At first, she’d been invisible to them, until

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one had bumped into her by accident. His revulsion of her, his utter contempt, had chilled her to the bone. He had left the station, returning to the ship to cleanse himself after touching her. For the rest of the evening, his companions had stared at her with dark, unforgiving eyes. Even now, their leader haunted her dreams, crossing over into her nightmares, and then back into hot, erotic fantasies. A hard, calloused hand running down her naked belly… To be at the mercy of such people was unthinkable.

*** Her eyes burned with fatigue. Her entire body felt wilted and unsteady. When Kit appeared with a plate of sandwiches, she took one and then set it down, unable to eat the damned thing. “At least have something to drink, Rose.” She’d been watching the scanners for over a day now, occasionally lying back in her seat to rest her eyes. “Kit, please tell me we’re almost out of Nephris space.” Kit sat the plate where she could reach it and settled into his chair. “We’re into Piedmont space, but judging by our encounters with the Nephris, they might have expanded here as well.” God. They were like a disease. How any sane society could accept their fanatical teachings was a mystery that Rose couldn’t fathom. She’d been sickened to find that the Nephris had formed alliances with the Faldor and the Urics, both mildly patriarchal societies, but never fanatical. They were running swift and silent, communications shut down. Why hadn’t Earth’s government known about this? Even the Thalians were unaware of the expansion of the Nephris. “Just a day more, and we’ll be in the Twin system. They’ve always been hostile toward the Nephris. We’ll get a breather there.”

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Rose leaned forward and groaned. This was supposed to be a simple journey. The Nephris should have been only a blip, an annoyance. Now it seemed they were in control of their entire system. She reached out and took a sandwich, chewing slowly. “It has to be the cargo, Kit. Is it likely that the Parsian Embassy would have authorized something else to be shipped?” “Maybe…” His voice was strained. “I don’t know for sure, okay? But what if…” He broke off defensively. “I’ve heard rumors that the crown jewels were being moved. I wonder if they routed through Earth.” “No. No, no, no.” He couldn’t have been that careless. That stupid. Yes, he could have. Kit had two defining motivations: sex and money. She’d long been aware of the betting pool in the freelancer’s barracks, and she’d found the strategically set cameras in the activity room. Sex and money. She glanced at his handsome profile, and went cold. As the food settled in her stomach, fatigue roared over her. She’d be okay if she closed her eyes, just for a moment. Just hours, and they’d be away from here, into the relative safety of the Twin system. And once there, on to Parsis. They’d dump the shipment and take an alternate route home. One far away from Nephris space.

Chapter Three The Dragon groaned, jolted and shook her awake. “Fuck. Fuck!” Rose blinked and stared at the ship that flooded her screen, grapples extended, fully engaged. “Kit!” She was aware that she shrieked, but couldn’t control her reaction. Caught. They were caught. “Why weren’t there any alarms? What…?” Too late to ask questions. Now they could only deal with the present situation, and that situation was rapidly going to hell. The grapples slowly, inexorably hauled the Dragon to the docking bay of the larger ship. This was no longer a hostile inspection; it was a capture. Without delay, Rose began an emergency beacon. Her fingers rapidly flew over the board, sending the beacon to any and all stations, outposts and ships in their proximity. Once that beacon began to cycle, it would be virtually impossible to disable it without her passcodes. She ripped off her belts and checked the voice synthesizer at her throat. Posing as a boy might bring her some leeway, if Kit could just grow balls and back her up. Somehow, she was seriously doubting that. They’d be outgunned, but she could at least protect herself personally. She double-checked her weapons, feeling the knives sheathed at her calves. She slapped on the wide wrist sheaths that held not only her daggers, but drug-filled needles as well. A pistol rested in her waistband.

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A shiver ran through the Dragon, telling her that her time was up. In mere moments, booted feet whispered through the hallways. Where the hell was Kit? Rose turned to the helm and began to power down. She could conceivably space the bastards, but that would put her at risk as well. She sighed and let that idea go. She had to be a boy, a teenage boy. Afraid, but defiant. She gathered her courage tightly about her, and turned to face the invaders with all of her anger, all of her strength. Strength that seeped away at the sight of the warriors who now surrounded her.

*** Why would they leave a child at the helm? Arad Soheil, Commander of the Blessed Vessel Blade, gazed around the small, admittedly high-tech command center of the Dragon. The cursed ship that he’d been chasing for days now. The boy’s eyes blazed defiance at him, with a good bit of fear as a chaser. There was only one other life sign on the ship, making the capture easy and clean. He smiled slowly, watching with no small satisfaction as the captive quailed visibly at his expression. “Where is the pilot of this vessel?” The boy swallowed convulsively. “Me. I’m the pilot.” Another male, larger and older, was pushed to stand next to the boy pilot. “You are the pilot?” Both males nodded. The larger was white and pasty with fear. He’d been located hiding in a locker. The Commander folded his arms. Even through the white robes of his uniform, Arad was fully aware of their oppressive bulk. “And why did you feel the necessity to violate Nephris space? And then compound that violation by fleeing?” The boy cleared his throat, standing a bit taller as Arad gave him his full attention. Not as young as Arad initially assumed, the young man was simply diminutive. He’d never grow any taller than he was. Pity.

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“Our current information indicated that the space we crossed was neutral. And our charts were updated only weeks ago.” “Why did you flee, if not from guilt?” The pilot gave him a long, steady look from almond-shaped eyes. In fact, everything about the young man reminded Arad of almonds; the golden hue of his skin, the soft fragrance about his body. A frisson of awareness ran over his skin, and his cock began to fill with unaccustomed arousal. Without uncrossing his arms, Arad moved closer, enjoying his superior height. The pilot crossed his arms, not giving ground, even after glancing down at the front of Arad’s robes. “I decided to flee because you are a fearsome people, Commander…” “Arad. Commander Arad.” “As I was saying, we are but a small crew on a private vessel. We ventured into Nephris space by accident. I have no desire to lose my ship and my cargo due to outdated charts.” Arad glanced at the silent male next to the pilot. A pretty face, but no spine. Arad discounted him. “I’ve heard of the Earth vessel Dragon. It is owned by a notorious female. Rose Lee.” “I’m her brother… Bruce. She permits me to pilot the ship.” “Bruce Lee.” Lee looked steadily up at Arad, arms folded, only the faintest hint of blood coming to his cheeks. “It’s a common name among the Chinese.” “I wouldn’t know,” Arad commented wryly. “We Nephris removed ourselves from Earth concerns long ago.” His gaze raked over Lee’s slender body, once again taking in the short-cropped hair, the slender body. The full, pouty lips. A smile hovered in his eyes as he imagined those lips wrapped around his cock, those brown-black eyes gazing at him in supplication. “Tell me about your cargo.” “Topaz in matrix, destined for the Parsians.”

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He glanced over at the other man. “I didn’t speak to you.” “I’m the courier of the shipment.” The other man’s eyes gleamed with something… speculation? “I have information that might be of interest to you.” “Kit.” The young pilot’s soft voice was stern. Arad looked from one to the other. “And what are you negotiating for?” The man’s scent was rank with fear. He was about to spill something that the pilot dearly wanted kept secret. “I want my freedom and this ship. You can even keep the cargo.” “Kit! Damn it!” “And what do you have to offer me that would be worth so much?” He lifted a brow, enjoying the charade. This male had just secured his spot on the Blade, providing entertainment for the crew. Arad didn’t like cowards. Or betrayers. “I know for a fact that your government offers a reward for certain individuals. I know that Rose Lee is on that list.” With a suddenness that made him blink, the pilot struck out at the courier, a low kick that dropped him to his knees. At his gesture, one of Arad’s men wrestled Lee into submission, hand clamped over his mouth. He seized a pistol from the boy’s waistband. “Continue.” Arad gave a very cold smile. This one had more information, information that wouldn’t hurt anyone, but he chose to sell out his pilot instead. “You have the Dragon, belonging to Detective Rose Lee. I know for a fact that Lee doesn’t have a brother. In fact, she’s an only child.” The pilot went very still. Behind him, Arad heard a sharp intake of breath from Faiz, the ship’s cleric. “That’s a female?” Malice gleamed in the courier’s eye. “That’s the Little Dragon herself. And you’re the man who captured her.” “And you are the man who betrayed her.” Arad’s smile was deadly.

*** “She must be killed at once.” Faiz had shrunk back to the bulkhead, his horror and revulsion clear.

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“No. I believe she’ll make a fine addition to my household.” He nodded for the crewman to release her. Thankfully, the female was too smart to fight. He also noted that she favored her left side. “Take the male to the Blade. He’ll remain in the brig. I’ll take her to my quarters.” “I won’t allow that. A female shall not be suffered to enter a sanctified Vessel.” “I don’t believe that’s a female.” Arad listened to the buzz of argument around him. He ignored the protests of the male they were dragging away. “That’s a boy. I put my hands on him. I know a male from a female.” The entire group had stepped back, giving the pilot space. “If this is indeed the Little Dragon, I claim her as property.” Arad glanced at Faiz. “In deference to the sanctity of the Vessel, I will keep her confined aboard this ship.” Faiz glowered, but nodded in agreement. Arad returned to the pilot. “There is only one way to determine the issue. You will strip naked.” He gave another slow smile. “And out of respect for our cleric, you will refrain from the use of profanity.” Now Rose felt true color creeping into her face. You goddamned son-of-a-bitch, Kit! You worm… Her thoughts raced in a parade of profanity, but Rose didn’t give the huge, smirking brute the satisfaction. She was caught firmly between fury and horror: fury at Kit for selling her out and horror at being at the mercy of these monsters. They treated her as though she was tainted… dirty. Except the Commander, who seemed to be suppressing an unholy amusement. She could fairly read his thoughts on his face, and hadn’t missed the bulge of an erection from the moment he first looked at her. Rather than seeming discouraged by the revelation of her sex, he grew larger. “Fine,” she muttered, sitting hard in her chair to toe off her boots. She had no trouble with her outer clothing, but once she came to the body suit, her left arm failed.

