She’d found the small screening room on the lodging deck and the staff brought her snacks while she watched vids and movies. Leisure had been a scarcity in her life until that point and it was truly a luxury to laze around watching movies, tucked up under a soft blanket with no one to answer to.

  There still hadn’t been any fucking, which frustrated Sera to no end. Brandt did however, order her in a very dark and velvet voice to suck his cock. Which she eagerly complied with.

  He still hadn’t overtly topped her. It was there between them, the unspoken air of command, her desire to be controlled and dominated, his to exert that control. But neither had stepped into it fully. She knew he waited for the right moment and that made sense, but it still made her achy all over even as it scared her.

  On the afternoon of their last day, Ash came to the door of the screening room.

  “Sela, may I join you?”

  His presence had been respectful and considerate since they’d left Borran but it still filled her with apprehension. But she knew she hadn’t spent much time with him in establishing a cover. Mainly because her feelings about him were so damned complicated.

  “Of course.” She waved to the spot beside her on the large couch.

  His scent invaded the space along with the heat of his body.

  “Are you enjoying my screening room? I thought perhaps you’d enjoy watching films while Brandt and I were occupied all day.” He knew she did of course, they’d spent many an evening going to the cinema or watching at their home.

  “I am, thank you.”

  The movie queued up and began and they settled back to watch. The cook had prepared little crackers with cheese and fruit and sandwiches of all kinds. The two of them ate while they watched, slowly growing comfortable again.

  He took her hand in his and massaged it between his own. In exactly the way he remembered she’d loved before. Heat spread up her arm and into her chest. Big, gentle hands kneaded the space between her fingers and over her knuckles, up her wrist and forearm. If he’d been so inclined, he could have easily snapped any of her fingers right in half, or broken her wrist. But he only gave gently to her.

  She looked up into his face and the shock of his eyes shining with love made her take in her breath sharply. No! Damn it, not him. She could not feel for him.

  “Don’t fight it or it might pull the tendons I’ve just loosened.” His eyes gave her the multiple layers of that sentence. Hellfire.

  She shook her head sharply and mouthed, stop. And to her utter surprise he did. Not before bringing her hand to his lips and kissing the space on the inside of her wrist.

  “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

  Oh Gods. His cover words referred to the hand and wrist but he meant ten years ago. And his eyes meant it. He wasn’t the belligerent man he’d been before, blustering to save face. There was so much laid bare for her to see. He’d done it on purpose. And it worked. She felt for him. She believed what he said was true.

  She pulled her hand back, gently. “Thank you for your apology. I’m fine now.” She motioned to the screen with her chin. “Next movie’s starting, you going to stick around to watch with me?”

  She saw his surprise at her invitation and then the pleasure. He settled back against the couch cushions. “Sure. This is one of my favorites.”

  They both sat there, cuddled up but not quite on each other, for another few hours. As each minute passed, Sera relaxed with him again. He didn’t press, didn’t use the chip to speak to her, he just let things be between them.

  After the movie was over Ash stood up and stretched. Sera closed her eyes to keep from watching him. “Come on, I’ll walk you back to your quarters, shall I?”

  Opening her eyes, she saw he’d extended his hand and watched her with exposed hope.

  With a sigh she reached out, taking it and allowing him to help her stand. He kept her hand wrapped in his as they walked to her door.

  “Thank you for spending your afternoon with me. I quite enjoyed myself.” Ash leaned in and before she knew what to do, he’d brushed his lips across her brow.

  “I’ll see you shortly at dinner.” Proud her voice hadn’t gotten breathy at his close proximity, she managed to take a step back.

  With a nod of his head and a smile, he turned and walked toward his rooms, whistling.

  Frozen, she watched his retreating form. The phantom of his touch still radiated on her skin. The gentle brush of his lips across her brow was worse than if he’d laid a lascivious tongue kiss on her. The startling sweetness of his behavior was incredibly alluring and it put her off balance. Just when she’d begun to expect one thing, he did another. Damn the man!

  Sera walked back into the living room feeling slightly dazed. Brandt was there, dressed for dinner and looking like a wickedly handsome reprobate. It suited him. Probably because he was the opposite of that. She wondered if it bothered him when people thought of him as a lazy, shallow, spoiled rich boy.

  “Hello, there. Why didn’t you come and get me? I didn’t know you were free.” She kicked off her shoes and padded over to him. She slid her hands up his chest, over the fine material of the shirt and into his hair.

  Clearly pleased, he dipped his mouth down to claim hers, his hands moving down to cup her ass.

  “I just got free not too very long ago and came back here to get ready for dinner. The representatives will be going on to Ceres so this is their last night with us.”

  “Well then, I’ll go and get ready.” She stretched up and kissed him quickly before ducking out of his grasp with a laugh.

  In the mirror of her dressing area, she realized there’d been no acting just then. She’d been pleased to see him and kissed him. He’d been pleased and returned her affection. Her hands gripped the side of the sink.

  In six days she’d fallen for Brandt Pela. Six frigging days. She stomped her prettily heeled foot in frustration. She’d held off feeling anything for anyone for years and now she was falling in major like for the man out in the living room and considering forgiving a man she’d pretended to hate for ten years.

