It was best for Ash to act that way. Desperation would bring suspicion. Standoffishness would serve him better.

  Owen nodded. “Things are a bit unstable just now. But shortly they should even out and I’ll be in contact.”

  Something had changed. Ash was nearly certain it wasn’t his cover slipping. He’d be dead or at the very least, someone would have tried if that were the case. No, it was something else and he had a very powerful urge to connect with Sera.

  He nodded and turned, meeting Brandt’s eyes. “Something is up. Sera, are you all right?”

  Brandt made his farewells and they headed for the private transport that would take them back to the guest cottage.

  “Yes, I’m here. So much to tell you when I see you. There are too many people here right now, I can’t concentrate on two involved conversations at once.”

  Ash relaxed a bit when he heard her voice and knew she was safe.

  “What the hell is going on?” Brandt demanded.

  “Something has changed. I don’t know what but I want you to be on your guard. We’re coming for you. Don’t leave with anyone or go anywhere until we get to you,” Ash told Sera.

  “I’m quite capable of protecting myself.” The annoyance in her voice was so clear Brandt looked at him and laughed out loud.

  “Indulge me.”

  The ride was over relatively quickly and Brandt went with him to gather Sera from Rina’s home.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Brandt didn’t like the look on Ash’s face. Not one bit. It was one thing before Sera was on their team but now the two people who meant the most to him in the world were there. He’d protect Sera with his life, whether she liked it or not.

  Rina opened the door herself and sent them a sexy smile. “I don’t suppose we could work out a trade? I could come with you two and Sela could stay here?” She winked.

  Ash leaned over in a bow and kissed her hand. “As lovely as you are, I’m afraid Sela has spoiled us for all other women.”

  “And she’d find you and cut out your hearts,” Sela said as she sauntered to the door.

  “That too, sweet. We’ve come to collect you and take you to dinner. Are you amenable?” Brandt relaxed a bit when she took his hand and he spun her neatly against him, loving her laugh.

  “How can I refuse two such pretty men? Rina, thank you for a lovely afternoon.”

  “Any time, Sela. I know you’ll be leaving soon, but I do hope we see each other before you go.”

  Brandt thought that odd but stayed quiet.

  “Of course.” Sera kissed Rina, hugging her before turning back to them. “All right then. I’ll need rest first, I’ve only eaten not too long ago.”

  “Now tell us what is going on.” Brandt walked quickly, keeping Sera in between himself and Ash.

  Ash told them about the conversation he’d had with Owen and of his suspicions that Owen had been spooked. “Something is up. Or it’s about to be. He’s skittish.”

  Then Sera told them of her conversation with Rina.

  “You’re not going back there! She may know who you are. I can’t believe you stayed.” Brandt wanted to haul her over his knees and spank her.

  “Of course she knows who I am. I don’t know how, there weren’t pictures of me at the time and I do look different now. She didn’t come straight out and say it but I certainly got that feeling from what she said. But not that I’m covert. She just thinks I’m back with Ash after all these years. She risked a lot to tell me what she did, to warn me. If she wanted to hurt me, there’d have been police at the door. We have to get her a way out. She doesn’t have to take it, but I want to give her the option.”

  “We’ll get some credits to her. Enough to get herself some new identity papers and a ticket toward the center. She can’t come to you, it’s too dangerous for you both. But we have people who will help.” Ash kissed her hand as they strolled.

  “One last thing, Delia was very nervous today. She showed up late and not in the fashionable sense. She was jittery and not her usual put together self.”

  “Giles wasn’t at the outing today.” Brandt sighed, opening up the door to their cottage.

  “Stop. Someone’s been here.” Sera walked in. “Darling? Did you come back here before you two came to collect me?”

  Brandt pulled her back, trying not to be obvious about it. “No. Why?”

  “I left the room in a bit of a state when I left earlier. But not like this. My things have been moved.”

  “Experts or novices?”