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Between using the thing too much and the struggle to bust Kit’s head, she’d done something. Something not good. “I told you he’s a male.” The man who had restrained her obviously had copped a feel of her fake cock. “Keep going, Lee.” Arad’s night dark eyes fairly gleamed in amusement as she struggled with the one piece suit. In frustration, she turned her back and shimmied her right side loose. With her good arm, she pulled the thing down, stepping out of it. She took a deep breath and turned to the room. Rose almost laughed at the horror on the face of the cleric. She cupped her breast. “What was God thinking, to make your race dependent on such foul creatures for reproduction?” Faiz lunged to strike her, but found his path blocked by Arad’s large body. “How were you injured?” Amusement still danced in his eyes, but something else as well. Concern? Maybe. Lust? Definitely. “I was thrown into a wall by a suspect.” He nodded. “Did he escape?” “No. I managed to bring him to the ground and restrain him.” The assembled men muttered. “He must have been a large man to have caused such injuries.” Her chin lifted in pride. “He stood taller than you, and outweighed you as well.” “You may put your clothing back on.” He deliberately turned his back on her. “Talis, find the largest berth on this ship and make it secure. She will remain aboard the Dragon.” Rose felt for the knife at her calf and slowly began to wrap her fingers around the hilt. “Rose, please remove the knife as well as your wrist cuffs.” She went very still. “If you resist, you will be denied clothing.”

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 42 -

Her fingers fell away from the knife and she obeyed. For now. This was her ship, and damned if he’d keep her prisoner here. He only thought she was defeated.

*** “I plan to enjoy my new female.” Arad strode purposefully down the hall, frowning in annoyance as Faiz dogged his every step. “Obviously, Commander, I can’t talk you out of such behavior, but you must undergo cleansing once you… finish.” “Of course. I am well aware of my duties to God.” He carried a case containing medical supplies. “I will remove any birth control she has. My last child was female and the mother died with the child. I haven’t yet had a son. It will be a joy to get this one with child.” “She’s of substandard height, Commander Arad. Even if she gives you a son, it may be as diminutive as she.” Arad gave the man a condescending smile. “I have confidence in my own genetics. And if my son is small, he will come from true warrior stock. I’ve followed her career. The Little Dragon is of fine bloodlines. Her father is a genius, and her grandfather was a fight-master.” “She’s a different race.” “We originated on Earth, and many of our ancestors were from Asian origins. She will be a welcome addition to our genetics.” He looked down on the cleric from his superior height, knowing that Faiz wouldn’t contradict him. Arad was not only a fine military commander, he was a scientist as well. “I will arrange a purification chamber for you, just inside the cargo hold. You can enter almost immediately from the Dragon.” “Thank you, Faiz. Your commitment is noted and appreciated.” The cleric nearly groveled in pleasure. “Commander?” Nevis Bahn stood at rigid attention, awaiting orders.

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 43 -

“I’ll be spending my sleep cycles aboard the Dragon with my new female. Unless there is an emergency, please see that I’m not disturbed.” His second fell into step with him. “That was quick.” Arad spared Nevis a grin. “It was a rare opportunity. The council may decide to execute her. Or one may decide to overturn my claim.” “So I suppose getting her pregnant would secure your rights.” “Exactly.” “I didn’t know you liked women so much. You don’t keep a female.” “I haven’t yet met a female that I wanted bearing my sons. She has courage and intelligence.” “She’s also known to be dangerous.” Indeed she was dangerous. Part of the reason she had a price on her head on Nephris was that she’d apprehended and arrested the son of a Council member. Different cultures defined rape differently, and while the Nephris didn’t agree that taking a female was rape, they did recognize that they were subject to the laws of the lands they visited. The young man had made a grave error, but as he paid, his arresting officer would also pay. “Detective Lee was gravely injured some time back. She has little to no use of her left arm. She is safely confined, and I’m sure my skills are equal to hers.” “Nevertheless, I’d like to monitor you.” His hand was extended, a small sensor in his palm. Arad laughed. “My vitals suddenly spike, so you send guards to rush the room to find me in the grip of climax. What a scene that would be!” He shook his head. “No, thank you. I’ll be fine.” The second officer was clearly embarrassed. “We discovered an emergency beacon. She must have engaged it shortly after we were contacted by her companion.” The smile fled from Arad’s face. Why had Jung hailed them? In interrogation, he’d admitted to drugging the pilot. He must have further information to sell.

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 44 -

“I want you to watch Jung. He’s playing a deep game, and I’m not sure what it is.” Nevis nodded. “He may have further information to sell. Take no action until after I’ve interviewed him personally.” They’d reached the air-tight breezeway that connected the two ships. True to his word, Faiz was having a small purification chamber erected near the doorway. Arad crossed to the altar, went to both knees and genuflected, forehead touching the ground. He rose slowly, gazing at the figure on the altar. Odd, that they prayed to a female deity. He’d never really thought of it before. He turned away, winking at Nevis as the door slid into place behind him. Once out of sight, he clasped his cock tightly, almost painfully. God, he wanted her. He wanted her almost to the point of insanity. Years of wanting and now she was his. He stepped onto the Dragon, and glanced around, satisfied that he was alone. Arad entered a small latrine, dug past the layers of his robes until he reached hot, bare flesh. Just the touch of his own skin on his cock brought an agonized groan. That forbidden touch was punishable by whipping. It had been years since he’d felt any sexual relief at all. He stroked, long, tight, crushing strokes, squeezing the pearl of his seed from his glans. He was so aroused that it took but moments. As he felt his balls growing hot and ready, he cupped them tight to his body, punishing himself in the pleasure of the act. He spilled in tight, fierce spurts, again and again, his seed shimmering and then dissolving into the fluid of the toilet. What a waste. What a damn waste it was. He flushed the receptacle and washed his hands carefully, aware that his smell lingered. Years of cultivated guilt squeezed his heart and Arad fought the urge to wash his hands once more. Now he could face her and retain control. At least for a while.

*** Trapped in her own damn ship.

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 45 -

After hours of fruitless pacing, Rose flopped down on the bed, considering her options. She had clothes, thanks to the prude Nephris cleric. He’d wanted to wrap her in robes and veils, but the commander had objected, allowing her access to her own gear. No weapons, no tools. They’d virtually stripped the captain’s berth. She could only assume that he’d chosen this cabin because it had the largest bed. She’d never needed it. He would. Great. Just great. Why did the most frightening man she’d met in her entire life have to be the one who set her entire body to tingling? His smile held a deeply checked humor and his eyes sparkled when they shouldn’t. He remembered her; it showed there in his eyes. And in spite of the rigid strictures of his culture, he wanted her. Oh, yes. He wanted her badly. Unfortunately, she didn’t intend to cooperate. Recently, Rose had learned a thing or two about her body and its needs. She could control those needs just fine. Besides, he was too tall, too big for a woman her size. Sex between the two of them would be… awkward. She frowned, picturing various positions, and finally settled with her straddled on his lap as he reclined against the headboard. That would work. Or he could kneel between her legs… “Shit.” She shook her head at the direction of her thoughts. How stupid could she possibly be? His hands wouldn’t be soft. They’d be hard, tough, probably calloused from weapons practice. Her own hands were like iron, hard as steel from hours with the staff and blade. He’d be strong enough to pick her up, fuck her against a wall, and she’d be strong enough to take it. He’d be dirty, a nasty lover… No. He wouldn’t. To him, a Nephris, she’d be the dirty one.

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 46 -

That thought sobered her quickly, killing the fire that built in her chest, her belly. A click at the door and it slid open. He had to duck slightly to enter. For a long moment, they silently observed one another. “Think of the devil, and he shall appear.” His lips quirked behind the neatly trimmed mustache. “You’ve been thinking of me? I’m flattered.” With his strongly arched brows, the stylized facial hair, he did indeed look demonic. He smiled once more, and Rose made an interesting discovery. Those dark, dark eyes of his were blue. And he had dimples. She watched stoically as he unwound the yards of fabric that swathed his head and shoulders. It wasn’t a turban, but definitely an adaptation to a hot, sandy environment. The ends would be used to guard the face and eyes from any number of environmental hazards. The elaborate folds were artistically arranged. As they came off, his hair tumbled out, spreading down his back in deep, shining waves. Say what you will about the Nephris, they were sticklers for personal cleanliness. He was a beautiful man. His face was lean and harmonious, his lips shapely and smiling, chin firm behind the goatee. In his dark way, he was as beautiful as the Thalians. Though his hands were hard and calloused, they were long and shapely. His movement was graceful and swift. Rose almost forgot to be afraid. Arad folded the headgear and moved on to his outer robes. The insignia of his rank studded the left shoulder of the white cotton robe. Once that was set aside, he wore what she thought must be his daily wear, a white tunic with a deep slit in the front and sides. A vivid blue sash cinched his waist. The tunic dropped almost to his knees, over billowing white trousers. An elaborately embroidered vest covered the tunic and dropped to his ankles. Still a lot of clothing. White leather boots rose to his knee, held up by criss-crossing straps. “I’m amazed you manage to keep all that white so clean.”