  She shook her head at herself. Weak. Damn. It was what happened when you denied yourself sex for so long. Your brain ceased to work in a coherent fashion.

  Her hands shook as she put on a midnight blue gown. It was sheer, Gods, all of her clothing was sheer these days. She’d begun to miss wearing comfortable clothing that didn’t make her feel so exposed. She wasn’t sure how concubines did it. Being on display all the time was tiresome.

  * * *

  Brandt knew that Ash had spent the afternoon with Sera. It hadn’t bothered him at all, which was puzzling. Brandt understood he and Sera were building something far deeper than their mission and that excited him.

  At the same time, he knew she and Ash had a complicated history but there’d been a lot of love there at one time. And he sure as hell knew Ash still loved her. Each time Brandt saw Ash’s eyes and body language when Sera was in the room it was totally obvious. Not to mention Ash had come out and said it. If Ash had been an asshole like he’d been back at the house it might have been a different story. But he’d shown a side of himself Brandt hadn’t seen before. Soft, humble. His love for Sera had made him into a better man.

  As each day passed, Brandt began to feel more and more strongly that the only way he could be with Sera was if Ash was with her too. They’d be working together all the time in close quarters. A couple would not work between two of the three. If it were he and Sera, they’d drive Ash away and Brandt couldn’t imagine watching her with anyone else and not having her too.

  All of that fell right out of his head as she walked back into the room. “Good Gods, Sela, just when I think you can’t possibly look any more beautiful or sexy, you outdo yourself.”

  “It’s the clothes, darling. Spend a great deal of money on something and it generally makes you look or feel better.”

  She was an excellent actress. In his time with her, he found her to be one of the most genuine and non-materialistic people he’d known. But mind to mind through the chip it was different, a sort of knowing on two levels. She’d let him into her real self.

  “Hmm. I think I need to spend a great deal of money on you once we get to Nondal tomorrow then.” Winking, he caught her hand and kissed it.

  She laughed, low and throaty. “You’ve already done that. I’m quite eager to make you feel better at any time, in any place. You just say the word.”

  “All right then. I’ll be saying that word after dinner. If you’re ready.”

  The weight of what he was saying hung in the air between them. “Well then, I’ll try not to drink too much and keep my strength up, shall I?”

  He took her hand and put it on his forearm, covering it with his palm. “That’s a very good idea.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Sera found it nearly impossible to concentrate at dinner. The heated looks Brandt sent her seared her, shooting straight to her pussy. Each movement she made brought home just how he affected her as the slick lips of her sex slid against each other.

  The Familial Representatives made her nervous and suspicious. She didn’t like the way they watched her with Brandt or the way they scuttled around the ship. Yes, she knew she had issues with the Walker Family, but this was more than that. She’d been wary at first but now she was convinced they were up to something.

  One positive was that they seemed to completely write her off as a non-threat because while they had watched her and Brandt, they spoke as if she weren’t even in the room.

  “Ash, your uncle is concerned about your lack of interest in remarrying. There are suitable matches for you and yet when they’ve been proposed, you refuse them all.” One of the representatives sneered down his nose at Ash.

  “You can tell my uncle the exact same thing I do, I’m not interested in another match made by anyone but myself. I did my duty at great personal cost. Kira has married back into the family. Our future with the Pelas is secure.”

  Sera admired her own very fine acting because she wanted to hurl her drink across the room and no one even detected her rage. Instead she sat serenely, looking at the vid screen against a far wall playing various nature scenes. All the while she imagined kicking the representative who’d spoken in his testicles.

  “Yes, but there are other Families who have eligible daughters to marry. It’s not seemly to have a Walker of your age running about, frittering away his future. You need to get married and produce heirs.”

  Sera heard the click of Ash’s jaw locking from across the table. If there was ever an intractable man, it was Ash Walker when he clenched that jaw of his. She knew if she turned to Brandt she may well start to laugh so she took a drink and continued to act as if she were bored.

  “It is not up to you what I do or don’t do, Representative. I will produce heirs when I’m ready. In my own time. You and my uncle have no say about it.”

  “Be that as it may, Ash, we, that is, your family, want you to make better choices about the woman you choose this time.”

  Brandt leaned forward. “Are you maligning my sister, gentlemen?”

  Oh big whoop, his sister was a cold hearted, shallow bitch. Every time Sera had seen an interview with Kira she’d felt even more horrified Ash had chosen her instead. And then the infernal cow had dumped Ash for someone else! It might have been a sort of poetic justice but really, the woman was too much. Not that Sera was biased or anything.

  “Oh no! Of course not, Brandt. Your sister was eminently suitable for Ash. No, we refer to the woman he’d been cohabbing with before his marriage to Kira. A low-born woman of a wholly unsuitable nature. No better than a whore. Ash’s family wants to be sure there would be no repeat of his request to marry any such unsuitable candidates.”

  Sera had to hold onto her glass tightly but not break it. She ignored the ping over the link. She couldn’t hear them right then or she’d lose it. Concentrating on not shattering the glass was the only thing that kept her from jumping on the Representative and snapping his neck.

