He clenched his jaw for a moment, wanting to defend Sera but it wasn’t part of the cover so he let it pass. “I can’t see why anyone would have so many women. Perhaps they just haven’t found the right one yet. Are you speaking of Giles Stander by any chance? I’ve heard he’s got so many concubines and mistresses he can’t keep up with the bills.” He tipped his chin at Perry.

  “He does like the tables. But he’ll work it out, Giles always does. He’s very resourceful.” Perry’s smarmy smile made Brandt’s skin crawl.

  Brandt stood and indicated to the cashier to charge his credit for their drinks. “I must get back. Kira, you look lovely as always. I will be seeing you and Perry soon I’m sure.”

  “Well, be sure not to expose me to your pet next time, Brandt. That was wholly unseemly.” Kira allowed a brief kiss of her cheek.

  “I’m sure it wasn’t any great pleasure for her to have you react that way either.” He waved, turned on his heel and headed back to the guest house.

  The moment he entered, he heard them. His adrenaline kicked in as his cock hardened. Ash’s grunts played over Sera’s whimpers and moans as he tossed aside his jacket and on his way to the bedroom, unbuttoned his shirt.

  Standing in the doorway, he watched Ash fuck into Sera. He found himself entranced by the glow of her skin as she strained against the scarves binding her wrists to the post at the head of the bed. The fire inside him rose along with his need for her. His urge to reassure her overcame his anger at her mistrust of his dealings with Kira.

  “Well now. Someone is going to have to bring me to speed. I think I’ve missed a few things in my absence.”

  “Well, Sela and I had a spat and were just making up.” Ash pulled out, cock glistening with Sera’s honey.

  “I can see that.” Her back bore faint tracks where Ash’s nails scored into her skin. She still wore the blindfold, still remained bound.

  “Should I untie her?” Ash asked, one hand idly playing over Sera’s clit.

  “No.” Brandt pulled the rest of his clothes off and Ash moved to the side, laying next to Sera.

  “Open up, Sera.” Brandt got to the bed, kneeling next to her head.

  “My mouth?”

  He sent a look at Ash over her body and his friend shook his head and grinned.

  “On your back.”

  She slid back down to her belly and turned carefully, her arms criss-crossed at the wrists. “Like this?”

  “You know I’m not going to let you avoid the issue, don’t you?”

  “What issue would that be?” Even through the mental link he heard her emotion.

  He straddled her body and tapped her lips with the head of his cock, already slick. “Suck my cock.”

  Her mouth opened and he rolled his hips, pressing himself between her lips. She lost herself in him, he knew. Took refuge in the act. But right then he didn’t want her lost. He wanted her attention.

  “Did you really think I’d make fun of you to Kira? Do you think so little of me and my care for you?”

  The link remained silent and he fed more of his cock to her until she breathed deep through her nose and he bumped the back of her throat. Her body stiffened a moment but she adjusted.

  Reaching down, he removed the blindfold but she kept her eyes closed.

  “Open your eyes. Your eyes are mine when my cock is in your body, Sela.”

  She shivered and slowly, reluctantly opened her eyes. He saw the anger, the hurt there.

  “All of you. I want every bit.” And he didn’t plan to negotiate on that point.

  She blinked quickly but not fast enough that he missed the flash of fear. He slowly fucked into her mouth, keeping his gaze locked with hers. Keeping the link of intimacy between them.

  “Well?”

  “It seems to me this link should be about necessary communication only.”

  He nearly laughed at how she’d sounded in his head.

  “If you don’t think my feelings for you and yours for me are necessary communication, I’ve misjudged you terribly.”

  She blinked quickly, he saw the tears welling in her eyes and he pulled out, scooting down her body. His face close to hers, he stared into her eyes until the tears broke free and trailed down where he dipped his head, catching them with his lips.