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 47 -

He smiled and dropped gracefully into a straight-backed chair, crossing his legs, ankle on the knee. This felt like an interview with Satan. Wasn’t the personification of evil as beautiful as a fallen angel? “I have staff whose sole purpose is to maintain my clothing. On planet-side, however, I tend to wear colors more suited to the environment. It’s rather dry and the wind blows the sand about, so I wear more browns and blacks.” She blinked, picturing him on the back of a racing black stallion. He didn’t look Arabic, but he’d fit that environment. “My home is very lush and tropical. It rains every day.” “I suppose then, that your clothing suits your environment. What do you wear in such a place?” She met his eyes. “As little as possible.” He slowly blinked, and she knew damn well he was growing hard under those loose white pants. She should have bitten her tongue. “Our women are well-covered, as they should be.” “I’m glad I’m not one of your women, then. I enjoy swimming naked in the ocean.” He smiled. She pushed herself farther up the bed, drawing her knees into her chest. This wasn’t working. He wasn’t repelled. “How are your injuries?” He bent down, picking up the case he’d carried in. He rose and set it on the foot of the bed, snapping it open. “They’re fine.” He pulled out a scanner, and other equipment that she didn’t recognize. “Nothing here will hurt you. I just wish to evaluate your general health. Your fertility.” How could he smile as he said that? “What do you estimate your weight to be?” She blinked. Didn’t he know better than to ask a woman her weight? When she didn’t answer, he stopped smiling.

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 48 -

“I may need to give you medication for your injury. The dose will depend on your size.” “I don’t know. I was about one-fifteen.” “One hundred fifteen pounds?” She nodded. “You are a very small woman.” Well duh, nothing like stating the obvious. “If you will relax and lie back, this will only take a moment.” Relax? Lie back? She snorted. “Give me your hand.” She eyed him. “The one that moves.” Obviously, he wasn’t going to leave until she complied, so Rose raised her limp right hand. He shook his head and ran the scanner over her upper body. He frowned over the read-out. “Lie down.” She flopped gracelessly to her back, wincing as she did so. He scanned her torso, her hips and legs. “You didn’t tell me the full extent of your injuries.” He stood, returned the scanner to its slot in the case. He then fiddled a bit with the latches on the case, removing a smaller scanner. This he ran over her left arm. “The nerves in your left shoulder were completely severed. How did they recover so well?” He sounded a bit awed. “Why do you care?” He sat, looking at the read-out. “You are wanted by our government. Your life is forfeit unless you have value as a female. If you are unable to conceive and carry a child, you will be executed.” She stared at him in disbelief. “And you plan to be the one to father the child?”

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 49 -

He smiled. “I immediately filed a claim on you. If you were pregnant once we arrived home, my claim would be secure.” He sat back, surveying her face. “However,” he glanced down at the small screen on the scanner, “that is now irrelevant.” He reached out and grasped her left arm. “Daryl Nutlisch swung you by the arm, flinging you up into the air.” Arad winced, as though witnessing the attack. “The rebound of the blow severed the nerves. You are a very lucky woman to have survived such injuries. And a very formidable woman to have stopped such a monster.” Arad rubbed her arm, stopping at her wrist, once again closing his eyes. “Your doctors are very skilled. Nomi’s signature is apparent, as is Sala’s.” “What?” It came out as a gasp. “You did not realize that you were part of a rescue effort, did you?” Once again, Rose scooted away from him, back to the top of the bed. She watched as Arad dug into his case, pulling out a jar of some viscous substance. His head dropped, so she couldn’t see his face. “I know you are frightened of me, Rose, and well you should be. But I need your help now. There is no one else I can turn to. I am putting my very life in your hands. Obviously, Nomi and Sala did not share with you… you are here to rescue me.” His voice had become hoarse, and indeed, he sounded desperate. “I’ve kept this hidden for so very long, and the pain is so great, that it is no longer bearable. In fact, taking my own life had come to feel like a viable option.” He blinked rapidly, stepping back, stripping off his long vest, unwinding the blue sash. Rose looked suspiciously at the almost naked man, and again at the jar of ointment. Her eyes dropped to his groin. As expected, he was aroused, violently, rigidly erect. When Arad saw where she was looking, he chuckled roughly. “Yes, that is also painful, but it isn’t all consuming. I beg… I beg your mercy.” His breath caught, and he straddled the chair, facing Rose. That was when she noticed the leather harness across his chest.

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 50 -

Cautiously, she rose, keeping a wide distance from the man. His shaking hands fumbled at the harness, unbuckling the straps. With a gasp of pain, he released them, and then lay his face to the back of the chair, panting in pain… relief? Rose continued to circle back behind him, wondering what would compel Arad to put himself so completely at her mercy. And then she saw the reason. Rose stood, staring at his broad muscled back, blood draining from her face. She stumbled, forcing herself to breathe, to remain upright. “My God,” she whispered. “God had nothing to do with this, I assure you.” He reached blindly to the side, jar in his hand. “Please.” With shaking hands, she took the jar, smelling the light scent of almond and other healing herbs that she did not recognize. After several attempts, she managed to open the lid, dropping it to the floor. “I don’t know what to do… what do you want me to do?” His chin was tucked to his chest, and his whole body trembled in distress. “Just touch. For now, just touch. Later, I can bear more.”

Chapter Four His wings were devastated. Every feather had been stripped from the fragile membranes, broken bones had healed crooked. Muscles had withered from atrophy, and small, deep sores were oozing. As gently as possible, Rose began to massage the ointment into his skin, starting at the base where the bony wings joined his back. “What are you?” He chuckled. “Not a Nephris.” “You aren’t a Thalian.” “But I am. I’m… uncommon among my people.” She watched as his ribs expanded, contracted, sweat blooming across his skin. The membrane of his wings was dull grey, but as she massaged blood back into the limbs, they grew darker. She could feel the prickle of new feathers starting. They must have itched fiercely. “What happened?” “Time and abuse. In order to hide the wings, they needed to lie close to my body. Before I came among the Nephris, I had the feathers removed. I took drugs to inhibit their re-growth.” He jerked slightly as she moved over the arch of his left wing. Carefully, she began to expand the framework, wincing as the parchment dry skin creased and crackled. “Why would you allow such mutilation, Arad?” “If you had the opportunity to infiltrate such a culture, would you not?” He was a spy. A Thalian spy among the Nephris. She pulled a deep, shuddering breath. “How long?” He crossed his arms over the back of the chair, resting his forehead. She could see thick, black lashes curving down onto his cheek.

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 52 -

“Years. Five Thalian.” That would be nearly seven Earth years. Seven years like this. My God. How did he endure? “And unbeknownst to me, I’m here to rescue you?” He smiled into his arms. “I’ve had very limited communication with my government. Things are beginning to happen now. It’s time for me to report back. And there are other considerations. I was fortunate to encounter Nomi and Sala at a station some time back, and communicate my crisis.” “Telepathy is a wonderful thing.” “It is indeed. By the way, you have a very foul internal vocabulary.” “Thank you. I practice.” She simply massaged stiff muscles for a time, aware that the skin was too tender on his wings to work on for too long. She pushed his long hair away from his shoulders, surprised to see tears streaking down his cheeks. “You’ve been living in hell.” Physically, emotionally, spiritually. She prayed it had been worth it. “It has been difficult, but many among the Nephris will benefit from my work. Not all believe as the government and church command.” She returned to his wings, frowning to see how much of the salve was soaking into the dehydrated tissues. Already, his pin feathers seemed more prominent. “Why are they growing back now? After all this time?” He turned his face to the side, not bothering to hide his tears. “I ran out of the drugs that suppressed their growth. I thought Nomi and Sala would arrange for me to receive more, but they refused.” Surely the regrowth of feathers wasn’t sufficient reason for him to escape? Had something else gone wrong? Perhaps his cover was blown? “No. Nomi was concerned for other reasons. I’d been taking the drug for so many years that he was afraid of the permanent effects it might have on me.” “Like never growing your feathers back?”

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 53 -

“The drug inhibits sexual performance. Your people call it chemical castration. Our feathers molt and grow with our sexual cycles. Once the hormones go dormant, feather growth stalls as well.” She froze. “Arad, don’t tell me…” Unable to help herself, Rose leaned forward, pressing her forehead into his back. “You allowed yourself to be mutilated… castrated… to spy on the Nephris?” Why? Why did you allow that? “I submitted to the drug because I could not have passed among the Nephris otherwise. Thalian males have a fertility cycle, much like human females. It comes at a lesser frequency, but is powerful. We become very needy during this time. It culminates with an imprint period.” “Imprint?” “We temporarily imprint on a female, usually our spouse or lover. This heat cycle would be very dangerous if I’d experienced it during my time with the Nephris.” Rose worked her way out to the tips of his wings. “Your feathers are returning, so I assume that this cycle will be coming soon as well.” “Indeed. Very soon. Chasing you around the system was very frustrating. I confess to feeling somewhat panicked. If I lose control sexually among the Nephris, the consequences will be severe.” “But surely they have some sort of sexual outlet?” He shook his head. “Intercourse with a female is considered unclean, and is only for the creation of offspring. Touching oneself is punishable by caning on the genitals.” “What about relations between men?” He laughed at that. “The Nephris believe that a woman’s body is unclean, yet they will indulge in anal penetration with one another.” He shook his head in amazement. “I have no objection to those who enjoy that sort of activity, but to believe that it is clean, as opposed to a woman’s vagina? Such idiocy!”

