“What was that?” Lindsey quavered, her eyes wide.

  Japohn had his percussion blaster out, his gaze picking up lumbering figures crossing the pavement towards them. “Tragooms know Earthers escaping.” In Kalquorian he said, “We’ve been detected, Bacoj!”

  The Dramok’s voice sounded over his open com unit. “On my way.”

  Japohn gave Lindsey a little push. “Go Lindsey.”

  “Like hell I will.” She had her own blaster out, standing in front of the two Earther men who cowered like rabbits.

  Furious terror for her safety made Japohn slap the back of her head as if she were a rebellious youngling. “You go now!”

  Lindsey staggered at the blow but stuck her lower lip out in obstinate resolve. “I’m not leaving you. Now stop hitting me and tell me what direction to shoot in. I can’t see them yet.”

  The racing Tragooms, four of them now, were already too close for Lindsey and the others to get away. Japohn growled. “We live, I punish hard. Real punish. You no sit for days.”

  Her face paled a little at that, but she didn’t waver for a second. Stubborn Earther female! Still, he couldn’t help the grudging respect he felt for her.

  * * * *

  In the darkened cockpit, the shuttle’s low hum was interrupted by intermittent sputters and coughs. Bacoj flew to the warehouse that had been the survivors’ refuge before the Tragooms turned it into a trap. The warm bodies of those below were easily seen by the thermal scanner as he hovered overhead: two yellow-orange blobs hurrying around the sides of the building to join the four racing across the parking lot towards the white-hot figure that was Japohn and the three red Earther forms with him.

  Bacoj had firm control over the anger that had erupted when Japohn couldn’t convince Lindsey to run for safety. Japohn’s com had been left open for easy communication, and he’d heard the whole exchange. When the Nobek had promised her severe punishment, Bacoj’s first thought was, you’ll get your turn after I deal with her. His fear for her welfare was choking, feeding his fury at her stubborn refusal to carry out her team leader’s orders.

  He had to clan Lindsey now. Such a willful, spirited girl needed three firm mates to keep her out of trouble.

  The Tragooms were getting close, and Bacoj saw the flares of percussion blasters as Japohn and Lindsey fired on their attackers. One Tragoom went down before Bacoj set off the stun wave. An electronic buzz sounded as he pressed the button.

  Bodies below collapsed where they stood, and he relaxed in his seat. His plan had worked better than he’d hoped, even with Lindsey’s overprotectiveness of Japohn. The thought of the tiny Earther defending the hulking Nobek made Bacoj laugh out loud now that the danger was over. She was something else, all right. She’d keep the clan on their toes.

  You’re ours, my lovely Lindsey. If I have to argue with Japohn and Vax for a hundred years, you’ll join my clan.

  Somehow, he didn’t think there’d be any objections from his Nobek and Imdiko.

  Bacoj set the shuttle down on the parking lot and reminded himself to get back to the business of killing off the stunned Tragooms. Then he could retrieve Japohn and the Earthers. Especially his soon-to-be mate.

  Chapter Ten

  Searing pain. All over.

  Lindsey had never known she could hurt so much. Every muscle in her body clamored in anguish. It was as if she’d been stretched until ligaments and tendons had torn.

  Lying still was torment, and she tried to move. Big mistake. White-hot agony engulfed her entire body, stealing her very breath. She tried to scream but couldn’t find the air to do so.

  Her eyes popped open to find the Kalquorians bent over her, watching her. She was in the shuttle, lying naked on the bed. Lindsey writhed, but that only hurt more. Her body was a torture chamber, and she couldn’t escape. She made herself lie still.

  “It hurts,” she whispered to the men.

  Bacoj nodded, his expression soft and sympathetic. “We know. Much pain.”

  “What happened?” She couldn’t remember, not with every part throbbing. Tears crept from her eyes. Where was Mom?

  Japohn scowled at her. He looked more savage than ever, and she cringed instinctively from the anger in his expression. Fresh pain ripped through her at the slight movement, and she couldn’t fight off a sob.

  Some of the Nobek’s fury ebbed at the sound. He brushed a lock of hair from her cheek. “I say run, you stay. Bacoj stun to save from Tragooms.”

  “Stun aftereffects painful,” Bacoj added. “But no life threat.”

  The rescue mission. It came back to her in a rush, and Lindsey understood Japohn’s anger. Worse, she remembered his promise to punish her for disobedience. If he decided to discipline her now with all the pain she was in, it would kill her. She hoped. She didn’t want to live with such agony.

  “It didn’t harm you.” Was the brief moment of hating him for not suffering like she did wrong? Probably.

  “I hurt.”

  Lindsey studied him. The skin around Japohn’s eyes was tight. His mouth compressed in a thin line. There was the slightest tremor running the length of his body. “I guess you do,” she said, regretting her momentary loathing.

  But damn, she was in misery.

  Vax held a hand out to her. His face looked as gentle as ever, but there was firmness in his eyes. “Stand, Lindsey.”

  Was he nuts? She could hardly bear to breathe, let alone get on her feet. “It hurts too much.”