  “There’s enough of a difference I’d notice if I weren’t specially trained. They’re clumsy. I think we should notice and I think you need to notify the authorities. They won’t find anything to implicate us unless it’s been planted.”

  “Do not enter the room. I’m going to call and get someone up here right away.” Ash had her sit on the bench just outside the front door.

  “Why would someone do this? Did you leave anything of value in front of a window?” Brandt ran a hand up and down her arm. Fear coursed through him at the thought of her being threatened.

  “Darling, I’m a big girl. All my expensive jewelry is in the safe. I’m wearing everything else.”

  “The data miner?” If whoever had broken in had found that, they’d be exposed.

  “The chip is in my hair. I’ve had it with me all the time.”

  Moments later Ash returned with two Nondalese officials in tow along with the hospitality manager.

  “Stay here. We’re going to do a walk through of the cottage,” Ash said before disappearing through the front door.

  He returned sometime later. “It appears nothing has been taken.” Ash looked to the authorities for a moment before speaking through the link. “But the communications console has been tampered with. I didn’t mention it to the authorities but we’ll look when we’re alone.”

  “We’ll move you immediately. We’re terribly sorry and very relieved none of your belongings was taken.” One of the hospitality liaisons looked slightly panicky under Ash’s scrutiny.

  “I’m very uncomfortable just now. While our things are being moved, I’d like to go to our transport for a while.” Sera stood up, her hand at her throat.

  Normally, it wouldn’t be allowed. The transports were outside the realm of Nondalese surveillance. Speaking of surveillance…

  “We’d like to see the surveillance footage. Have it sent to our communications unit in our transport please.” Brandt looked at Sera a long moment before turning to the officials who looked doubly uncomfortable.

  “Sir, we do not have private areas under surveillance,” the police officer in charge stated.

  Ash crossed his arms over his chest. “Of course you do. It wasn’t a request. Send it. Sela, come in and let’s get all packed up. We’ll have our bags sent to the new quarters before we back to the docking rings.”

  Brandt followed them, closing the door. Sera quickly packed her things and Brandt grabbed their comm unit before letting the liaison know they’d return sometime later.

  “Mr. Pela?”

  Brandt turned to the liaison.

  “We’ll have whatever footage we can obtain sent to your comm unit. We’re very sorry about this. This is an unacceptable and unusual occurrence here in Nondal Major.” The liaison looked distinctly uncomfortable.

  “I’m sure it is.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Ash did a thorough sweep when they walked inside the transport. Their own security had reported no one attempted to board and break the seal but Ash wanted to be doubly sure.

  Still, Sera knew they’d still be monitored with high powered microphones and other listening devices, especially in light of what had happened back at the cottage. The ruse weighed heavy on her shoulders and she didn’t know how the Nondalese handled it every day.

  “Viewing room. Let’s see what they’ve sent. We’ll watch the surveillance footage while Ash checks out the comm unit to see what he can find.” Brandt pulled her to him. “Are you all right?”

  “Just a bit rattled. I’ll survive.”

  In truth she was rattled. It was one thing to be shot at and deal with warfare in the trenches. That was straightforward. You got shot at and you returned fire. It was clear. But what she did, what they did now, wasn’t clear at all. It was all bound up in complicated deceptions and it ate at her.

  Beyond discomfort at having to take abuse from people like Kira because of their perceived—and actual—differences in status, having to pretend to be someone she wasn’t grated on her. All of it did because everyone else around her played a role as well.

  She didn’t know what to believe. Was Rina trying to help her? If so, was it about herself and her lover? Would Rina turn on her if she thought it benefited her? Sera hated to believe the worst of people, other than Ash but that’d been self preservation. And yet, what they did brought her distrust into sharp focus.

  “You okay in there? You look lost in thought.” Brandt sat her down and loaded up the surveillance footage while Ash sat with a grunt and began clicking on the keyboard as he hacked into the comm unit to see what had been tampered with.

  “I’m all right. Really. Something big is going on. I worry about you and Ash.”