  “Sweet, why would you let the appearance of my sister upset you so?” He kissed down her jaw. “I wanted to give you time with Ash and I wanted to see what they were doing here. We’ll talk about that later. For now, Sera, you’re pulling away and you must know Ash and I aren’t going to let that happen.”

  “She’s poisonous. And vile.” Some of her vitality came back as she squirmed against the scarf. Her nipples hardened as he traced over first one and then the other with a fingertip. “And she took what was mine.”

  He nodded. “But I’m yours and I’m right here. Ash is yours and he’s right here. Neither of us is leaving you. Not ever.”

  She hmpfed and he rolled her over quickly and landed three sharp blows on her ass.

  The squeal of outrage she made into the pillow was partially muffled but he grinned at Ash as he scrambled over her body and went into the vanity area adjoining the bath. A quick scan of the surface of her table and he found what he needed and grabbed it.

  Ash saw what he held and laughed. “How could I have forgotten? When you leave your toys at home, you can always improvise.”

  Sera had gone still but when she heard that comment, she turned her face from the pillow to look up at him. Her eyes went straight to the wooden hairbrush he held and widened.

  “Ahh, I see. Now, I’ve left my paddle at home so,” he knelt over her and gave the fleshiest part of her ass a smack. The resulting red mark was very attractive and she wasn’t complaining either.

  “Ass up in the air.”

  The quickness of her compliance told him she was still very interested. He landed the blows carefully, not wanting to hurt her, only wanting to push her into subspace—to bring her the increased serotonin of pleasure/pain. They’d both pushed her and would continue to do so until she admitted the truth of their relationship but he wanted to be smart and not scare her away.

  She moaned softly and Ash moved in, his hands sliding beneath her body to play with her nipples. When her ass was a lovely shade of pink and the heat rose from her along with the scent of her honey, he tossed the brush to the side and pressed his cock into her cunt quickly and without preamble.

  A shuddering groan rocked through her as she rippled around him. Three, short, hard digs and he pulled out much to her distress.

  “Is there a problem?”

  “Make me come, please,” she begged, trying to turn to see him fully but the way she was bound, arms crossed at the wrist, made it difficult.

  “I will. But I don’t want your cunt just now.”

  His cock was wet with her juices, with Ash’s come and he brought that slickness from her pussy up around her anus. Gooseflesh rose on her skin and his cock throbbed in time with his pulse.

  “I’m going to fuck your ass. Because I want to. Because I can. Because I want to be in every part of you.”

  A flush moved up her skin and Ash surged to his knees to band an arm around Brandt’s waist and kiss him. The kiss tasted of Sera, of Ash, of Ash’s boldness, of his passion for their woman. Sharing Sera, having that unified depth of feeling for this woman had deepened their connection as well.

  “I want to see! I know you’re doing stuff and it’s not fair I can’t see.” Sera struggled to turn more fully but Brandt pressed the fingers he’d been teasing around her rear passage into her to the first knuckle.

  She hissed and Ash craned his head to watch while stroking his cock.

  “Tight. Hot and tight and silky smooth.” He scissored his fingers to stretch her a bit and she thrust back at him. “How long has it been, Sera, since you’ve been fucked in this tight little hole?”

  “Since Ash. Ten years.”

  He shuddered and Ash exhaled softly.

  “Ash, don’t let her clit get lonely.” Brandt spread her and began the slow push into her. She loosened when Ash’s fingers found her clit and began to work it. Her body contracted around his, rippled as he got deeper and deeper with each slow thrust.

  “Please, all the way.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you. You’re very tight.” The strain in his voice matched the strain in his muscles as he worked to keep control over his need to fuck her hard and deep.

  “I want it to. It’ll be fine after I get used to it.” Her voice was thick with emotion.

  That was all he could take and he began to fuck her in earnest as she writhed back against him. Ash moved his head so he could kiss her and her desperate, needy sounds echoed into his mouth.

  Pleasure was a vise around Brandt’s cock as he drew closer and closer to climax.