  His hand remained before her, unwavering. “You sleep for worst pain. Now you stand. Walk.”

  When Lindsey didn’t move, Bacoj grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her to a sitting position. Lindsey shrieked as agony barreled through her body. Nausea roiled through her in reaction. “Stop. Bacoj, don’t!”

  His expression was kind, but he ignored her pleas. He pulled her to her feet. “Stand.” The order was implacable.

  “It hurts. It hurts,” she sobbed, shuddering all over. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  “You might,” Vax agreed. “Walk now.”

  “I can’t. Please—”

  Her words were cut off as Vax and Bacoj each took an arm and forced her to stumble across the floor. She screamed with the agony. It felt like jagged claws were rending the flesh from her bones. Her knees buckled, but they kept her on her feet, kept her walking. When they reached the far wall, they turned her around and made her walk back. Her desperate entreaties to stop fell on deaf ears.

  Lindsey cried for her mother, but Tara didn’t come. She vomited, her heaving stomach adding to the hellish pain. Bacoj held her up while she was sick, and Vax kept her hair out of the way. Afterward, Japohn cleaned the mess as the other two forced her to walk some more.

  Lindsey cursed the two aliens who bullied her back and forth across the room with language she’d never spoken before. They didn’t respond to the ugly words pouring from her lips. She raged and wailed, begged and swore. And hurt. Oh, how she hurt.

  How long this went on, she couldn’t guess. But after awhile, her screams gave way to agonized weeping. She concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, making Vax and Bacoj support her less and less.

  Either the pain is getting better or I’m getting used to it. But do people get used to such terrible pain?

  Her thoughts were tattered with weariness, but they came with more clarity. She noticed Japohn also walked back and forth on the other side of the room. His head hung down, his shoulders slouched, and he occasionally staggered a little bit. Again she felt a wave of guilt for her earlier anger he didn’t suffer like her.

  I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. No wonder he wanted me out of range of the stun so badly.

  “Are you okay, Japohn?” she asked.

  His head came up and he smiled wearily at her. Her heart warmed to see the kind expression replace his earlier anger. “I be well. You better, Lindsey?”

  “I’ll survive, I think. I might even want to live again in a day or two.”

  “Today, you feel better. Pain leave soon.”

  “Faster, Lindsey,” Bacoj prodded. His grip tightened on her arm.

  She groaned. “I’m starting to think the translation for Dramok is bully.”

  He snickered. “Better bully instead other names you say.”

  Lindsey flushed. “I’m sorry I was so ugly. There’s no excuse for that.”

  “You hurt. Stun effects bad. No insult felt for what say in pain.”

  She looked up at him. “I still owe you all an apology, especially Japohn. For my language and for not doing what I was supposed to during the rescue. Please forgive me.”

  Japohn sighed on his end of the room. “I forgive. For apology, no punish. Stun effects punish my Matara enough.” He raised an eyebrow at Bacoj.

  The Dramok nodded, his smile growing. “Agree. Our Lindsey learn lesson.”

  Lindsey couldn’t figure out why Bacoj suddenly looked as pleased as a cat that’d caught a bird. Vax was grinning too. Something had just passed between the three men, and she had no idea what it was.

  Who cares? The pain is getting better, and that’s all that matters right now. Well, maybe one other thing. Surely the others heard me screaming and carrying on. Why aren’t my parents beating down the door?

  “Where’s my mother?” Lindsey asked.

  Bacoj answered. “She sleep no long time. Stay awake, help others. She sleep now.”

  Vax added, “No wake Matara Tara. She tired. We care for you. Walk Lindsey. Pain leave more fast when move.”

  Lindsey was able to move better, but she was so tired now that she kept slowing. “Even my skin hurts.”

  Bacoj nodded. “Why we take clothes. Walk.”

  Lindsey concentrated on walking for a little while. After a few minutes she asked, “Did everyone get away?”

  “All safe. Tragooms dead.”

  Exhaustion was making her feel a little mean again. She wished she could stop and sleep for a little while. “What about the two men you stunned with me and Japohn? Why aren’t you making them walk?”

  Vax answered, pulling her along. “They walk before. No sleep for worst pain. Scream louder than Lindsey.”

  Lindsey looked at him in horror. “You’re telling me there’s worse pain than what I woke up to?”

  Vax nodded and Bacoj said, “We bite you long. You sleep through most bad pain.”

  Lindsey thought back to when she’d been a young girl. She and her sister had barely survived when a tornado had touched down, tearing their home to pieces around them. Their babysitter had been killed, and both girls badly injured. Weeks of painful recovery had followed, and she’d thought she knew a thing or two about suffering.

  “Even the tornado wasn’t this bad,” she whispered. When Bacoj opened his mouth, she grumbled, “I know, I know, walk Lindsey.”

  One step after another, on and on she walked. At some point she realized Bacoj and Vax had released her arms, and she was completely under her own power. They stayed next to her, catching hold for brief instances when she stumbled.

  The pain grew more distant. The soft brown floor passed beneath her bare feet. She looked at the two pairs of heavy boots on either side keeping pace with her. Taking the Earther for a walk. Walk, Lindsey, walk. She drifted, the floor blurring.