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 54 -

A quiver ran through his body, and again, they fell silent. His face had grown grim and stiff, and suddenly, as though she’d caught his thoughts and memories, Rose knew he’d been used sexually. Cruelly, and against his will. She finally set the jar aside, taking the stiff, frozen wings through a limited range of motion. Her own arm ached, but Rose knew her pain was minimal compared to his. His back flexed and twisted with the pain. She wondered if he’d ever be able to use his wings again. “My brother will use a similar treatment to what he used on you.” “Your brother?” “Nomi. My twin.” Twin… Sala had once mentioned… He was sweating again, a slight shudder running through his body. “Rose, could you… please…” He groaned, burying his face in his arms. “I’m going to climax. I’m so sorry. I’m very ashamed… please turn away.” Tension shafted through his body, and suddenly Rose understood. She understood the physical had combined with the emotional, all mixed up with the flood of his hormones as they returned. He sat on the chair, a pitiful, magnificent creature, ready to explode without even a hand upon himself. His shame mixed freely with his desire, and she literally smelled his need as it wafted from his body. She reached around and unfastened his pants. “You don’t want to come inside your clothing.” He groaned at her touch. “Please, Rose, leave me be. I can’t bear for you to watch.” He was crying, but instead of silent tears, he now heaved deep, sobbing breaths. She remained at his back, hand lightly settling on his skin. Rose paused, and made her decision. She ran her hand up the smooth skin of his back, and pressed her body into his, reaching around to hold him tight. Her right hand dropped until she grasped his cock, forcing a cry from his throat. He was too tender for her grip, so she opened her hand, pressing his cock against his belly. He thrust convulsively into her oily palm.

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 55 -

“What do you need me to do?” Her voice was husky with stress and arousal. “Hold me. Just hold me. Heaven is the arms of a woman.” She tightened her hold around his waist, resting her face between his poor, damaged wings. His movement was rough, hands still grasping the back of the chair, face hidden. With her body, she rode him, forcing him into steady, rhythmic movement. She slipped down and cupped his balls, feeling a moan break from his chest. “Louder. I want to hear you.” She gave his cock a squeeze, and his moan was louder this time. “Please… please, please…” His sobs were soft, his whispers pleading. “It hurts… It’s good but it hurts.” She knew he wasn’t talking only of physical pain. Instinctively, she pressed her chin down hard on his shoulder, and without thinking, she bit. Not hard enough to mark, but he flexed into her palm, sudden moisture leaking from the eye of his cock. “Yessss…” “Again?” she whispered. “Please…” She bit harder this time, and his flex was long and strong. She wrapped her fingers around his girth, letting him thrust through the tunnel of her hand. She rose higher to her knees, burrowing into his hair, finding the tender flesh of his throat. Once again she bit, and he shouted hard and loud, carrying her upward as climax roared through his body. His seed flooded her hand. Rather than bringing him to a halt, it made him wet and slick, enabling him to move harder and faster. She grasped his balls hard, and he came again, his come shooting between the slats of the chair. In his pain and his rapture, Arad felt the woman riding his back, heard her breathing in his ear, and saw the milky ropes of his seed splatter on the floor, wasted and unused. For so long, he’d been incapable of producing seed, unable to feel or desire. Now, twice in one day, his sperm lay wasted and unused. He began to shake with laughter, his laughter merged with tears, and abruptly, he rose from the chair.

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 56 -

Rose slid to the floor, nearly falling until he caught her. He pulled her tight to his body, his spent seed smearing her clothing, her wet, slippery hands resting on his hips. Instead of fear, she looked at him the same way he looked at her, with tears mingling with laughter. The top of her head barely came to his chest, but she fit perfectly. It wasn’t heat, not yet, but Arad knew this was the one he’d choose, if only she’d choose him back. They stood like that as his heart began to slow, his skin began to cool. The laughter died away, but for the first time in years, Arad felt whole. The pain his body suffered was bearable, the pain in his soul but an echo of what it had been. He had not been forgotten. He had not been forsaken. He had no idea how they would do it, but they’d get this little ship away. They’d escape. “We need a plan.” “Yes, we do.” She pushed away, looking up at Arad. Rose stepped into the lavatory and washed her hands, returning with a cloth to clean his body. “I should shower… cleanse…” “There is nothing dirty here, Arad. There is nothing unclean or shameful about what we just did.” She wiped the semen from his skin and tossed the cloth into the head. “Go lay down. On your stomach.” He followed her to the bed, awkwardly pulling his wings in until she made him stop. “Just leave them out, they need to relax naturally.” She rolled onto her side, facing him. “Now sleep. I’ll take watch.” The lights began to lower. As long as he could see her face, Arad watched Rose, and she watched him back. When blackness was all that was left, he sighed, relaxed, and slipped away.

*** “Arad.” Her whisper was soft, but it woke him at once. “Someone’s coming.” A dim light on a timer showed that he’d been with her just over an hour. He’d ordered that he not be disturbed!

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 57 -

“What will they expect? Should I be undressed? Shit! Your wings!” Pain lanced through his back as Arad instinctively drew in his damaged wings. Rose was on her knees, pulling the sheets loose. “Take off your clothes and straddle me.” In the darkness, they struggled to rearrange their clothing. “I should be covered, but there’s no time. Mount me.” His hands were on her hips, guiding her none too gently over his cock. While he pulled her into position, Rose scrambled to cover his wings. “This isn’t supposed to feel good… for you, that is… sorry.” He thrust upward, his still soft cock pushing through her slit. She gasped. She was still wet from the earlier excitement, and even soft, he was large and formidable. Another thrust and he was growing hard. One hand grasped her hip, and the other clutched her hair, which had grown enough to offer a handhold. By the third thrust, he was hard and rubbing on her tender tissues. Her shocked gasp was not from pain. “Sorry… sorry… I won’t…” He pushed upward. “I won’t penetrate you.” His whispered apology was harsh in her ear. He held still for a long moment, listening. “Outside the door… now…” He thrust upward, forcing a choked cry from Rose. He pulled her head to the side, careful not to put stress on her injured arm. She braced her good arm on his chest. From the corner of her eye, Rose could see the door slide open. “Don’t… Please… It hurts!” He thrust upward once more, pulling her to the side. “Keep your face away from me, bitch!” He snarled, grunted with every thrust. The door opened wider. Arad went still. “Who’s there?” He was breathing hard. Rose felt his heart pounding under her hand. To her surprise, her sobbing breaths weren’t faked. Nor was the slick, wet reaction she was having to his rough handling. “It’s me, Commander. Faiz.” The cleric’s eyes were bright, surveying the scene before him. Arad splayed out on his back, the female impaled on his cock, sobbing.

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 58 -

Rose kept her head dipped low so he couldn’t see the expression that was really on her face. “I asked not to be disturbed, Faiz. Is there an emergency?” “No, Commander. I was concerned for your safety.” The sheets rustled as Arad shifted. “I think I’m capable of breeding a female without your assistance, cleric. Now leave me be!” “Yes, sir. Sir?” “What?” He didn’t want to leave. Rose couldn’t tell if he was truly concerned, or just taking a guilty pleasure, watching his commander rape a captive. “The cleansing room… the altar is prepared. If you need me to assist…” “I will sleep here, Faiz. When I wake, I will attend to cleansing myself.” “It isn’t proper, sir.” Arad sat up, fury on his face. His sheet-wrapped body looked even larger than usual. “We will speak of this tomorrow, cleric.” “Sir, I must insist…” “Out!” Rose didn’t have to fake her fear. She cowered down onto Arad’s chest, hiding her face. His cock was iron hard, shoved mercilessly tight against her body, weeping tears that trickled down to meet her own moisture. The door snapped closed. For a long moment, they listened to his progress down the hall to the cargo bay. Long after Rose lost track of him, Arad stayed alert, finally relaxing and lying back. “He’s suspicious.” Carefully, Rose shifted, lifting herself from his body. She wanted more than anything to lower herself onto his cock, to complete the act they’d been simulating. Insanity. “God. I’m so hard it hurts.” He struggled through the bedding, finally breaking loose of the sheets. In the dim light, Rose could see his engorged cock straining. His breathing was still rapid. “I’d

Belinda McBride

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forgotten what it’s like to be male.” He started to grasp himself, and then quickly moved his hands away. “Why’s he giving you such a hard time?” “Faiz is newly assigned to the Blade. Every sanctified Vessel has a cleric aboard, to see to the spiritual needs of the crew.” “And to police their behavior.” He nodded. “All of the Nephris police the behavior of others. If a yeoman finds semen on the bed sheets of his superior, he is duty bound to report the misbehavior. Faiz is very zealous, and is unhappy that reported behaviors are so low.” Judging by the look on the cleric’s face, he was painting others with his own brush. He’d been more than excited by Arad’s apparent abuse of Rose. “Intercourse between a male and a female should only occur briefly, to conceive. He’s offended that I’m spending the night with you.” “Maybe you should go back onboard…” “No. I don’t know how I’ll be able to go back.” He sat up, pulling his pants on. “I can’t control my arousal. I can’t control my reactions anymore. I hate this culture, and what it’s done to these people.” He paced the short length of the room. “I want to go home, be with my family. I can’t pretend anymore.” “You have to, Arad. At least until we figure out how to break away.” He turned and looked at her, stroking his chin meditatively. “How did you manage to keep slipping away?” “How did you manage to keep locating us?” He laughed and returned to the chair he’d used earlier. “Nomi and Sala injected you with a fluid that contained an element that enabled me to locate you telepathically.” “A tracking device?” She didn’t know whether to be angry or impressed. Since Arad hadn’t done the actual injection, she decided to save her anger for next time she saw her doctors.