  “Come for me, sweet.” His fingers slid into her pussy, fucking her as he plunged into her ass and Ash worked her clit. Her hands fisted as she pulled frantically against her bonds.

  “Give it to him. Come on his hand. I want your climax, he wants your climax. Give it up now.” Ash’s voice held a note of command Brandt had never heard before and it turned him on even more.

  Must have worked for Sera too because her scalding hot honey rained on his fingers and hand, her anus contracting around his invading cock as she cried out, Ash swallowing the sound.

  With a low groan, Brandt gave up and let loose, gave in to the waves of sensation that buffeted him until he had to collapse next to her on the bed.

  * * *

  Sera barely felt it when Brandt untied her hands and massaged her wrists. Ash came into the room with a wet cloth and cleaned her up, turning her over and helping her get beneath the blankets.

  Ash snuggled up against her left side, slinging an arm over her belly and Brandt against her right, his thigh over hers. He played idly with her nipple ring as her muscles jumped and trembled.

  She’d lost herself in the oblivion they gave her. Let herself fall deep into the way Brandt touched her, the feel of his cock deep inside her as Ash kissed her.

  “Sera, don’t think to try and hide yourself from me or Ash. You gave yourself to me on the transport.”

  “And you gave yourself to me earlier,” Ash added over the link.

  “I’m very tired. You two fucked every part of me today. I need to rest.” She didn’t want to answer over the link. She just wanted to hold Sela around her like a shield until they left her alone.

  Brandt snorted in a very undignified manner and Ash laughed. “Interrogation is going to be so much more fun with you than the enemy.”

  Oh gods above and below was she in trouble.

  “What hour must I wake up tomorrow morning? Will you two be off for the day so I must find my own entertainment with the others?”

  Brandt pulled her a bit closer and Ash pushed in. They surrounded her, cocooned her.

  “We have a dinner party tomorrow. My sister won’t be in attendance. Wives will be off elsewhere. Let’s wake up when we wish and then make our decisions from there.”

  “Stander will be at the party tomorrow night. Perry seemed quite happy to see him, by the way, said they were friends. I hate to say it but that makes him a suspect too, Ash. Kira expressed disgust at his many women, said his wife doesn’t even bother with him anymore. Perry made a comment you might find interesting. When I mentioned Stander’s money problems Perry said Stander would work it out, he always did.”

  “Well of course his wife doesn’t bother! What woman would accept such a thing quietly?” Sera wanted to punch Giles Stander’s testicles so hard he choked on them. Men!

  Ash nibbled on her shoulder and she sighed quietly.

  “A man wouldn’t have need of that many women if he had you. It takes two men just to keep you satisfied.” Brandt had the gall to wink at her and she raised a brow at him.

  “He wouldn’t have need to have that many women if he cared about satisfying any one of them. A real man doesn’t need all that.”

  Ash kissed her forehead. “Back to business for a moment, if I may. If Giles is indeed feeding information to the Imperialists as our evidence suggests and if he’s getting help, also as our evidence suggests, Perry has a lot of opportunity. I don’t like thinking about anyone in my family being involved and I can’t think why Perry would do something so heinous but it’s something we must think on.”

  “I’m sorry, Ash.”

  “We’ll deal with this tomorrow. After we take care of our woman again.” Brandt touched Ash’s arm briefly.

  Ash chuckled softly and hummed his agreement as he nuzzled her neck. “I’m boneless. Exhausted. I need sleep.”

  Which didn’t stop his nuzzling of course, it only brought Brandt up to do the same on the other side and she closed her eyes, letting herself fall into sleep.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Ash awoke early and stretched. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d been so damned relaxed, especially on an op. On quiet feet, he padded out of the bedroom. Her scent still lingered on his hands, on his lips. Where it belonged, he thought as he took a shower.

  He shaved, not wanting to scratch her with his beard growth, pulled on a pair of pants and headed into the common area to order in some breakfast.

