“The wake up call will sound in your rooms. We’ll see you in the morning.” Brandt kissed the top of her head, totally casually. “You did a great job tonight, Sera. Good night.”

  She got up and grabbed her shoes, swaying to the doorway before turning back. “Good night, both of you.”

  Once in her room with the door closed, she looked at herself in the mirror after she’d removed her clothing. There wasn’t a huge difference from earlier that day but the hair and the makeup did mark some sort of step. She pondered just what it could mean if she let herself fall into her role completely.

  CHAPTER SIX

  The alarm came even earlier than Sera’s normal time. She rolled out of bed and showered quickly. Once they left the house that morning she’d be Sela Carter, concubine in the service of Brandt Pela.

  She tried very hard to keep it in perspective. It was an assignment. It was important to the future of the Federation that they find out who the traitor was and neutralize him.

  Looking into the mirror she laughed a moment. Okay, so there’d be lots of sexual contact with Brandt. It wasn’t like she had to lie just then that she’d find it distasteful. And how often did she get to play the part of a glamorous sex kitten anyway? After the night before, she knew the sex between them would be powerful.

  If she hadn’t been so attracted to him, if he hadn’t possessed such a compelling sexual lure, Sera was pretty sure she’d have felt a bit like a whore. They may have been able to make it look more sexual than it was, faking the actual sex. But if the Nondalese suspected them of hiding anything, no one would trust them enough to reveal anything of use. It was a job, including the sex. But it felt a lot less cold and perfunctory because she truly wanted Brandt. In a way, just between herself and her reflection, it gave her an excuse to let go and leap, do something she’d never have done without the pretext of the assignment. She didn’t know what would happen when the assignment was over, but for the time being, she planned to just go with it and be Sela.

  Brandt’s family colors were purple and a deep gold. They’d be seen at the Portal that day and so to cement her role right from the start, she put on a regal, deep purple-colored dress. It criss-crossed just beneath her breasts and hugged her body. Sleek, gold heels completed the outfit. Her hair she wore high on her head, letting it cascade down in a river of curls.

  Tucking her current identification into the wall safe in her quarters, she put her new cards and credentials in her bag before heading downstairs.

  Brandt had been up an hour already, making sure plans were in place for the mission. Ash had been on the comm., making sure the transport was ready for clearance. He’d been sure to relay their plans to Nondal the day before, arranging for a suite of rooms.

  Brandt still bore the marks from the cat ‘o nine tails Ash had used on him after Sera had gone to bed. They’d both been amped up and needed to work out their excess energy. Ash was good at that.

  Both men turned as they heard the sound of Sera’s heels sounding down the stairs. Last night she was Sera, trying on a bit of a role for fun. But the woman in the skin-tight dress and the highest of heels, her hair a mess of curls on the top of her head falling down her back and shoulders—she was Sela Carter. His concubine.

  “Good morning, darling.”

  Even her voice had changed. She spoke in a sensual, throaty purr that stirred his blood. And his cock.

  He stalked to her and pulled her tight against him. One arm encircled her waist and his free hand took her chin and angled her head just so before delivering a devastating kiss.

  Her eyes widened a moment and then slid slowly shut as she melted into his body with a soft sigh.

  At that sigh, his tongue swept into her mouth. Sampling her taste. Sliding along her tongue and teasing, seducing. She was warm and minty from her toothpaste.

  Shock slammed through Sera, chased away by the heat of desire as Brandt’s arm held her tight about the waist. The hand at her chin caressed her jaw line and moved to hold the back of her neck.

  His tongue in her mouth was sure and skillful and when she suckled it, his groan vibrated up her spine. Her nipples stabbed into the front of her dress and she swayed, both under the spell of the kiss but also unable to stop taking more sensation from him.

  Her bottom lip caught in his teeth briefly just before he broke the kiss.

