“Impressive recovery speed.” Duke’s tone was mocking, even though his breathing was ragged. “A few hours ago you were sucking up fluids like it was your last breath. Seems like you’re ready to suck something else.” In contrast to the harsh tone, his hands were gentle. Warm palms were on her neck, traveling lower, lightly grazing skin seen through a tear in her suit. Lower, still. Gentle fingertips traced the underside of her breasts.

  “You’re a fuck --” In a quick motion he leaned in, nipped at her bottom lip, again cutting her off.

  “I don’t like being insulted. You’ll have to apologize.” He lowered himself onto his knees, positioning his body just behind her, her head level with his chest.

  She closed her eyes, forced herself to be still, even as the sparks of heat danced across her nerve endings.

  Duke’s lips slid over hers again, warm, gentle. He took his time, teased her lips until she moaned, opened her mouth. He delved inside, his flavor exploding on her senses. Arching up, she whimpered to get closer, unable to get there as the restraints held her and the only thing that helped were his hands, his thumbs on her jaw, his fingers under her neck, supporting her, lifting her to his mouth.

  He drew away.

  She moaned in protest.

  He brushed his fingers on the sides of her breasts, watched her jerk. “Say you’re sorry.”

  “Huh?”

  Duke circled her breasts with his fingertips, not touching the budding peaks. His mouth played over hers once more. She moved, twisted her head to the side trying to stop him, stop herself.

  “The restraints are exciting, aren’t they?” He cupped her breasts, lifted them. “Remind me to thank the patent holder.”

  Kara didn’t give a fuck about the patent holder. Heat and fury battled in her belly. She was afraid heat was going to win.

  “Now where were we?” He cradled her swelling breasts in each large palm, still making no attempt to touch the aching tips. “You were apologizing.”

  Damn it, just get it over with. “Fine. Sorry.”

  He chuckled. Pursed his lips, nodding. And she bit back a moan, shuddering in pleasure as he slid his thumbs over each sensitive nipple. “I don’t think you mean it.” He kissed her again.

  Lust mixed with fire. She took what he offered, demanded more. Arching into his touch, she lifted her breasts to pleasure. He kneaded, stroked, and rubbed the hard nubs of her nipples through her suit. His taste exploded in her head, the feel of his hands on her swollen breasts stabbing bursts of pleasure through her.

  He tugged at the lightZip, drew it down. Pushed her suit apart. Bared her.

  Warm calloused hands closed over her sensitive skin, gentle, then bolder, rougher, his mouth pressing burning nips on her jaw, her ear, her cheek, returning to her lips again. He kissed her ruthlessly, cleverly, and she tried to remind herself that it was him, Holloway Duke, that he would kill her at the first opportunity, as she moaned like a bitch in heat under him.

  The thought was enough to break her out of it.

  She bit him.

  He jerked up, his eyes glittering dangerously. Kara forced herself to look up, expected a slap. Was prepared for it. Almost wanted it, for it would certainly make this lust thing easier.

  Except he leaned close by the side of her head and she felt hot breath in her ear.

  “Now you’ve pissed me off.” His fingertips closed around her nipples, pulling on them in a delicate milking motion, sending shots of fire through her with each slow tug. “You don’t want me pissed.” Duke nipped the fleshy part of her ear to emphasize his point, and Kara bit back a moan, thrashing her head as his hands continued to draw on her nipples, the pleasure arrowing straight into her cunt.

  He licked a path along her jaw, a slow swipe of his tongue, and she whimpered -- couldn’t help herself.

  “You are a hot little bitch,” he whispered into her ear, his fingers rougher on her nipples.

  Those words should have enraged her. Instead her pussy clenched.

  He stopped. She moaned. One large hand pressed over her lips as he leaned further forward and swirled his tongue around one hardened peak.

  The thrill of it was insane. His chuckle made her hotter.

  “You like that?” Leisurely, he swirled his tongue around her nipple, blew on it. Licked it again. Repeated it with her other breast, his hand cupped over her mouth, and she had the wildest notion to kiss that wide palm.