  “You’ll never, ever say such a thing about her again. Do you understand? She was not a whore. She was a good, kind woman who worked hard and earned everything she ever received. You have exhausted my hospitality and I will ask you to keep to your quarters until you disembark tomorrow morning on Nondal. You will tell my uncle to keep his nose out of my business and my bed. I will not have this discussion with you or him again. Now get out of my sight before I toss you out the door in between portals.” Ash’s voice was low and deadly, sending shivers down Sera’s spine.

  “Now see here!” The Representative stood up, sputtering with indignation. Slowly, Ash unwound his body, standing and leaning toward the Representative. The other one grabbed his compatriot’s arm and pulled him from the room.

  Ash sat back down with a long exhale.

  He’d asked his family for permission to marry her. He’d been telling the truth about that part. Her hands trembled but the pings stopped for the moment as each of them realized she couldn’t deal with it right then.

  Ash turned to her and that pale blue gaze met hers. “I apologize that you were exposed to such vulgarity.”

  Brandt sat quietly next to her, his body sending out warmth.

  Sera nodded. “I understand, Ash. They want the best for you.”

  He shook his head vehemently. “I had the best and I had to give it up. My life has been empty ever since. I made the choice I had to make to save hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people in our universes who needed that union between families. But I don’t have to do that any more and I won’t.”

  Speechless, Sera’s mouth was dry as he pushed his chair back and stood. “Good night, both of you. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Brandt stood as well. “Shall we retire for the evening? I’m sure you’re quite tired and would like to sleep.”

  She saw in his face that he was giving her an out. Right then, though, she needed his strength as an anchor, to hold her steady in the tide of emotions running through her. She needed to feel a hand around her throat and the command in his voice.

  “Well, I think we should retire, but I’m not ready to sleep just yet. Perhaps you can help me get sleepy.” A slow smile curved her lips.

  She’d been staring into his eyes so she saw his pupils grow so wide it was hard to tell where the pupils stopped. Deep, dark eyes looked back at her, eyes filled with intent.

  “If you say so, I should endeavor to serve just such a purpose.” He bowed slightly and they walked rather quickly back to their rooms.

  When the door closed behind them, it clicked into place. Reaching back, she untied the ribbons holding the top of her gown together and they fell away from her upper body, leaving her breasts and torso bare. A tremor of need passed through her, rendering her lightheaded at the intensity of it.

  She wasn’t sure when it happened to her. When her attraction and like of him had turned into a craving. She’d readily admitted to herself she wanted to fuck him but this depth of desire to have him inside her was shocking. His mouth opened and closed a few times. She could tell he struggled with his feelings too.

  “Take me.” Her voice was a whisper as she leaned back against the door for support. “Please.” She’d been hiding in Sela, letting Sela be the one who needed him so much but she couldn’t hold the illusion any longer. The eyes that pleaded for his touch were Sera’s.

  He raised a brow, asking her with a look if that’s really what she wanted. In answer she undid the side of the skirt and let the gown fall to the ground in a pool of blue silk at her feet. Reaching up, she pulled the pins holding her hair loose, letting the curls tumble free. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she walked toward the bedroom.

  She fell to her knees at the foot of the bed and waited, hands clasped in her lap. She’d not done that, naked anyway, since Ash. Brandt would have his own rules she was sure but it seemed a safe enough place to start.

  It felt right there, kneeling for him. Her submission, which had seemed so foreign in the last years after Ash, fit her again. Molded to her form like a glove. There was no discomfort, no unease or fear in it. Sera wanted to gift him with her submission, wanted to abandon herself in the sweetness she hadn’t felt in a decade. Wanted to feel subspace again.

  This man who stalked toward her, intent plain on his face, had been very careful with her since she’d joined their team. He’d protected her from Ash’s temper and behavior and had gone out of his way to make this all all right for her. He’d incrementally seduced her into submission, waited for her to be ready to give it instead of him having to take it. His kindness, his patience, his respect of her attracted and touched her deeply.

  So she’d kneel and see what he did with the power. The rest could be negotiated as they went. She wanted to please him and she’d handle her feelings when the mission ended. She wasn’t going to think about it right then when her pussy was slick and swollen and ready to be fucked. She needed the strength of his dominance to help her through the revelations of the evening.

  He halted in front of her. His hands sifted through her hair and down her neck. “Are you sure you’re feeling well, Sela?” he murmured.

  “Yes.” She met his eyes, letting him know she understood what she consented to.

  “Let’s begin then. Before you suck my cock, I’d like you to help me get undressed.”

  “May I stand to do that?”

  A visible shiver ran through him and the remembrance of the intensity of power a submissive had over her Dom crashed into her, made her glow with adoration and desire to please. Craving more.

  “It pleases me that you’re asking. Yes, you may.”

  Standing, she moved to him. She slowly unbuttoned his shirt, leaning in to kiss his chest as she exposed a bit more skin. Her hands skimmed over his chest and down his arms as she pushed the shirt from his body. Quickly, she folded it and laid it across a nearby chair before coming back to him.