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“It’s a mineral from our planet that has a resonance when combined with elements in your blood. It’s organic, so even now, it is leaving your system.” “How did you know to watch for me?” He shook his head. “I didn’t. I knew Nomi would come up with a plan, but I didn’t expect that he’d be able to manipulate such a situation. If our paths had not crossed…” “The Nephris are using a forbidden cloaking technology, aren’t they?” He nodded, looking grim. “One of many military developments they are incorporating.” “I saw a slight displacement on my scanner. Just a hint that something might be there. I managed to escape those first times because the Dragon has a Davey Drive.” “Really?” He looked surprised. “That’s very costly. And rare.” “It’s a small version, just enough to push us away from an immediate threat.” He nodded in understanding. A full scale Davey would have carried them light years in seconds. Her smaller drive had enough power to jump them out of harm’s way. “Are you tired?” He shook his head. “I’ll give you the grand tour then, and we can brainstorm. I’m thinking that when your ship goes to light-speed, maybe we could just roll off.” “The Dragon is docked. The controls to release it are accessible only from the bridge of the Blade.” They walked through the dim, quiet hallway of the Dragon, listening to the distant thrumming of the Blade as it cut through space. “What’s going to happen to Kit?” “I expect that Kit will receive the punishment he deserves. Did you know that part of his responsibility as a courier was to deliver portions of the Parsian crown jewels?” “What?” She shook her head in disgust. “I can’t believe we weren’t blasted out of space!”

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“Your passenger drugged you. He’d already taken a substantial fee for the job, and I believe he meant to negotiate with the Nephris for the portion of the jewels that he carries. I managed to silence him. The gems are well hidden.” “We have to return them! My God, how will we manage to return the jewels and get you home in time?” He’d been worrying about that as well. It had been too many years since he’d last wrestled with the intensity of his heat. Arad was afraid.

Chapter Five Somehow, Arad had managed to pull himself back together enough to return to his duties aboard the Blade. He’d endured an hour in purification, and then a prayer with Faiz. He’d preferred the time spent in purification. Arad spent his morning with the prisoner, confirming his opinion of Kit as a thief and a liar. His hatred of Rose had grown to pathological proportions. When he left, Arad’s heart was not burdened at the idea of leaving the young man to the justice of the Nephris. She wouldn’t agree, but his mental forays into the young man’s mind disturbed him greatly. Jung was without conscience or empathy, something that frightened and disturbed Arad. He checked on Rose mid-day, ensuring that she was safely secured. In spite of the low opinion that the Nephris had of women, lust could overwhelm even the most pious. He didn’t understand why this society thought they could defy Nature’s most basic drive. The remainder of the day, he multi-tasked, overseeing the operation of the ship, communicating with the Council, and surreptitiously arranging their escape. It wasn’t difficult, just time-consuming, arranging for the Dragon to break away from the Blade at the right moment. Out of consideration for Arad’s deeply entrenched cover, they decided to make the escape appear accidental, a bit of serendipity for Rose. The timing was tight. He set the ship on a count-down for light speed, then casually walked to the docking bay to check for loose moorings. At the precise moment the Blade jumped, the Dragon rolled loose, straight into a hyper-light burst.

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The crew of the Blade wasn’t even aware that he’d left the ship until hours later, when Second Officer Nevis found the electronic footsteps of Commander Arad, who’d apparently been killed in the airlock when the two ships broke apart.

*** “Goddamn.” Rose was visibly shaken as Arad stumbled onto the bridge. He’d barely given himself time to lock down the Dragon. “You couldn’t have timed that any tighter.” He grinned, tossing off his military robes and headgear. He stretched and sighed. “Being dead feels rather good.” She snorted. “Well, if Commander Arad needs to come back to life, we can always send your government an executed warrant. The Nephris Council already wants my head on a platter. It can’t get any worse.” “Well, hopefully I won’t be sent back.” Rose turned to face him. “Can you refuse?” “Yes, but a great deal of trouble went into my cover. My appearance is unusual for Thalians, so it would be difficult to find a replacement, if one is needed.” She’d been wondering about that. “I always thought the Thalians were all blond.” “It is the preferred coloring.” She looked at him in surprise and he busied himself at the helm, setting their course. “In theory, we grew away from such prejudice. Traditionally, the darkest among us were warriors. The golden Thalians were academics and artists.” “Is there a basis for that sort of assumption?” He shook his head. “We are less refined in appearance, so it’s assumed that our minds are not so elevated as our brothers. I was initially destined for the military, but when my parents discovered that I had a talent for science, they encouraged me.” She shook her head. That seemed so unscientific and nonsensical for a species like the Thalians. They should have known better.

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“Believe me, we eventually learned to regret those centuries of selective breeding.” She smiled. The telepathic give and take was becoming downright comfortable.

*** “I saw you a few years back, on the Dolman station.” “I remember.” Arad was sprawled in the co-pilot’s chair, long legs crossed at the ankles. His relaxed appearance was deceptive. Rose could feel the tension radiating from his body. She avoided looking, but his erection was visible under the loose cotton of his clothing. Hell, if it didn’t embarrass him, she wouldn’t let it embarrass her. If nothing else, the Thalians were a practical people, and there was really nothing he could do. She had noticed that when he talked, he relaxed a bit. They’d fled toward Parsian space, taking quick hyper-light bursts to gain distance from the Nephris patrols. “I bumped into one of your companions. He returned to the ship to purify himself.” Arad snorted in humor. Somehow, she couldn’t imagine Nomi doing something so inelegant as snorting. “He wasn’t purifying, he was most likely self-abusing. Our commander was in meetings in another part of the station, and a few of us had slipped away for illicit entertainment.” She liked his smile. His eyes grew bright and smile lines bracketed his mouth. “He was… self-abusing?” “Masturbating. We all knew who you were. Believe it or not, Rose, you are a very popular figure among the Nephris.” She shuddered. “Why doesn’t that make me feel particularly flattered?” “You should be. Those who don’t dream of killing you, dream of fucking you. Believe me when I tell you, there wasn’t a soft cock here on the bridge when you stripped for us.”

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Her cheeks flamed, and Rose dropped her head back and groaned. “I will never live that down.” “I dreamed of you after that day on the station.” “Well, you scared the hell out of me, just sitting there and glowering.” “The glowering gave me an excuse to stare at you. I didn’t have the same… issues that my companions were struggling with, but nevertheless, your face, your form…” He sighed and glanced at her. His fixation with her had nearly been his downfall. “I learned all about you that I could.” “I was affected by you as well. I thought it was such a shame that such a beautiful man was looking at me with contempt.” He shook his head in denial. “No contempt. Only longing.” His eyes held hers for a long moment, and then dropped. “And now you are here, and my body is raging for you. But I don’t know if it’s only…” “Your heat,” she finished. They had to talk about it, she knew they had to. She knew he was being responsible, warning her this way. “Arad, I know. You’ve been with them for years, and I know some of their beliefs have rubbed off.” He shook his head in denial, but she continued over his protest. “Please don’t feel shame over your body. Don’t deny yourself release if you need it.” His eyes gleamed. She’d seen straight into him, into that core of guilt that had taken root in his soul. If for no other reason, that guilt was enough to have driven him home, away from the stifling beliefs of the Nephris. Arad looked away, out into the vast emptiness of space. “How are your wings?” He’d not allowed her to see or touch them since that first night. “If ever I had vanity, it was for my wings.” She sat quietly and listened. “Nomi is more beautiful than I, so much more brilliant.” She shook her head, amazed that he would think such a thing.

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“I was a better fighter and a far better flyer, though. My wings were so large, so beautiful. The feathers were black and glossy. My lovers took such pleasure in them. I’ve lost that which was my greatest beauty.” “No, that isn’t true. You are easily as beautiful as your brother, and obviously brilliant as well. And since Nomi is such a genius, you know he’ll be able to return your wings to full health.” His cheeks went a bit ruddy at her compliment. She reached over and took a strand of his hair, running it through her fingers. “This is so beautiful. Not blue-black like mine, it’s warmer looking. So much softer.” She tucked one leg under her body, looking him over critically. “You say that you are coarse looking, but I see strength. Masculinity. Even when I was afraid of you, your face held such charm for me. Even your eyes smile.” For a moment, it seemed time had stood still, and it was all he could do to not go to his knees, offer himself to her in supplication. He had to leave. He had to leave before he forgot himself and his control. “Thank you for your kind words, Rose.” He rose, turning away. “I think I will rest now. These past days have been difficult. Please wake me if you become fatigued.” So very formal. He pulled his long vest on, taking refuge in the volume of the fabric.

Chapter Six He lay facedown on the bed, groaning softly in his sleep. She couldn’t help hearing him. They’d been sharing the berth closest to the bridge for days now. Arad had located the portion of the Parsian crown jewels that Kit had been smuggling. To say that the Parsians were elated at their recovery was a gross understatement. Rose wouldn’t have to worry about payments on the Dragon for a very long time to come, and Arad was similarly rewarded. The room was dimly lit. She could see that his wings drooped to the sides, still pitiful and painful looking. He’d been able to anoint the outer sections, but much was still neglected. Rose found the ointment and moved to the bed, smiling to see that he’d finally shed his clothing. She was glad he was relaxing enough to allow himself comfort. The sheet draped his muscular buttocks. His feet hung over the foot of the bed, uncovered. “Arad, are you all right?”

“God, it itches like the very devil!”

She crawled onto the bed, kneeling next to his body. “You should have said

something. There’s no need for you to be in torment like this.”

The problem was, if she so much as touched him, his torment moved to a completely different part of his body! Didn’t she understand? When her hand settled on the arch of his wing, Arad groaned, and not in relief. “You really have a lot of feathers coming in.” He hissed and nodded in blind agreement. He’d been keeping the wings braced in a modified harness, hidden under his robes. He couldn’t bear them close to his body, yet they were too weak to carry extended, even partially.