  Then Duke straightened, and his hand was around her cheeks, squeezing. “You know what they do with hot little bitches, don’t you?”

  She heard a rustle of material and… no. No. She tried to turn away. The hand cupping her face made it impossible. “Open up,” he said, that dark tone as infuriating as it was arousing. “We’ll consider this an apology.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him in warning.

  “Try it, sweetheart.” Again that dark tone, promising retribution. She was insane to find it sexy.

  His thumb and forefinger pressed down on her jaw, forcing her to open her mouth. She fought him, fought herself.

  Then his cock was above her, thick, hard and beautiful, the purple head already glistening, and her mouth opened for him, her tongue sneaking out to taste before she even realized what she was doing. With his free hand he searched for something under her, and the flattened chair purred, shifted, lifted her feet as it lowered her head, leaving her angled downward with the tip of his cock pressing against her lips.

  “Open up, sweetheart.” That was all it took.

  Slowly Duke worked himself into her mouth, loving the way Kara’s lips stretched over him, her tongue hesitantly touching fevered skin.

  “If you try anything…” he kept a firm hand on her jaw, and pinched a pink tight nipple with the other, “… you’ll seriously regret it.”

  He pulled out, stroked in. Fought the urge to drive in hard. Her mouth felt like silk, tight, wet silk and Duke shuddered, looking down at his cock buried between those lush lips. Watching her face, he caressed the peaked tips of her breasts, the sound of her pleasure urging him to delve deeper. Instead, he pushed slowly into the hot sheath of her mouth, his mind clawing for control.

  This desire for him wasn’t real. He knew it, accepted it. Her body demanded a supply of DNA, her own hormones creating the urge. She never really wanted him. He pushed back into her mouth, his steady gaze never leaving hers. However artificial, Kara needed him and he would make her beg for it every time.

  Kara stroked the tip of his cock with her tongue, loved the rich, salty taste of liquid already spilling from him. Fiery pleasure sparked at her breasts, feeding the ache deep in her belly. She clenched her thighs, unable to touch herself where she wanted it most. She squirmed, moaned around his cock.

  Duke’s hand left her breast and traveled lower, cupping her sex, and she arched up, moaned again as he plunged deep, so deep she gagged. Murmuring an apology he pulled back, his palm caressing her sex.

  God she needed more.

  “More?” His voice was low, ragged.

  Beyond pride, she nodded.

  “I’ll let you spread your legs if you swear you won’t kick.”

  She nodded again, felt him lean down, searching for something under her. A buzz, and her legs were free. Wantonly she spread them so they hung off the chair. His hand was back on her cunt, grinding, rubbing, deliciously teasing.

  “Would you like to come?” He trailed his cock against her lips.

  Again she nodded, breathless, wanting.

  “What was that?”

  “Yes.” Her voice rasped out of her throat.

  “Yes what?” He banged the tip of his cock against her mouth.

  “Yes.” She forced herself to be louder. “Yes, I want to come.”

  “Will you scream for me?”

  Oh God. “Yes!”

  She felt him reach for the lightZip that separated the two halves of her suit. Another tug and her hips were bare. She lifted her legs up and with a swift pull her pants were off, leaving her exposed, ready and dripping wet.

  The cock at her mouth demanded entrance. Eagerly she obeyed, settling her legs down when she felt his hand brush against the triangle of hair on the top of her pubis.

  With soft teasing motions, he gently explored between her spread legs, chuckling when she moaned at the tip of his finger fluttering against her soaked opening. When she whimpered, he lightly inserted a finger inside her, then slowly pulled out, drawing out her juices along her slick folds.

  He teased her then, timing each stroke of his cock with a downward glide of a light fingertip just on the edge of her pulsing clit, alternating sides until she was panting, moaning with each beat, arching herself toward his touch.

  “Like that?” He closed his fingers against the swollen pulsing center of her and drew it out with slow pulling motions, timing it with his own strokes. The pleasure of it was so dark, so brutally erotic, she felt herself spiraling faster, harder.

