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  He stopped under a heat lamp, and they dried in seconds. He continued into the outer rooms and, from there, into his bedroom.

  He settled her on the bed and stretched over her, bringing his body into slow and complete contact with hers.

  She felt a shiver run through his body, but she was caught up staring into his eyes. He did a strange push-up motion on her and stroked her breasts and belly with his body. She shivered in her own right and reached up to touch his skin.

  His body had the same feel as soft suede, but the muscle under it was carved oak. Jewel stroked his body with care, running her hands up his sides and over his back. Tension filled him, but her calm couldn’t ease it. Jewel wasn’t even sure that she was trying to project it.

  He moved against her again, the rolling stroke of skin to skin. Stormyo wasn’t in a hurry and that made her nervous.

  She parted her legs when he nudged his thigh to her knees. There was no sound in the room but their breathing, and hers was far more ragged than his.

  As he settled between her thighs with his cock pressing against her folds, he leaned in and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and participated enthusiastically, sure of what she was doing in this particular matter.

  He pulled his mouth from hers, and he started to work down her neck, carefully shifting his head to avoid scratching her with his horns.

  His tongue was hot, wet, smooth, as he stroked her neck, worked across her shoulder and down to her breasts.

  He spent what seemed like hours, suckling, nipping, smoothing his tongue across her skin until she was sure that her flesh was on fire and she was happy to burn.

  He moved down her body, but everywhere his mouth had been, she burned. Flames licked along her nerve endings and it finally came to her that he had a sure-fire seduction technique that did not require his lust to be aggressive to create a seduction. He was a man that had chemistry on his side.

  She twisted as he licked at her belly and the fire followed. Her nerves hummed, and when he impishly licked the inside of her forearm, her fingers clenched in the locks of his hair.

  Who knew that there were so many nerve endings on the inside of her elbow?

  The surge of moisture that her body produced at the light flick of his tongue surprised her. He leaned back and stared at her. “How charming.” He returned his head to that spot and licked again.

  She squirmed. She felt her thighs flex on either side of his hips.

  He must have noticed it, because he moved lower and continued to lick his way toward her aching channel. He parted her sex with his tongue and a low moan broke from her throat.

  Tingling spread from the small opening that he slid his tongue into and rippled through her body. He nosed her clit lightly and continued his detailed exploration.

  Jewel felt her legs tense and her muscles tried to clamp down on him. She twisted, she rocked her hips and she moaned in a low exhalation as the heat flared and her orgasm struck.

  The smooth projection of his tongue continued as she gripped his horns and held him in place.

  When she had ridden out the waves of internal heat, she let her hands drop to her sides, the galloping of her heart slowed to a steady beat and he raised his head, licking his lips.

  “I believe I have discovered an addiction I did not know I was susceptible to.” He licked her belly and slowly moved up her body before pressing the slick head of his cock against her.

  She glanced down and saw that the entire surface of his shaft was shining. “What is that coating you?”

  He shrugged and eased forward. “Apparently normal to my kind. It opens doors.”

  Jewel puzzled over that until the slick heat of him widened her slowly as he eased in. There was nothing to stop him; he worked his way into her in one long, slow thrust.

  Her breath whooshed out of her lungs as her body grappled with the width and depth of him within her.

  Stormyo waited for her. He held himself in place and watched her.

  Jewel grappled with the strangeness and the lack of expected pain. When she finally began to breathe again, her channel fluttered around him. The sensation froze her in place.

  His smile was slow, as was the withdrawal and re-entry of his cock. Without any hesitation, he withdrew again and surged back into her with care.

  Jewel slid her hands up his arms, and she held tight as his motions elicited gasps and moans from her, groans from him.

  It was a noisy coupling, and when he lifted her legs to drape them over his shoulders, he went deeper and her cries got louder.

  The initial discomfort had gone up in a blaze of lust, and Jewel gripped the sheets to either side of her hips. He knelt, pulling her up and over his hips, his hands moving her on him until he pulled her up and onto his lap.

  She rocked on him, with him, as he plunged into her using his hands and hips to go deep. When her clit ground against him on the downward stroke, she fought the surges of excitement that pulsed in her. Each plunge took her senses higher and brought her closer to the edge.

  Stormyo kissed her, wild eating kisses that involved him nipping at her lips and capturing her tongue with his teeth. She rocked on him, held his head to hers, and when her release ran through her, she screamed into his mouth.

  He rocked into her faster, shuddering quickly as he shouted against her lips. His breathing was rapid, his chest working like a bellows. He slumped back on his heels, his forehead pressed to hers.

  “That was as slow as I could manage.”

  Jewel took stock. Her skin was still tingling, her channel ached and she could feel the stress in her hips from wrapping around him. “That was as slow as I could handle.”

  He chuckled and rolled until he was under her and she was lying on his torso. His cock had slipped from her, and she sighed and rubbed her cheek on his chest. He rubbed her back with one wide hand, and she drifted into a relaxed haze. Her calm was back, but it was looser than before. Why bother keeping her armour up when he had already gotten inside?