  He grinned and his pretty face transformed into something innocent and beatific. Sera’s heart seized as her breath caught. She touched his face. “You’re so beautiful.”

  His expression softened and he kissed her, brushing his lips across hers. “You’re good for me.”

  “I hope to be. I hope I am. You both mean everything to me. I want to be worthy of that.” She said it knowing it was a risk but not wanting to hide from it for even just a brief moment.

  The clicking of the keys halted as Ash moved to join them, kneeling in front of her. He put his head in her lap and Brandt, sitting so close his thigh touched hers, simply smiled.

  Unbidden her hands went to the smooth skin of Ash’s skull.

  “These times when you don’t hide yourself mean so much.” Brandt’s eyes saw right to her very heart. A heart thundering in her chest because she’d exposed herself so much.

  “It’s us who need to work to be worthy.” Ash’s breath warmed her thighs.

  Brandt’s hands undid the fastenings holding the top of her gown, his fingers brushing over her neck and chest. Cool air met her breasts as the material slid away.

  “I’ve been dying for you all day,” Brandt breathed out. “I’ve never needed anyone the way I do you.”

  Ash’s hands moved up her calves, spreading her thighs as he pushed her dress up and out of the way, exposing her barely covered pussy.

  “These are sexy,” Ash said in that deep as night voice. Unerringly, his middle finger stroked her lightly, finding her clit swollen and begging for attention even through the whisper-thin material of the panties she wore.

  Brandt pinched her nipples between his thumb and forefinger just shy of painfully and she arched with a cry as the sensation burst through her.

  The sound of fabric tearing broke through her sensual fog as Ash tossed her panties—another ruined pair—over his shoulder and spread her wide open to his gaze. “So beautiful, wet, pink. Your scent goes straight to my cock.” Dipping his head, he delivered a devastating kiss to her cunt. One that left her gasping for breath.

  “Hands on the back of the couch. On your haunches, thighs open wide.” Ash looked up at her, lips glistening with her honey.

  She nearly fell over in her rush to comply and he chuckled darkly. A moan of pleasure slipped from her lips when he got back to work, licking and eating at the flesh of her pussy, paying special attention to her clit. Her fingers dug into the sumptuous material of the couch, gripping tight to keep her balance.

  “You’re so beautiful there, Ash’s mouth worshipping you like the goddess you are.” Brandt stood. She watched, rapt, as he unbuckled and unfastened his trousers. He pulled out his cock, stroking it a few times although it didn’t look like he needed any help.

  Sharp hits of electric energy zapped through her as Ash devoured her. It took all her concentration not to let go, not to let her head loll back. But the sight of Brandt moving toward her kept her focus.

  “Do you want my cock?” Brandt’s voice was low, velvet, compelling. Her cunt loosed more honey and Ash’s groan of pleasure echoed through her body.

  She nodded her head, licking her lips. Her nipples stabbed forward, her hips rocked against Ash’s mouth. She couldn’t take her eyes from Brandt or from the head of his cock, glistening with a pearl of semen. Ash pressed two fingers into her gate, high, hooking them and stroking over her sweet spot until she burst out a surprised cry.

  And still Brandt advanced, getting up onto the edge of the back of the back of the couch and sitting, one leg on either side. He scooted toward her as she began to pant from the relentless driving pleasure of Ash’s mouth.

  “Suck my cock. Take it all, keep me wet.” Brandt’s fingers undid the pins holding her hair and grabbed it in his fist, guiding her head down as he held his cock in the other hand.

  His taste, salty and spicy, filled her as she swirled her tongue across the head and around the ridge. He grunted as she used the tip of her tongue to dig in the sensitive spot just below the slit.

  In the background, the comm unit pinged as if it had found something. But Ash didn’t stop and Brandt’s fingers tightened in her hair, urging her on, increasing her speed as he arched, bringing his hips up to meet her mouth.

  She found that place within her, the quiet, calm space where she wrapped herself in her submission and her throat eased. She breathed through her nose, kept Brandt’s cock nice and slick and swallowed him over and over. His groans and other sounds of pleasure were like a physical caress.