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He finally began to relax as she worked her way down to the base, massaging the tight, sore muscles next to his spine.

Rose bit her lip, trying not to smile as his hips began to work in time with her rhythmic motions on his back. He hadn’t seemed to realize how low she’d moved. Only the tiniest twitch of fabric revealed the sweet curve of his spine as it rose to his buttocks. “There’s really no need…”

“There’s every need. All of your muscles are connected, you know.”

Heat bloomed over his body, and she felt her own warmth, her very chi reaching

out to him. Slowly, she pulled the sheet away, massaging his bottom, the backs of his thighs, down his calves. “Rose…” His whisper was strangled. Oh hell. She’d leaned down, slowly licked the bend of his knee, watching as his hips convulsively thrust into the mattress. “Rose, please…” “Please don’t, or please do?” She came up, lightly nipped his ass, and then lay her cheek on the swell of his bottom, smiling as he turned his head. When he didn’t answer, she burrowed between his open thighs, licked his poor, throbbing sac. “Oh, God.” Gently, she rubbed his ass, feeling the silky skin, reaching down to lightly rub his testicles. She’d thought there would be some difference between him and a human, but they were basically the same. He was just prettier. He was also bigger. But then, he was a very large man. “Rose…”

“Don’t talk. I’m tired of waiting.”

She crawled up the bed to nuzzle past his hair, breathing lightly into his ear. “I

imagined taking you as you sat against the headboard, me in your lap. I imagined you holding me to the wall, driving in hard…”

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He pushed up on his arms, coming to his knees. His cock was iron hard, dark and ruddy, painfully aroused. “I thought about you on your knees, my legs over your shoulders…” “And I thought about you on all fours, face on the mattress, Rose. Or riding me, as I held you so tightly.” He pulled her against his body, tugging ineffectually at her clothing. “From the first moment I saw you, I imagined you naked. I dreamed that your breasts would be so small and delicate, with nipples the color of your lips. I imagined those beautiful lips of yours wrapped around my cock, pulling hard, drinking me down…” His large hand wrapped the back of her skull, pulling her closer, until finally she submitted, lowering her face to his groin. His blissful moan was reward enough when she tasted him lightly, savoring the musk of his body. Her tongue probed and stroked, explored his tender frenulum, swept over the eye, tasting his tears. She dropped lower, cupping his sac and finally trailing the fragile line between his balls. Suddenly, almost violently, he pulled her away, stripping the tank top over her head, remembering to take care with her arm. She wore no bra, and he frowned, watching as his hand engulfed her breasts, his rough skin dragging over the tender nipples. At her intake of breath, Arad pulled away, but she grabbed his hand, relishing the rough texture of his skin. When he thought to be gentle, she urged him to be rough. “Ah, Rose…” His hand dropped into the open front of her pants, fingers seeking her heat. His fingers curled in, pressing tight, the heel of his hand grinding into her mons. “Oh… oh, it’s like I dreamed.” She steadied herself on his shoulder. “No, don’t stop, rough… please, hard…” “I noticed that night… when Faiz came in… you like it rough…” He grinned, enjoying her breathless response. She was wet around his fingers, and growing wetter. He loved the human female’s body, the elusive spot that invariably sent them over the

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edge. He curled his fingers once more, grinning as she bucked into his hand, not quite there, but trying, trying. He straightened his fingers and pumped, and then curled again, letting her grind her clit against the palm of his hand. She picked up speed, force, and then, in a gush of fluid, exploded, groaning as she came on his hand. He pulled her head away from his chest, looking down into her delicate face, and he kissed her, pulling back to watch her eyes open, lids heavy, pupils wide. He cupped her cheeks, feeling how soft they were, running his thumb over her plush lips, dipping the tip of his finger inside. She’d gone malleable, his fierce little dragon now soft and female, completely ready to obey. Arad didn’t fool himself. In another moment or on another day, she’d overpower him with her need, throw him to his back and take what she wanted. But right now, at this moment, she was his to use as he needed. And he did need her; he needed her so badly! He kissed her hard, deep, his tongue thrusting, teeth biting; all the while he forced the rest of her clothing from her body. “I’m sorry. I should do more…” He was desperate, unable to wait any longer. And then he was between her legs, his heavy cock head pressing into her body. Somehow, Arad retained enough control to remember that while not virgin, she wasn’t experienced, so he moved slowly, feeding himself to her channel, shaking and sweating until Rose had had enough. She grasped his hips, braced her feet and pushed the rest of the way, tilting her hips and taking him as deep as she possibly could. She didn’t let him stop, didn’t let him gather his wits. She was rocking, her legs snaking around his, hands feverishly exploring his arms, his back, massaging, lightly scratching the skin between his wings. He forced himself to relax, forced her to stop, to be still, luxuriating in the sensation of being deep inside the silky warmth of a woman once again.

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Guilt teased at the edges of his consciousness, months and years of ingrained guilt. Impatiently, he pushed it away. Instead, he remembered laughter and happiness, the bright love in the eyes of his parents as they looked at one another. He remembered his sister, lovely and good and true. He remembered the fruit of a sexual union, a tiny baby, his niece, cooing and crying. It was for her, all that he’d done, all that he’d suffered had been for her and all of the other women of his planet, and all of the other planets in the system. Looking down at Rose, so small under his body, he was overwhelmed by emotion, an emotion that he’d held close and secret for so long. That immediate attraction he’d held for her had grown into something else. Something he couldn’t afford to confront until his mind and body had settled and healed. This was wrong and he knew it, but it was also right, so very right and good. He pulled himself upright, carrying her with him, smiling dreamily as Rose once again settled her body over his cock. Almost lazily, she rose and fell, riding him, her arms looped over his neck. Arad touched her gently, exploring the soft curve of her waist, the feminine weight of her breasts. His rough fingers trailed her face, running through her hair. Once it had been so short that it bristled. Now it had grown out long enough to ruffle over his fingers. Her cheekbones were high and exotic, her eyes tilted, liquid and soft. He pressed soft kisses over her eyes, down to her lips, and back to her cheeks and jaw. She rode him faster, arching back slightly, and he tilted his pelvis, making certain that the head of his cock grazed that spot inside. He held her steady as she plunged faster, finally going rigid, holding him in a tight, hard grip, her face to his shoulder. Her inner muscles were strong. She clasped his cock in rhythmic contractions, and her sudden, rapid movement triggered his climax. Arad clasped her hips, rising to meet her body, thrusting hard and fast, freezing as the spasms hit hard, pushing his seed into her body. Seed that might not settle in fertile ground, but was certainly not wasted.

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He trembled in his ecstasy and collapsed forward, his great weight braced on her tiny frame. Arad laughed, bemused by his own weakness. He enjoyed the feel of her small, strong body wrapping him up, making him feel safe, making him feel good. Just good. Her hands swept up and down his back, soothing him, and Arad caught the scent of the almond scented balm she’d used on his wings. Until the day he died, the fragrance of almonds would make Arad feel safe and loved. It would make him think of his little dragon.

*** There was no denying that she liked it hard and rough. They’d started with her on top, riding him hard, and now she’d discovered that nails made him gasp and moan. He’d discovered that pounding into her at the height of her climax made her scream. He pulled her hair while she was on her hands and knees, and she went weak in bliss. She bit the meaty part of his shoulder, and he’d buck harder into her body. These past days, she’d fulfilled every wild, nasty fantasy he’d ever had. He did the same for her, teaching her that fine line between pleasure and pain. He clasped her bottom, hefting her up just a bit higher, and slammed her against the wall, pistoning his hips into hers, panting hard with each thrust. She came, scratching and clawing, but he kept thrusting, far from ready for this to end. She came again, and he reveled, groaning at the feel of her body under his, her sweat mingling with his, every climax cleansing his soul just a bit more. “Come…” She growled in his ear, her hands wrapped in his hair, pulling hard. “Come…” He thrust harder, his mind going completely empty except for the overwhelming need to obey, to please the woman he was fucking. “Five… four…” His eyes went wide. All control was slipping away.

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“Three… two… one… Now! Hard!” And he was there, his body twisting, writhing in blinding, orgasmic pleasure. Arad collapsed against the wall, pinning her as his spasms caught him again, and yet again. He cried out, partly in bliss, partly in raw, primal fear that she had such power over him. Spent, he pressed his forehead against the cool wall of the bulkhead, keeping her pinned under the weight of his body. When he could stand, she slid to the floor, bracing herself against Arad’s chest. Was he angry? She stole a look at his face. His eyes were tightly closed, his face pale. His chest heaved. There was a fine tremor through his entire body. “I’m sorry, Arad… I don’t know why…” He gave a small, self-deprecating laugh. “It’s just been lust so far. All those years of denial, and suddenly, all I’ve ever wanted is here, within reach.” “It’s changing.” He nodded. “I’m shifting into my heat period. I’ll become desperate for you, desperate to please you. From there, the imprint will begin.” “Will it be that bad, Arad?” He set her away from his body, collapsing into the co-pilot’s chair. “Do you have a stasis chamber onboard?” Wordlessly, she nodded. “If it gets too bad, I’d like you to help me into stasis.” “Why, Arad? Your species goes through this regularly. And if you go into stasis, won’t the heat continue once you emerge?” He sat, finally at ease with his body. He sat at an angle, letting his wings relax. “You may hate me afterwards. Our females, our lovers and wives, they know and love us before it begins. You don’t know me well enough to tolerate the demands that I’ll put on you, the level of desperation that I’ll have for your approval.” He shook his head. “I value you, Rose. I don’t want you repelled or frightened. I would want my lover to be comfortable with me before my cycle.”