  “I want you to scream around my cock when you come.” Duke slowed down, just kept his cock in her mouth while he pumped her rougher, quicker, and Kara coiled inward, felt the heat gather, and screamed as the orgasm boiled over. Screamed again just before he plunged deep into her mouth, roared and spilled his seed inside her.

  Chapter Three

  Sweating, fighting for breath, Kara willed her body to calm. Behind her, she felt Duke shift. “You still give great head, sweetheart.”

  Suddenly she couldn’t wait to get the taste of him, so rich and male, out of her mouth. She was truly a complete idiot. “I need to… wash.”

  She heard him chuckle and refused to look up at his face as embarrassment heated her cheeks.

  “Will you try another stunt?” He already sounded bored.

  Don’t you worry, she promised him darkly. “I’ll control myself.”

  He hit the buttons on the underside of the chair and it reverted to its default sitting position before the restraints snapped open. She fought the urge to grab for her pants and run -- made herself casually pick them up. Just as nonchalantly, she tugged the sides of her suit together, felt the vials. All intact.

  A glance from beneath her lashes told her Duke wasn’t even watching. Instead, he was bent over a screen as if he hadn’t just come in her mouth.

  Fucker.

  Fighting tears -- no way was she crying over that bastard again -- she slammed into the bathroom.

  In the pilot seat, Duke let out a breath, staring blindly at some report he’d just called up at random. The scent of her was still on his fingers. He brought his hand to his face, inhaled. Same, and different. Richer. Stronger.

  Just a job, he told himself. Kara needed his body fluids and he was more than happy to oblige. He’d still deliver her to Verkov and that would be the end of it.

  When GrimJustin sent incoming he switched to char mode on the small screen, display only. Brenner’s face filled the panel, his words superimposed on his image. Doing okay down there?

  Duke used vocals to reply. “Fine. Fucking fine.”

  Lil should clear you in a few hours.

  “I’m not worried about it.”

  Brenner’s eyes narrowed. You all right?

  “Perfectly.” Duke drew in a deliberate breath. “I wasn’t affected by the toxin in her blood.”

  And Verkov requested you by name.

  “You believe in coincidences?”

  Brenner’s face softened. He threw a quick glance to his right. Dinah was probably next to him, off range. Yeah, started to.

  Duke rolled his eyes, snorted. “Good luck with that.”

  Did you ask her about the toxin?

  “I doubt she’d tell me the truth.” He worked to keep the bitterness out of his voice.

  “Why don’t you try me?” Kara slammed out of the bathroom, her hair pulled back from her face, her torn suit back on. Her eyes coolly furious.

  On the screen, Brenner lifted a blond eyebrow. His image winked out.

  Too tired to deal with it, Duke sighed. “Tell me about the toxin.”

  “You’ll think I’m lying anyway.”

  He clenched his jaw. “I keep thinking you’ll surprise me.” Her quick intake of breath showed the barb hit home.

  “It’s a weapon.” Her voice was taut. “Combined with an activator, an explosive.”

  “In your blood?” Unsure if she was telling the truth, Duke kept his voice bland. Dinah was already searching all legal and underground data for it.

  “They --”

  “Who’s they?” He was being an ass, but if he kept her off rhythm maybe he’d get something useful out of her.

  She didn’t even glare. “They being the SciTech meds on Davidia.”

  “And you were there why?” Probably smuggling that exact weapon to the right buyer.

  “Transport job.” She said it calmly enough but he could tell there was something underneath it. “Didn’t realize I was included in the shipment until I dropped off the chemicals.”

  “Who hired you?”

  “People working with Verkov… Alan. Chief of something on UkrainaDva.”

  Duke stood, his eyes narrowed. “You’re telling me Alan Verkov hired you for a delivery?”

  She eyed him suspiciously. “That’s what I’m telling you.”

  Wasn’t possible. She must have heard him use Verkov’s name. Why would the man send her to a third world planet with a high value chem? Davidia was nothing compared to the labs he had access to. The chems were probably illegal. She had been hired to smuggle them and tipped the scale by going to another buyer.