  Chapter Six

  Three days of being Stormyo’s companion came and went without any large interruptions.

  He was waiting for his next fight, and it was coming up in an exhibition fight with a local Guardian on the world they were orbiting. The fight station had the same pattern as a travelling circus. It moved from world to world and offered broadcast or in-person entertainment to those who could afford the price to fly up to the station.

  Jewel was sitting in the living area, reading on the data pad that had been provided to her. Raffix and Stormyo were playing some weird version of chess at the dining table.

  A chime rang through the room and a voice announced in Imperium Common, “Arrival at W’lyn.”

  Jewel blinked. “What did she say?”

  Stormyo looked up and smiled. “We are at W’lyn. It is the location of my next fight.”

  Raffix snorted. “And my next fight.”

  Jewel smiled, “And four of my kind.”

  Stormyo was suddenly wary. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean all four mates of the W’lyn Guardians are Terrans.”

  Raffix smiled. “Do you think they will claim you?”

  She made a face. “By the laws of the Imperium, the station owns me. The colony wasn’t an Imperium protectorate. I was fair game.”

  Stormyo scowled. “I have tried to purchase you, but the station won’t allow it. Not yet.”

  It was not yet a medical necessity for Stormyo to have a mate. When it was a necessity, he would be expected to hand over his entire account to the station in order to keep permanent possession of her.

  She didn’t think of herself as a possession. She couldn’t. The moment she did, she would fight for freedom. Staying with Stormyo and continuing her reading and physical training was a fair trade to her. It might change at a later date, but for now, she was enjoying a freaky holiday.

  “You look amazing.” Stormyo looked her over a
s he put on his combat wear.

  “You look pretty good, too.” She smoothed her hands down the long dress. It had cutouts over her ribs and thighs. It showed less than the two-piece garment she wore daily and felt imminently more revealing. This was a formal event and she needed to be dressed appropriately, so she was.

  When he was dressed, he leaned forward for his good-luck kiss. He slid his hand along her exposed ribs and pulled her tightly against the hard leather of his costume.

  Jewel gasped, and he placed his mouth over hers, teasing at her until she was clinging to him.

  He eased back and sighed. “There, that should get me through the day.”

  She smiled and stroked his cheek. “Make sure that this pretty face is in one piece at the end of things.”

  He winked, and she left him for the final preparation of bulking up his neck and horns. It was always unsettling to watch, though he had told her outright that he could go a little further with his transformation. As long as he kept it out of the bedroom, she had no problem with him turning into a mandarin orange if he wanted to.

  She lifted her skirt an inch and made her way to the spectators’ area, taking her seat and settling in with the vid cameras swirling around her. When someone settled next to her, Jewel blinked and looked to her left. A woman with human features but pearly skin sat there, smiling brightly at her.

  “Hello.”

  Jewel answered in English. “Hello.”

  “No way. I thought you looked Terran. I am Polly.”

  The woman stuck out her hand.

  “Jewel.”

  “I am here because Loesh is engaging in this fight with some weird deer-man for charity. What brings you here?”

  Jewel chuckled. “I am currently owned by the weird deer-man. His name is Stormyo and has kept me safe from the administrators at the station.”

  Polly looked around, and with a flick of her hand, the vid cameras buzzed off. “Tell me everything.”

  “Why?”

  “Because if I can help, I will. I am a Guardian after all.” She smiled. “Come on. Spill. We don’t have much time.”

  Jewel spoke quickly and explained how she had come to be sitting on a space station in a peephole evening gown. By the time she finished, Polly was speaking sternly to someone named Gerald.

  “Gerald will let Loesh know what is going on and we will get you off this station before it leaves. We might even find you a nice W’lyn to set up housekeeping with.”

  “No.”

  “What?”

  “No. I don’t want to leave Stormyo.”

  The crowd roared as the two fighters entered the arena, and while Polly was watching the blue-haired, grey-skinned hunk that she was bonded to, Jewel had eyes for Stormyo.

  They were both frighteningly strong and incredibly quick. They fought with daggers, staves and swords before going hand to hand.

  Jewel sighed in relief as they flipped, punched and mauled each other.

  Polly winced as Stormyo delivered a brutal kick and Loesh tucked and rolled before getting up to resume the attack. “How can you watch this every day?”

  “They don’t enact sitcoms here.” She shrugged.

  Polly snickered and winced again. “It is just so…nasty.”

  “You and Loesh go into nasty situations all the time. What is different about this?”

  “This is entertainment.”

  Jewel watched another collision. “I don’t find it entertaining, but then, it isn’t my job. I can’t judge.”

  “Would you want to be a peacekeeper again?”

  “Hitting people for a living? Oh yes.” Jewel grinned.

  Polly laughed. “I mean the keeping folks calm.”

  Jewel shrugged. “Sure. It is what I do after all. I can’t stop it any more than I can stop breathing.”

  Polly tilted her head. “But you wish you could?”

  “I now know why I do it. With Stormyo, I don’t have to pull back. No matter what washes over him, he just accepts it and acts with cool purpose. It means foreplay goes on forever, but that isn’t the worst thing that could happen.”