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Awkwardly, Rose stepped to the latrine, cleaning herself and bringing a towel for him. The first few times they’d made love, he’d insisted that they both shower afterwards. Slowly, he was beginning to relax with the act. “I want to be comfortable with myself again. Not feel so conflicted all the time.” So he still felt guilt. Inwardly, Rose cursed, then cursed again when he lifted a brow, intercepting her thoughts. He held out his arms and she crawled into his lap, reaching up to stroke his wings as they sat together in silence. She’d discovered that the wings, damaged though they were, were highly erotic. Even now, he shivered as her fingers stroked the new feathers, the exposed skin. She rested her chin on his shoulder. “If that’s what you want, I’ll do it. Just say when.” He heaved a sigh and relaxed noticeably. “What will you do when this is over?” She sat for a moment, thinking. “I don’t know. Nomi said he won’t clear me for work for at least six more months, maybe longer. I’ll go home, I guess. My grandpa always wants me to teach. What about you?” “Once I return to Thalia, I’ll be debriefed. I don’t know what else I’ll be needed for. Once I’m relieved of my duties, I plan to take a meditative retreat.” Oh. She’d hoped he’d come to Earth, maybe spend time with her. Rose stifled her disappointment. Their relationship was sex. Good, healthy lust. She’d known that from the start. But still, she’d miss him. She’d miss his sparkling smile and good humor. The occasional dark moods. “What do your parents do?” He was resting his chin on her head, in a very unintentional alpha posture. “They’re archeologists. My grandparents mostly raised me. What about yours?” “Physicians, like Nomi. My sister is a…” he paused, searching for the term in English, “…she was a pediatrician.” “What is your specialty?”

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“Oh, I’m not a physician, I was… I am a researcher by profession. My area is genetics. I gathered some very interesting information about the Nephris while I was there.” “Such as?” “Their women are dying out. Rapidly. In fact, I’d say that in order to sustain their civilization, they will need to bring females to their planet immediately.” She sat up, turning to look up at Arad. “Why are they dying out so rapidly?” He shook his head. “Stupidity, in part. Female embryos are often aborted. The procedure is harsh, sometimes ending the fertility of the mother. Fewer females are born to increase the population, and fewer children are being born overall.” “Do they realize?” “In a big picture sense, yes, they do. But that still doesn’t prevent a man from wanting sons or having contempt for his own daughters.” “My God, this sounds like something from the history of my own country. We went from being overpopulated to a rapid drop in women. It got so bad that villages raided other villages for their women. Men grew so spoiled that they were unable to care for themselves once their parents were no longer able to. That history was there for the Nephris to learn from, long before they left Earth.” “As I told you once, we… they long ago left the concerns of Earth behind.” She noticed his inclusion of himself among the Nephris. Rose began to understand why he needed isolation, why he needed to find himself. “The Nephris are forcing alliances on weaker planets with healthy female populations. In time, they will be able to take freely from these planets. They don’t all have human populations, so I don’t know if reproduction will be possible. If not, they will turn on the Parsians, perhaps even begin raids on Earth.” “Do you fear for the Thalians? Your planet is closer than Earth, and your women are very beautiful.” “Have you ever seen a Thalian female, Rose? In person?”

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She thought for a moment. She hadn’t. She frowned and looked to him for an answer. “Our females are also decreasing in number. Not as drastically as the Nephris, but it’s been occurring over a longer period of time. In our case, the cause is a genetic flaw. Too many centuries of selective breeding.” “I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.” He smiled at her sympathy. “Our early studies with humans indicate that the introduction of your DNA into our own gene pool is beneficial, so we are working on solving the problem, and not repeating our mistakes. If a blonde and a brunette happen to fall in love, there is now no impediment to their union.” “That explains…” She faltered and immediately censored her thoughts. Too late. “My brother expressed interest in you?” “I don’t know, Arad. That’s just the impression I got from him.” She felt the slightest, almost imperceptible withdrawal from him. Being Arad, he’d feel obliged to step aside for his brother. Rose closed the gap, not allowing him to follow that instinct. “I doubt that stasis will be necessary. We’re only a few days from Earth.” “Nonetheless, Rose…” “I know. You’ll feel better knowing.” He nodded and brushed his lips against her temple. He set her gently off his lap and gathered up his clothing. Without being told, Rose knew they’d made love for the last time. For the next few days and nights, he’d struggle against his need. She hated people that allowed themselves to suffer unnecessarily. And those who forced suffering onto others. Damn him anyway. After he left, she pulled on her shirt and panties, then huddled in her pilot’s chair, doing her best to fight off tears.

Chapter Seven Stasis had been unnecessary. They’d arrived on Earth to a waiting crew of officials. Arad had immediately been taken by the Thalians, his brother and Sala among the crowd. She’d had time to see Nomi’s face grow grey and drawn as he saw the wreckage of his brother’s wings. Little did he know, the damage to Arad’s soul was so much worse. Rose found herself being debriefed at HQ. Thankfully, the politicians and military authorities were willing to come to her. A long day of interviews was interrupted by the arrival of Sala, who drew her to an exam room, evaluating the progress of her damaged limb. A military police officer insisted on the presence of a female attendant during the exam so that intelligence was not passed between the doctor and his patient. Rose met Sala’s cool grey eyes and caught the amusement there. Silly man, she thought. They forget about the telepathy. He winked in response, rotating her arm up to ear level. Is he all right? Sala prodded her arm, checking a reflex. “Yes, that is looking good. Not optimal, of course, but better.” Is he returning to Thalia? “Dr. Nomi and I will both be returning home for a time, but I expect that one or maybe both of us will return in a month or two. I can’t release you for duty at this time. Of course, you are aware that you will require more rehabilitation.” “Yes, of course,” she murmured. Please tell him to get better, to take care of himself. He was horribly distraught, Sala. I’m worried.

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“You should probably spend time close to your family and home, Rose. Once they are finished with you here, try to get away from everything and relax. Your injury was terribly traumatic, and the recent incident was probably stressful as well. Doctor’s orders.” He stood back and folded his arms. “You may feel depressed or agitated. If that’s the case, be certain to seek help. I also want you back here weekly for physical therapy with Brenda. She’ll be handling your rehab while we’re away.” Is this revenge? Did I make you angry? Four weeks of Brenda? “Miss Brenda is a wonderful therapist and delightful company as well. She’ll take good care of you, I’m certain.” Bastard! He was unable to stifle his chuckle. We’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible, Rose. She stared, wide-eyed. How… did I just hear you in my head? He winked, gathered his charts, and was gone.

*** “He made it home fine. He and Nomi shared their needing cycle. Having his brother there to commiserate made it easier.” “How do you know this, Brenda?” They made slow circuits of the pool. The red-haired therapist occasionally corrected her stroke. “You’re growing strong again, Rose, I’m glad to see it. I’m keeping Nomi and Sala up to date on your therapy.” “You’re in touch with them?” Brenda nodded, and indicated that they move closer to a hissing water feature. Less likely for curious ears to overhear their conversation. “Nomi says that he’s got to have a lot of surgery to correct the damage to his wings. How’d that happen anyway?”

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 79 -

“Just life as a Nephris warrior. He’d take a fall, and the wings were more fragile than the rest of his body. Obviously, he didn’t have anyone to take care of the breaks, so they healed wrong.” Brenda shook wet curls from her face and slid onto the deck, head close to Rose. “Nomi said you did really well with the wings. He could have lost them if he hadn’t come to you for help.” “He was desperate by the time he asked. It makes me angry, Brenda. I still don’t know why he did it. He didn’t damage just his body, but his very mind as well… I wish…” She broke off, uncertain of what she wanted to say. “I wish I’d known him before. I wish he’d come back.” I wish I’d told him I love him. That was it, wasn’t it? So many things left unsaid, undone. He wouldn’t hear her confession of love, wouldn’t give her his own with the agony of his body, the insanity of his mind. She rested her chin on her arms, treading water, looking at the other woman as though she had the answers. But she didn’t, not the answers that Rose needed. “He isn’t coming back for me, is he?” “I can’t say that, Rose. Nomi and Sala tell me a little, hint at a lot. I know that Nomi feels as though he’s lost his brother. Arad’s withdrawn from his family, cut off his friends as well. Those Nephris used him hard, and it’s probably coming back to haunt him.” “How’d you get so tight with those two anyway?” Brenda grinned roguishly. “Sheer force of personality, sweetheart. I forced myself on them every chance I got!” Behind the smile was a touch of sadness. She missed them. “So what are you going to be doing these next few months? Sticking around here?” “No, I’m going home to Saikung. My grandpa says I can take over classes at the school. It’ll be good to get back in touch with my roots. I’ll be stronger for it.”

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 80 -

“Well, Rosie, you are maybe the toughest woman I’ve ever met. If that’s the root of your strength, you need to go back and do it. Go home, get in touch with your strength. Give yourself a chance to mourn.”