  “Good morning, Sela. How are you today?” His voice was hoarse and his pulse pounded against the palm she’d laid against his chest. “Shall we eat a light breakfast here and then make our way to the Portal?”

  “I find myself suddenly very hungry.” Her mouth lifted on one side in a sly smile and he chuckled.

  Letting her go, he held out his arm and she took it. Only then as they moved to walk into the dining room, did Sera notice Ash standing there.

  “Good morning, Ash.” Her voice wasn’t quite Sela with him just yet. She’d need to work on that.

  “Good morning, Sela. You look beautiful today.” He bowed as they walked past and into the room. He didn’t seem angry—more thoughtful than anything else. It should have filled her with relief. Instead it made her wary.

  During breakfast they went over their plans. The house was the last place they’d be able to freely communicate verbally. Even on the transport they’d have to be careful what they said and use the chip for anything sensitive. They could be sure no cameras were loaded, but a nearby transport could use modified parabolic equipment to eavesdrop. There was a staff on board as well and while they were fairly sure most of them were absolutely trustworthy, the Families sent their own people on trips through the Portals from one Universe to another quite often as observers. Their transport had been chosen and two representatives of Ash’s family would be on board. They weren’t people Ash knew personally and so couldn’t trust without a doubt.

  “Are you ready then?” Brandt stood and addressed them both.

  Ash wiped his mouth and stood as well. “As I’ll ever be.”

  Brandt pulled out her chair and she took his hand. “Wait.” He reached into an inner pocket, retrieving a velvet pouch. “You’ll look more convincing wearing these.”

  He pulled out a platinum necklace bearing a stylized B in diamonds. Concubines of very important men often wore such identifying jewelry. A status marker for both parties. Reaching around, he fastened it about her neck. Diamond baubles for her ears and a bracelet followed and he slid a pink diamond ring on her left hand.

  He stepped back and looked to Ash who nodded. “And one more thing.” Upending the pouch into his palm, a ring with a dangling row of diamonds slid out.

  Heart pounding, she took a deep breath and reached down to slide the bodice of her dress out of the way, exposing her breast. And the ring she still wore in it. A ring Ash gave her when she’d first gotten it pierced.

  She heard his sharp intake of breath and suddenly he was there, next to Brandt. “You’re still wearing it.” She didn’t fail to hear the raw emotion in his voice.

  Glib words tried to find their way from her lips but they faltered when she looked into his eyes. He was satisfied, yes. But there was more. He was moved by the sight of his ring still marking her. She knew that.

  All she could do was nod. If she’d tried to speak her voice may well have cracked.

  “I think this one is better, Ash. I understand your feelings on this but Sela would wear something far more flashy.”

  Sera nodded, agreeing with Brandt.

  “You’re right. But I’ll take it off. I put it on to start with.”

  And before Sera could disagree, Ash’s hands were on her, fingertips sliding over her nipple to unlatch the ring and pull it loose. She watched his hand on her flesh and the sense memory of the last time he’d touched her naked breast slammed into her, wrenching out a strangled gasp.

  His gaze moved from her breast to lock with hers. The cool metal of Brandt’s ring slid into her nipple and the weight of the diamonds provided a new sensation.

  Ash pulled her dress back into place before stepping back, and Sera wanted to run screaming from the house. If he’d done anything but that she might have resisted the look in his eyes. But he’d touched her with respect, even as she saw the desire in his gaze.

  And then it got worse when Ash reached up and unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his chest and his own nipples. In the one on the left, over his heart, he wore the simple ring she’d given him on the same day she’d begun wearing his. He put the one she’d been wearing in the nipple on the other side after he removed a barbell.

  All of this without a word. Brandt watched them both. “Okay then, shall we be off?”

  Sera took Brandt’s arm, Ash fell in on her other side and they left the house. They loaded into the posh limousine that would take them to the Portal and she left her old life behind.