  It wasn’t until he’d opened up his communications folders that he’d wanted to hit something. His cousin Perry had run straight to the Family with news of Sera. His father and uncle had both written him angry missives defending poor Kira’s feelings in the matter at being exposed to a fallen woman in such a way.

  He wondered if it was the normal interference or if Perry had something to hide and was trying to divert attention away from himself.

  Whatever the case, he dashed off a quick text to his father, ignoring his uncle for the time being, reasserting his right to make his own choices. The Family made its profits, political alliances had been made and he’d done his duty. He didn’t plan to be answerable for his private life at this point in his life.

  There were several invitations for Sera to accompany different groups of concubines on sightseeing trips that day. Taking a quick glance through, he saw the two most likely to have Giles Stander’s concubine attending and made a quick mental note to talk with her about it when she woke up.

  “Morning,” she said in a warm, sexy voice as she entered the room. She wore a robe tied loosely around her waist and her hair bound in an intricate braid. The scent of her soap and shampoo tickled his nose.

  He rose and took her into his arms, swaying with her for long moments until she smiled against the bare skin of his chest. He’d missed that lighthearted love they’d shared.

  “Good morning to you. I’ve ordered some breakfast for us. You have several invitations for social engagements today. You’re a very popular woman it seems.” He sat, pulling her down with him and she peered at the screen to view her mail.

  “Some of these girls grate on my nerves, Ash. But I suppose if I can’t be with you and Brandt all day, I’ll find the company of Tifrit Alder’s concubine Rina and her group amenable. It is a shopping trip after all.”

  She quickly sent a note back indicating she’d attend and her regrets to the others before he spun her around and nuzzled the hollow of her throat. “Well now, hello.”

  Her hands moved up his back and over his skull, caressing, kneading, tracing the tattoos. “I’ve missed this part of you.”

  “I’ve missed having you love me this way.”

  “So smooth.” She pressed kisses at each temple and then traced her tongue over the top of his head. So ridiculously simple but totally erotic that she’d find him that attractive.

  A knock sounded on the door and he groaned.

  “Sit, I’ll get it.” She stood but he moved past her quickly.

  “I don’t want to share your beauty with anyone else right now. I’ll get the door.” Her laughter accompanied him to open up to the delivery staff who set up a very large, very fine breakfast in their interior courtyard.

  When he went back to get her, Brandt had come in and she stood behind him brushing and braiding his hair. It wasn’t an act, the way she touched Brandt, ministered to him with such a small thing. She clearly wanted to take care of him, loved it even. Brandt’s eyes were closed, face totally relaxed. Ash had seen a snarl of bloodlust on that face, had seen him in a killing rage, and no shadow of that man existed in the presence of their woman.

  Her hands moved slowly, rhythmically as she brushed, long strokes through Brandt’s dark as deep night hair. Her lips were slightly parted, her eyes halfway closed as she held the brush.

  The moment was so intimate in its normalcy Ash felt a tightening in his gut, touched beyond measure by both of them. What he had with her wasn’t conventional but it was right. And it just made sense to have Brandt there as well. Not between them, but with them.

  When she finished, she leaned down and kissed the top of Brandt’s head.

  “Thank you, sweet.”

  “Breakfast is ready,” Ash announced and they both looked to him with a smile. Inside him there was no pang, no fear there’d be nothing left for him once Sera gave Brandt her attention.

  The filtered light from the glass of the dome above them shone over her as she tipped her head toward it, eyes closed. Funny, this toughened soldier would look so at home in the guise of a creature of indulgence. He made a promise to himself to show her more luxury after this was over.

  “Did Sela tell you she’d be heading out on a shopping expedition later today?” Ash said it casually but Brandt’s eyes lit a moment.

  “You’ll need to replace a few things we so oafishly destroyed in our eagerness to get you naked,” Brandt teased.

  Like a cat, she stirred, stretching in the sunshine before reaching over to pat Brandt’s hand. “Don’t worry, I will.”