Chapter Eight “Every one of you is insane to even consider doing this. I initially refused to be a party to this, but unfortunately, I’m under orders.” Sifu Rose Lee paced the wooden floor of the gymnasium. Outside of the open walls, rain fell in sheets. In moments, it would clear and the sun would shine. “There is no choice for me but to do my best to teach you how to survive. I can’t teach you to avoid the emotional pain that you’ll be facing, or the rape of your soul and body. But I can teach you to take a blow, to survive an attack.” Nine young men and women assembled in front of her, kneeling submissively on the hard floor. They were the remainder of fifty candidates. She could put down mats, but she wouldn’t. They needed to get tough, fast. “You’ll live here for three months. In those three months, I’ll abuse your bodies. I’ll be completely honest about what you’ll be facing. I can’t teach you to be submissive or clever or how to do your job, but I’ll teach you how to survive.” She paused, standing below the twin banners hanging from the framework of the wall: General Kwan, the patron of warriors and military, and the writhing dragon, emblem of the school. “My grandfather will teach you meditation, inner strength. I will teach your muscles to be strong, your skin to be hard. Get on your feet. Universal Post.” The students obeyed wordlessly. They took the pose of standing meditation that her grandfather had taught them earlier. After one minute, sweat was beading on faces and necks, muscular arms began to tremble with tension. When she finished with them, they’d be able to hold the pose for hours. “While you stand here, meditate on the reasons you are volunteering to infiltrate the Nephris. Whatever the reasons, please consider not only the pain and degradation

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you will suffer, but also, the grief and suffering of your friends, family and lovers. If you survive to return home, you will not be the same person. Your reason for this sacrifice must be great, or your resolve will fail. You will forget, and simply lose yourself.” She stepped into the pose, her back foot absorbing most of her weight, her arms drifting upward as though embracing a post. Between her fingers, she could see her aura pulsing between her relaxed hands. The left was now equally bright as the right. Balance. “One single, solitary Thalian went before you. He sacrificed all he was to pave the way for you. You will pave the way for those who follow. You may or may not escape, but you will learn enough here to always remember who you are. When you are alone and suffering, doubting your very existence, remember these moments in the Post, and hold tight to who you are, and why you are doing this.” She breathed, letting all of her focus slip from her hands to the students in the room. Some settled, others struggled, fighting their own muscles. “Gently drop your arms, return to a relaxed position.” The whisper of movement carried through the room. “Now repeat on the opposite side.”

*** She sat on a rock in the water, about fifty yards from shore. At some point, the tide had come in, surrounding her with the choppy water of the bay. Out in the distance, small boats bobbed, nets were pulled onboard, fish writhing silvery in the brilliant sun. “Is this rock taken?”

“Papa.”

She didn’t question how he’d managed to get from the shore to her retreat

without making a sound. He’d probably danced from stone to slippery stone. Or maybe the fish had carried him on their backs. He was that sort of man.

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 83 -

He pulled a cigarette from the pocket of his white button-down shirt, lit the thing and blew a thin trail of smoke into the air. “Little Dragon is finding her center.” “Yes, I suppose I am.” “Good. That’s good.” He squatted, his long, inky black hair riffling in the breeze. A smile settled over his unlined face. “You’re happy again?” “Tolerably.” “You can’t start moving forward ’til you turn around and face the path ahead. You’re still looking behind you.” “Can it, Grandpa.” He laughed, and took another drag. “Are you still angry at that man you love?” They’d never talked about Arad. Rose had made it clear that he was off the conversational menu. Was she really angry at him? “He couldn’t leave it alone. Those people ate his soul, and he went back. I don’t understand why.” “He may not understand why himself. But whatever the reasons, something about the Nephris compels him. Maybe he wants to save them from themselves.” “That suggests that he cares for them.” Guo Lee shrugged one lean, muscular shoulder. He finished his cigarette and tossed the butt into the water. “Those things are bad for you.” He laughed, a husky, warm sound. “And you pollute the water when you throw stuff in.” “Our world is too clean anyway.” He stood and Rose wasn’t surprised to see that his canvas tennis shoes were dry. “I need to get back to those young idiots. I imagine they’re getting tired of the Horse stance by now.” “You left them in Horse? This long?” He laughed again, and Rose remembered hours and hours of standing in Horse, or in the Post, thinking he was next to her,

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sharing the pain. She’d finally peek at him out of frustration, to find him sitting relaxed on the porch of the school, smoking a cigarette. “It made you strong enough to chase monsters. It’ll make them strong too.” He turned, hopping lightly to a slick, jagged rock. “That new teacher is here. I put him in the guest room on the hill. He seems a private sort.” She turned away, not wanting to disturb the magic of her grandfather’s departure. She was strong and agile, but no way could Rose mimic what he was doing. She’d just have to wait till the tide went out again. Or she could swim. The new teacher was coming to teach the victims… err… volunteers about Nephris culture. The women would be going in as captives. They’d be the victims in a very real raid. They were the ones who made Rose’s heart bleed, because whether they realized it or not, they would probably never come home. In Rose’s opinion, their chances were nil. Just because the commanding General of the planet fell in love with his female didn’t mean others would follow his example. The four women were beauties, two human and two Thalian, but they were women, and the Nephris hated women. Such a waste.

*** Naked, she lay on her back, watching clouds pass overhead. The tide had gone out, and Rose had retreated to the safety of the beach, lying on a blanket in the sun. Her lids dropped shut, and for a moment, a cloud blocked the light and she frowned. Her skin glowed with warmth, she was rosy and content. After her time here with the students was finished, she’d be free to go back into space. Nomi had just sent his final release. She sighed as the clouds passed again. Rain must be coming.

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 85 -

Rose looked up at the sky. Off in the distance, clouds hung heavy on the horizon. An hour, maybe more. A bird crossed her view, high up in the sky. It was his shadow that blocked the sunlight. Huge black wings on an elegant, long-limbed body… “Shit!” She sat up, rubbing her eyes in amazement. Whatever had been there was gone. Again, she settled back, eyes wide open. It looked like a Thalian, but as far as she knew, they did little more than glide. Their wings weren’t strong enough to bear them so high. Naturally, her thoughts turned to Arad, and it wasn’t strange when she heard his voice. “They took my sister. They took her and I couldn’t bear not knowing. That was my reason.” “So they sent you to spy.” “Yes, I knew the chances of rescuing her were slim, but I had to try. I didn’t expect to be trapped for so long.” He settled onto the blanket next to her, feeling the warmth radiating from her skin. “I heard you were going back.” “I changed my mind.” She rolled to her side, taking in the flowing hair, the majestic black wings. The golden expanse of his naked body. He grinned. She grinned back. “You thought I was broken.” She nodded, the smile fading from her face. “I was broken, but some broken things can be repaired. I have some weak spots where they patched me together, so I’m not good as new. But I am good enough to fly, to walk among my own kind again.” “Are you good enough to claim the woman you love?” “That is what brings me here, Little Dragon. I wanted you to see me in the sky. I wanted you to see that I am Arad Soheil once more, not the Nephris Commander.” “So you are telling me that you’re all better?”

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

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“I am.” “Prove it. Take your cock in your hands. Let me watch you pleasure yourself. Then maybe I’ll believe.” “Oh, Rose, that’s so easy. I’ve had so much practice doing just that, imagining your face as I touched myself.” His hand had dropped to his groin. He clasped his meaty cock in his hand, stroking it to erection in long, slow glides. She just smiled and watched, listening to his breath grow quicker. “I went to the mountains and sat on the green, green hillsides. I’d dream of your face in the clouds, I’d imagine that you were with me, your lips on my body, your heat wrapped around me. When I came, I came hard, with your name on my lips. I’d lick the seed from my hands, and remember how it felt when you did that.” His hands were steady on his cock, and his eyes never flinched from hers. “Do you believe me?” “I don’t know, Arad. You might be pretending. How do I know you won’t dash down to the water and wash up when I’m not looking?” He squeezed a pearl of his own essence from his fat cock head and licked it slowly. He squeezed once more and offered the glistening drop to Rose, shivering as her pink tongue swirled, and lapped it up. “I think it would be very nice if you believed me, Rose, because I’d like very much for you to join me…” His hips surged upward, tempting her. “This isn’t heat?” She rolled to her belly, propping her chin on her hands. “No, not heat, not imprint. It’s just love.” “Just love? Is that all?” “Maybe some lust.” “Mmmm…” She tilted her head, looking speculatively at the strong, beautiful body before her. Arad’s hand slowed, and then he sat up, crossing his legs. His cock thrust up invitingly. “Come sit on my lap, Little Dragon.”

Belinda McBride

Black Planet 1: Little Dragon

- 87 -

Oh, now how could she resist such an invitation? Rose settled into his lap, lowering herself slowly onto his cock. Of the many positions they’d experimented with, this was her favorite with Arad. Face to face. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, sighing in happiness. She wiggled closer, delighted when a huge pair of wings wrapped her safely in his embrace, hiding them from prying eyes. “Will you say yes?” “To what?” She was breathless, filled, overfilled with his cock, her slippery fluids making the ride easy and hot. “Will you say yes when I ask you to fly away with me?” He was thrusting into her high and hard, reaching those impossible places deep inside. “Can I keep my ship?” “I was counting on it! My wings are only so strong.” His hands clasped her ass. They pumped together harder, faster, their breath mingling and mixing, lips brushing and tasting. Rose arched back, her climax roaring up her spine, clasping hard, milking his cock. “Yes!” “Ah… Rose… then I will carry you to the sky!”

Belinda McBride Belinda lives in the wilderness of the Siskiyou Mountains and at night she runs naked with a pack of wolves… Uhh… Belinda lives near the Siskiyou Mountains and shares her home with a pack of Siberian Huskies who like to pretend they are wolves. And she usually keeps her clothing on when she goes outside. Belinda loves to travel, collect rare gemstones, make soap and spend precious time with her daughters. Her degree is in History with a Cultural Anthropology minor. On weekends, you will often find Belinda ringside at a dog show, comb and spray bottle in hand. She invites you to visit her website at www.belindamcbride.com, or email her directly at [email protected].