  She still wore his ring. Ash sat, head back against the seat as he thought about the way her nipple looked in his hand. The ring he’d given her when she’d gotten pierced just for him. It had carried a sapphire but she’d left that with her letter and her collar.

  Hope burned deep within him. He saw love in her eyes. Distrust still, and hesitance too, but she had feelings for him that didn’t all involve wanting to shoot him in the head.

  He’d need to be smart about how he went about getting her back. Smarter than he’d been so far, that was for sure. On the ship, he’d have to get her used her to his touch again anyway. Originally, he’d planned to work his way into their bed right off. But he rethought that. He’d be more slow and steady, show her she could trust him.

  It meant Brandt would forge a physical bond with her first, which was slightly disconcerting. But Ash already had the depth of his memories of her and they’d share that again. Brandt would help her heal, be the bridge between them.

  Once Ash had her back, he didn’t plan to let go again.

  She worked through the briefing information in her head as they drove. It kept her from thinking about how her nipple still tingled and burned from Ash’s touch. It was difficult. The cool stones rested against the bottom swell of her breast. The new ring was thicker than her old one so her nipple throbbed, wanting to be touched more.

  The drive took about an hour so she leaned on Brandt and let herself fall into the way he drew circles on the skin of her neck with a fingertip. They were in full cover mode now so she said nothing as the two men spoke about business and politics. A pretty accessory.

  Finally, they arrived and handed over the various necessary documentation. Sera loved the Portal on Borran. Loved the sight of the sleek transports next to the battered freighters, all waiting to slide through the Portals interlocking the Known Universes. The Known Universes stacked like a deck of cards with the capital universe at the center and the others shuffled outward from that. The Portals were like a door through from one to the other. They would travel through several Portals from Universe to Universe until they reached Nondal. The transport was a bit like a train. It would travel over special intra-Universe tracks that connected the Portals together. The trip to Nondal would take a few standard days of pause and slip, pause and slip.

  Sera had never actually even been in a private transport. The Federation kept its own mass transit ships and that’s how she traveled. The kind of luxury transports like Ash’s afforded was reserved only for the very rich and privileged.

  The driver opened the door and Ash exited, followed by Brandt, who held his hand out to help her from the car. She stepped one very long leg out, letting her skirt ride up just a bit before turning to stand. When she straightened she looked Brandt in the eyes and winked before pulling on sunglasses.

  “This way, sweet.” Brandt motioned with a hand. She put her head on his shoulder as they walked to the stairs leading to Ash’s transport.

  The hostess at the top looked over both men with undisguised interest. Sera waited for the woman to look her way and one eyebrow rose. She didn’t need to say more. A concubine of a powerful man like Brandt would be used to seeing other women ogle him but also have some measure of assurance that she was the first in his regard or she’d be replaced. Sooner or later she would be or her paramour would marry elsewhere and take her as his mistress.

  Still, Sela would not have worried in the slightest about that. Sela would have known without a doubt that she had the appeal to hold Brandt’s eye. And so Sela looked amused at the hostess and handed her the ticket, making sure she saw the ring and the bracelet before letting Brandt guide her inside.

  Transport seemed an inadequate word for the majestic, gorgeous craft they loaded into. Sera wished she could actually squeal with delight. Instead, once they were sealed inside and alone she turned to Ash and gave him a surreptitious wink and a thumbs up.

  Moments later, the chip pinged and she opened to it.

  “I take it you like her?” Even in her head his voice was teasing and proud.

  “I do. It’s marvelous.”

  “I’ve spent a lot of time on it over the years. Much of the overhaul has been with my own labor. I’m glad you like it.”

  He withdrew from her head and it left her a bit bereft. Touched, though, that he’d be sentimental over a transport.

  She retired to their quarters while the men went off to the bridge to oversee the process of sliding through the Portal. Sera tried not to be jealous as she worked out.

  She found the silence and solace helpful for her focus. Because she had to be Sela when she spoke, keeping quiet meant her silence was a refuge for Sera. She poured her confusion and complicated feelings for both men into her workout until all she was a mass of burning, working muscle.