  Hard to find good smugglers these days.

  “Looks like your boss got mad, sweetheart.”

  She lifted her gaze to him, pretending to be confused. “Excuse me?”

  He chuckled, a low bitter sound. “Verkov isn’t happy. There’s some heavy charges against you. As soon as I bring you back to his headquarters, you’ll have a few things to answer for.”

  Kara jumped on her feet now, all signs of tiredness gone. “You’re taking me to Verkov?”

  “Yep.”

  The flush on her cheeks was out of anger, but it reminded him of her skin flushing for another reason. He chased the image away.

  “He’s the one that got me into this mess in the first place.”

  Duke simply curled his lip. “Tough break.”

  “I’m not going to UkrainaDva.” The determination in her voice left no questions.

  He simply raised an eyebrow, knowing it would infuriate her. “I’m not asking your permission.”

  Kara felt chilled, but resisted the urge to rub her hand over the tear in her suit.

  Her pussy clenched. She needed Duke again. His blood was working havoc on her immune system. She just hoped… she hoped it would end soon.

  “Please.” It appalled her even as she said it.

  He shrugged those wide shoulders. “Sorry, sweetheart.”

  “You don’t understand.” God, she needed to make him see. “He set me up. He knows. He must have known I would be a carrier.”

  Duke strode toward her now, his jaw clenched. “I don’t think you understand.” His voice was cold. Under it was disgust. She couldn’t blame him, but God, how long would he punish her? “You are going back to UkrainaDva. End.”

  She didn’t back away when he came close, invading her space, probably to intimidate. She felt the heat of him, wanted to burrow. “I will pay double.”

  He smirked. “Typical. Won’t work this time.” His face was coolly, stonily impassive.

  “You must understand --”

  He cut her off. “I don’t understand.” Fury made his eyes darken. “I didn’t understand how neoSoviet guards knew the exact break-in point. I didn’t understand how my covert orders along with my digiSignature were flashed at my face as they prepared to execute me. Right after a fun bout of interrogation.”

  “I know. You have every right to blame me. But I swear --”

  Again he interrupted. “I saw the money in your account.”

  “I’m telling you --”

  “I’m done with this!”

  No choice. It reverberated in her head as she swung, her fist connecting with bone. His head snapped back and forward, eyes coolly calculating. That cruel smile flashed as she flexed her hand to shake the pain from it.

  “You’re an idiot.” He made a move toward her.

  Kara stifled the urge to back up. Instead she shook her head and tugged a vial of blood out from the protective pocket under her arm. Before he could react she smashed it onto the main console, pressed her hand on top of the shards, and watched the blood from the vial mix with fresh blood from her palm as something hissed and flickered. The shower of sparks blinded her for a moment before the shuttle lurched, gurgled and spun out of control. All went dark.

  Chapter Four

  Pitch darkness encircled her, the emLights not yet on. Kara listened for movement, braced for battle. When she heard a shuffle, she crouched, reached out. Touched skin and heat.

  “Are you all right?” Duke’s voice sounded hoarse.

  She moved toward the sound of it. “Yeah.”

  “I’m going to beat you.” He said it in a tired way, even as his arms came around to embrace her.

  Thinking furiously, Kara allowed herself a moment to burrow, sliding her non-bleeding palm over the hard ridges of his abs, his chest, the stubbled skin of his cheek. Her blood didn’t affect him, but still, she didn’t want to risk anything, as much as the stupid bastard deserved it.

  A thought flashed through her mind -- an old vid of self-defense tactics.

  Praying it would work, she slid her hand down to his neck, under his jaw, where the artery would be, and pressed hard. Held her breath. He barely had time to curse before slumping.

  The emLights came on, glowing soft green and yellow.

  Breath heaving, she dragged him to the coPilot chair. That same damn chair he’d had her in, now in the upright position. She moved the restraints, secured his hands behind him. Thank God for gravTraps, she thought bitterly. On second thought, she secured his legs too.