  “That’s it,” Brandt crooned.

  Ash moved his mouth away and she cried out at the loss of sensation but his hands adjusted her so she faced the back of the couch and held on again. Brandt moved to stand behind the couch and his cock ended up at eye level.

  When Ash’s cock slammed into her pussy she squealed around a mouthful of Brandt’s cock and he chuckled. “I’m going to fuck your pretty mouth while Ash fucks that delicious cunt.”

  She whimpered at the sheer eroticism of the words, at their taboo as he pressed into her mouth. She held on, finding her quiet place again as he thrust into her. The sounds of the room, the wet slap of cock in cunt, the soft sighs and grunts, met the scents of sex, the musk of maleness, the sweet, heady scent of her juices and combined into a potent brew.

  Brandt’s hands tightened in her hair as he got closer to climax. Ash’s thrusts into her pussy drew into short, hard digs. Her nipples abraded the couch and one of Ash’s fingertips found her clit and pressed hard, sending her headlong into an orgasm she hadn’t expected.

  Brandt groaned and began to come, filling her with his taste to nearly overwhelming as she struggled to take him while her climax buffeted her senses. He finally took a step back, kissing the top of her head.

  On and on, Ash fucked her. The couch bumped back a bit each time he thrust home. He whispered against the skin of her back, told her he loved her, he adored her. All she could do was hold on physically. Barely so emotionally. Finally, with a harsh roar, Ash came as he pressed in deep one last time.

  “You’re mine, Freka. Always.” He pulled out, kissing her shoulder.

  She collapsed to the cushions and Brandt laughed. “And mine. Rest, why don’t you, while we look at what we can see?”

  * * *

  Ash stared at the comm unit screen and growled with inarticulate rage. “They tried to hack into my financial records. Not successful, but they did try. Yours as well, Brandt.”

  “That could be good and bad. They may just be trying to see if they can use anything against us like Stander.” Brandt watched the vid screen as the surveillance video uploaded.

  “It’s almost as if they knew exactly where the cameras were,” Sera said as she sat up, putting her gown back to rights.

  “Indeed.” The intruders kept their faces down and away from the cameras in the room. They headed straight for the comm unit and began to poke around while another man idly went through their things.

  Ash watched while one of them answered a personal comm unit and they scrambled to get out.

  “Looks like they were warned.”

  “Darling, it looks as if someone called them home for dinner.” Sera shifted, moving to look closer and Ash walked to the screen.

  “Interesting.” Ash looked back to Brandt. There was no real audio except for the chirp of the personal comm unit and the person’s brief sound when he answered.

  “The time stamp is right around when you called me through the link and asked if I was all right.”

  “I do think it’s too big a coincidence to overlook. It was someone at the gaming hall, or someone acting for them.” Ash ran a hand over his head, a physical gesture he fell to when he was thinking but the sparkle in Sera’s eye caught his attention.

  “Stop that, Freka. I’ve just had you, the scent of your cunt is all over me and I still want more.” Ash grinned and she laughed.

  “Do we have to go back there? Can we not stay here until we’re ready to leave?” Sera asked, tucking her feet beneath her on a nearby couch.

  Ash was ready to get out of there. He wanted to get back to Borran, he wanted to throw off this op and be able to enjoy Sera openly. But they had to deal with this and not just as operatives, Ash had to deal with the very real possibility his cousin was aiding their enemies.

  “The Nondalese aren’t much for that sort of thing. We can stay here a while longer, I’ve just received notice our things have been moved to a new cottage. They’ve even provided a catered dinner for us at our leisure.” Brandt brushed her hair back from her face.

  “We also need to deal with the authorities about this.” Ash waved to the screen. Anyone would be upset by the infringement of their privacy and safety. It was suspicious not to follow up. He also wondered just how involved the Nondalese officials were. At the very least the hospitality liaison, because the intruders knew the exact placement of the surveillance cameras.