  At some point she’d become aware that Brandt and Ash both had joined her in the workout space. When she’d finally done all she could and had broken her concentration she saw them both watching her.

  She bowed to them before taking herself into the showers to clean up. It wasn’t so much that she was avoiding Brandt but she knew they’d most likely be moving to a new level of intimacy after dinner and she needed to steel herself for it. After the morning’s events with the nipple ring, the emotional stakes had risen for her.

  She’d meant to take the ring out before they arrived on Nondal so Ash wouldn’t see it. But he had, and now things had changed.

  The ring had been with her for a long time and she’d been reluctant to just set it aside for another ring. She supposed in her own way, it was holding on to the good memories of Ash Walker and what they’d been to each other.

  Her entire life as she knew it had been upended in such a short time! But the truth was, she’d felt dead inside in so many ways. When she’d walked away, she expected Ash to follow. And when he didn’t and she saw he meant to go on, she’d been devastated to see the marriage every time she turned around.

  For a time, she sought a replacement for him. Fucking rough men who didn’t know the difference between mastery and abuse. No one had topped her and she’d never been able to let go enough to submit. It was self abuse, she knew that as she looked back. But at the time, she wallowed and became another person. It wasn’t something she liked to dwell on overmuch because it was weak and she didn’t condone what happened. It filled her with shame but in the end, she’d risen above it and had found something better than an empty life. She’d found a calling.

  Work became her salvation. She didn’t become the best at everything she tried. Instead, she worked to be the best she could be at those things she excelled at. Once she focused on languages and culture and martial arts, they took over her existence. The military became her everything and over time, she’d stopped dating and even seeing herself as a sexual being except for when the need hit every year or so. She’d engaged in brief relationships for sex only and when she’d been sated, she’d moved on. She’d been a finely honed tool in the war against the Imperialists.

  And now she felt it all. So much rage, fear, pain and loss that she would have crumpled to knees and wept but the hope burning deep in her stomach saved her. Hope that no matter the outcome with these men, she’d found herself again, the part of her that was more than just a soldier.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Brandt and Ash knew Sera needed some time to herself. They stayed off the chip and let her rest. When she walked into the dining room several hours later, it was apparent to Brandt that Sela was firmly in place.

  Which was good because the Familial representatives had joined them in the dining room. Ash didn’t trust the people his Family had sent and he’d advised Brandt earlier to keep aware. They certainly seemed very interested in Sela.

  All four men stood as she entered the room.

  “Did you have a good nap?” Brandt reached out and hauled her to his body and his cock, hard and ready, pressed into her stomach. She smelled sweet and heady, lilacs and warm evenings. Like sex, and he wanted some. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing her in. He didn’t have to fake being enamored of the woman he held.

  She let her head drop back as he kissed her neck. “Well, I see you missed me. I did have a good nap, darling. Traveling and getting up so early makes a girl tired.” She straightened to look him in the eye. “And I know I need my rest to keep up with you.” She winked and he chuckled, leading her to the table.

  Both he and Ash watched through half-lidded eyes as she dropped to her knees and put her hands in her lap, waiting for Brandt to sit as well. Every time she did something like that, Brandt understood more why it’d been so hard for Ash to forget her. There was something magical about the way she submitted.

  Throughout the meal, Sera served Brandt, doting on him. Each small touch drove him higher. Knowing they’d sleep side by side that night, that most likely he’d be touching her naked body sent his senses into overdrive.

  That and the way she was dressed. A small, gold scrap of diaphanous fabric covered her breasts but he saw the shadow of her nipples and the dangling diamonds of the ring. Her back was totally bare but for the gold ribbons holding the front of the blouse on her body. The skirt was very short and his curiosity at what she was wearing—or not wearing—beneath it made his ridiculously hard cock throb in time with his heart.