  “She walk asleep.” Bacoj’s amused voice roused her.

  Vax stooped, his hand closing over her thigh, then her calf as she continued to step, her legs on automatic pilot now. “Muscle good response. Stop Lindsey. You sleep now.”

  Bacoj lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed. “Japohn sleep now too.”

  He laid her down, and Japohn crawled up beside her. The Nobek pulled Lindsey close to him, spooning against her back. He was warm and solid. Lindsey snuggled against him, enjoying how his bulk made her feel small and safe.

  Already on the brink of going under, she mumbled, “Sorry again for all the whining.”

  Japohn’s deep rumble soothed her. “You do well. You strong like Nobek.”

  Lindsey let slumber drift over her, pleasantly aware that Japohn’s leg slung over hers and the arm clutching her close didn’t hurt.

  * * * *

  “Wake, Lindsey. Eat.”

  Lindsey opened her eyes in response to Vax’s gentle voice. He and the other two men sat on the bed next to her. Japohn was wolfing down a large chunk of meat as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks. Vax held a tray on his lap, more steaming chunks of meat and a pile of leafy greens topping its surface.

  Her stomach growled. “That smells wonderful. I’m starved.” Lindsey sat up and realized she was still naked. Now that pain and exhaustion had abandoned her, modesty returned, especially since her three companions were clothed in their formsuits. She curled in a ball, her arms clutching around her knees as she looked around for her clothes.

  Vax plucked a small chunk of meat from the tray and waved it in front of her face. Lindsey tried to take it from him. “I can feed myself. I am a grown woman.”

  Bacoj grabbed her hand and forced it down. He kept her thin wrist in his grip. She stared at him in surprise.

  “Kalquorian tradition. Clan feed Matara,” he said.

  “Well, it’s weird for an Earther.” She tried to pull free, but his hand was like a vise on her arm. He held it easily, not straining against her struggle at all. The show of strength made her insides go wobbly, and she had to fight for a firm voice. “Bacoj, let go.”

  He didn’t and Vax pressed the meat to her lips. “Eat,” the Imdiko insisted.

  Lindsey pulled her head back. Suddenly a pair of very large, brown hands shoved between her thighs and chest to grab her breasts.

  Lindsey squeaked in surprise at Japohn’s unexpected touch. “Hey!”

  As soon as her mouth opened, Vax dropped the chunk of meat in. As she squirmed, Bacoj grabbed her other hand, holding both prisoner. Japohn pressed up against her back, his hands still manhandling her breasts. Lindsey chewed and swallowed quickly so she could speak. “Would you three stop?”

  Japohn kissed the top of her head, laughter rumbling his chest. “You learn for accept care. We know you strong. You prove that. Now you let us serve.”

  Vax had another morsel ready to feed her. There was no compromise in his expression, none in Bacoj’s either. Lindsey gave in with little grace, huffing and pouting. “Are all Kalquorian men like this?”

  Bacoj grinned. “We serve Matara. We serve all needs.” He shifted position so that he kneeled in front of her, letting go of her wrists to grasp her knees. Lindsey gasped as he forced her legs apart, lying down on his stomach to kiss her mound. She was instantly wet.

  He traced her slit with one finger as Vax fed her a leafy green. Japohn rolled the points of her nipples between his fingers and thumbs, sending sharp spikes of need flashing through her body.

  “Well, maybe this once,” she sighed after she swallowed the mouthful of food.

  Japohn cradled her in his arms, his hand on her chin tilting her head back for his kiss. His mouth moved slowly, gently over hers, a delicate touch for such a strong man. Lindsey parted her lips, slipping the tip of her tongue out to taste him. Salty, with the tang of the meat he’d devoured, the same meat Vax fed her.

  As if he heard her thought, Vax interrupted the kiss with a reminder, “Lindsey eat now, Japohn.”

  “Yes, Imdiko.” Japohn released her chin, allowing Lindsey to accept another bite. Meanwhile Bacoj continued to gently run his finger over her soft folds, spreading her wetness over the nether lips. Lindsey shuddered in reaction, and he smiled up at her. His stare was intense, and she had to look away. It was as if in that instant he’d looked into her very soul, and she felt too exposed to hold his gaze.

  To cover the sudden stab of vulnerability, she asked Vax, “What am I eating?”

  “Deer in sauce, Kalquorian veg-a-buls in herb stock.” He grimaced as he stumbled over the word ‘vegetables’.

  Bacoj’s light touch circled her clitoris, and Lindsey caught her breath. She let it back out slowly. Don’t look at him. Don’t look at him. She was more afraid of his stare than what he was doing to her.

  Her voice sounded higher than usual. “You’re a culinary genius, Vax.”

  Japohn sounded like a proud father. “Vax work best eat place on Kalquor. He leave for Bacoj pilot, me fight war.”

  Bacoj’s finger slipped down her slit to dip into her well, penetrating her slightly. Lindsey couldn’t help the tiny whimper that escaped. Then he smeared her honey all over her clitoris, bringing bright and instant pleasure. She jerked with a cry.