  Jewel watched the men and finally clued into the fact that they were talking as they fought and flipped each other.

  She couldn’t make out the words, but Stormyo seemed interested.

  He grabbed Loesh, held him and put him in a sleeper hold. The Guardian clawed at the arm across his throat, but he slowly slumped and Loesh dropped to the ground unconscious.

  The crowd erupted, and Polly watched her mate stir and get up, gripping Stormyo’s arm to get upright. They clapped each other on the back, bowed to the crowd and headed for the change room.

  Jewel got to her feet, “Come on, Polly. I want to find out what they were talking about.”

  “Talking about?”

  Polly’s hands were in tight fists so Jewel calmed her. She was getting better at directing it now. The open wave was no longer her only means of working with her talent.

  “Wow. That feels…good.”

  “Thanks. I brew it up specially.” Jewel headed down the VIP aisle and toward the back entrance. Polly stuck with her, and soon, they were behind the scenes at the fight station.

  “Wow. It is like a huge gym. We have specialized equipment at the base but nothing like this.”

  It was a space filled with equipment to get the fighters looking as intense as possible the moment they entered the sands.

  “Where are we going, Jewel?”

  “The change rooms. I need to see how badly they beat each other up.”

  Polly nodded and followed.

  Their men were sitting and discussing things with earnest body language. Stormyo was still bulked out, but he didn’t have the animalistic focus that he normally had after a fight.

  He looked at her, and there was a solemn decision in his eyes. “Jewel, you are going to W’lyn with Loesh and the Guardians.”

  “What?” Her senses spun.

  “You heard me. You are going to the surface of W’lyn with the Guardians. They can get you free of the station, and I can’t.”

  “How are they going to take me past security? I can’t just go on a day pass, you know.”

  Polly smiled. “You are going to assault a Guardian.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Because I am going to hit you first.”

  Polly swung at her and Jewel sidestepped her easily.

  To Jewel’s shock, Polly turned with incredible speed and struck her twice in quick succession. Jewel retaliated and Polly went spinning back several steps. A drop of blood welled at the corner of Polly’s mouth and Jewel calmly stepped forward to finish the fight.

  “Easy, Jewel. The damage is done.” Stormyo grabbed her and held her, keeping her from pursuing Polly.

  The female Guardian looked a little uneasy. “She should change clothes and then we will leave.”

  Stormyo nodded. “Follow us.”

  Loesh nodded. “Because she is under arrest. Right.”

  Polly stepped into Loesh’s embrace and they followed.

  After a change of clothing to her normal crop-top bodysuit, she sighed. “I don’t want to leave you.”

  “I know, but you have to. We have the chance to get you free on a protected world. That isn’t something to be taken lightly.” He kissed both her gloved hands and smiled. “Go. I will be in touch when I can.”

  She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. “If you don’t, I will find a way to come after you.”

  He chuckled. “Then, I will try and make it sooner rather than later.”

  He pressed a kiss to her neck and whispered, “Go.”

  Blinking back tears, she walked to Polly and Loesh. They each took an arm and they marched her back to the docking area of the station with her leading the way.

  “Where are you taking her?” The security officer on duty tried to stop them. It was rather optimistic of him.
r />   Polly touched her lip. “She assaulted a Guardian and must face justice on W’lyn.”

  Loesh nodded. “I witnessed it. Allow me to speak with the administration and I will explain it to them.”

  He accessed the com unit and spoke rapidly, not allowing the administrator a word in edgewise. By the time he completed his dictation, the guard was relieved, and they had clear dispensation to leave with their prisoner.

  Loesh and Polly bustled her down the walkways and into a shuttle. They all strapped in and the shuttle dropped out of the station, making its way to the surface in a lazy descent.

  “Sorry for punching you, Polly.”

  Polly checked and smiled. “We are in W’lyn atmosphere, so I accept your apology. Sorry for picking a fight.”

  “It is fine. I would have taken you apart.” Jewel smiled slyly. She looked at the display and toward the station. “I hope he is all right. He is due to start his rut soon.”

  Polly shrugged. “He is a free man, and he should be able to work his way out of the station if he chooses.”

  Jewel watched the station get smaller. “I just hope he doesn’t choose to stay.”

  She just caught the look that the couple shared as they entered daylight and the station disappeared.

  Chapter Seven

  Six weeks as a special adjunct to the Guardians made her appreciate her time with Stormyo. Her exposure to him had given her some sort of scent mark that lasted for the first three of those six weeks. It kept the W’lyn from trying to pursue her.

  After her third week, she had enough of a reputation on W’lyn to keep some of the men at bay and the others found being calmed to the point of impotence disturbing.

  Working with the Guardians let her expand her control over her own mind and spend time with other Terrans who had adapted to a new life on a new world with men who were extraordinarily dangerous and a good match for their mates. Wren’s mental control was invaluable, and she taught with nothing held back. It really helped.

  Learning that humans carried so much energy in them and that some had been living and working next to her day after day had been a little shocking, but then, so was Jewel’s ability to numb the emotions of those around her.