Captured & Seduced (8 page)

Camryn tried not to look but found her gaze snared by the fluid action of his muscles when he shrugged out of the shirt, the tanned expanse of chest.

“Captain, what have you done?” The horror in Mogens voice made them all scrutinize Ry. “Look at his back.”

“What’s wrong with my back? I didn’t do anything—”

“Man, I’ve never seen anything like it before,” Jannike said.

“What is it, dammit?”

Camryn circled Ry to stand with the others.

“Look, it’s coming out on his chest too.”

“This black mark?” Ry rubbed it vigorously, and Camryn watched a black swirl form on his chest in a similar pattern to those on his back. She knew the bruises hadn’t been present last night.

“You slept with her.” Accusation throbbed in Mogens’ words. “Bugger! The blue in yesterday’s clouds hinted that might happen. I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

“Captain, you got horizontal last night,” Yep said, smirking. “Way to go.”

Mogens pulled a piece of parchment from his satchel along with the old-fashioned quills Camryn had seen the administrator use. “What did you eat last night? Drink? I want details.”

Ry grabbed his shirt. “It’s none of your damn business what I did last night. Kaya, check the weapons and ammunition. Jannike, check the spaceport for anything that’s red and has two legs. Yep and Nanu, verify the ship and the supplies.”

“And me?” Mogens asked.

Camryn could have sworn the seer was laughing at Ry.

“Check the medical supplies. From what I hear we’re going to need them.” He waited for the seer to move out of hearing. ”What’s wrong with my back?”

“It’s covered with blotchy tattoos,” Camryn said. “They’re black and look like the tribal tattoos we have at home.”

“All over my back?”

“Yeah. They’re more defined than the one on your chest. Are they still itchy? Should I ask Mogens for some salve?”

“I’ll survive.”

He might, but the appearance of the tattoos worried him. She could see it in his eyes. Without thinking she reached out to trace the swirl on his pectoral muscle. He flinched, and she jerked her hand from his chest.

“Sorry. Did I hurt you?”

“Touch me again.” His voice emerged thick and laden with need. “Please.”

Camryn’s hand trembled when she repeated the move, tracing her finger along the blurred lines of the tattoo. His entire frame shuddered and the sound he loosed reminded her of a contented domestic cat. And the heat…the heat coming off his skin spread from her fingertips, down her arm and straight to her breasts. Camryn gasped at the sensation of her tightening nipples and moved closer instead of away. She dipped her head to lick the same path her finger had taken. His skin tasted salty with a tinge of herbs, reminding her of the outdoors. With a lap of her tongue, she traced the vague curving spiral.

“Camryn.” His hoarse, needy whisper jerked up her head.

Her body clenched at the desire in his voice, the tension thrumming through him. She stared up at his green eyes. Heavy-lidded, his intent expression seared her. His need pulsed against her own, the emotions a tangible thing.

“The tattoos have darkened on your chest. They’re the same as those on your back.” Even she heard the wonder in her voice. Unable to resist, she ran a delicate finger across his pectoral muscle, following the curve of the tattoo.

“Aw, hell. Do it again. Touch me.” Ry trembled and dragged her against his tense body before she had a chance to obey. The hard ridge of his cock pressed against her belly. The green scent of herbs swirled around them as they rubbed against each other. He dipped his head to claim her lips in a searing kiss, and she did nothing to stop him. Ry plundered, his tongue thrusting forcibly between her parted lips.

She gripped his shoulders, holding tight to anchor herself in the storm of conflicting emotions rampaging through her body. She wanted this. She wanted him with a desperation that shocked her. They’d had sex throughout the night and still she wanted more of this wild, out-of-control feeling because it made her soar, made her forget.

Ry grasped her hips and lifted her, backing her up. Her head clunked against cool metal but it didn’t halt their kiss. Pressed between the hard wall and his muscular body, she couldn’t do a thing except yield to his masculinity. Her pussy moistened, throbbing with emptiness. Camryn stroked her hand over his back, and he hissed at her touch. His cock pressed into her, and she felt the throb despite the layers of clothing. She wriggled, trying to get closer. Too hot. Her clothes were in the way.

She gasped, inhaling the pungent herbal scent and musky arousal. More than anything, she wanted to feel her bare breasts dragging against his chest. His mouth on her skin. She smoothed her hand over his shoulder, glorying in his purr of pleasure.

“Camryn.” Ry’s eyes glittered with lust. “I need you.” He gasped, his chest rising and falling rapidly. “I have to…hell, each time you move against my chest or touch my back I can’t think. I want to taste. I want to bite and mark your skin. Show that you belong with me.”

The thick passion in his voice got to her. Lord help her, but she wanted that too. She couldn’t think, couldn’t format thoughts. All she could do was feel, crave more. With a shudder, she dipped her head to lick across the fleshy part of his shoulder. Her teeth grazed the fragrant skin, softly at first before she nipped sharply. At Ry’s snarl, her head snapped up but he pushed her mouth right back to where she’d bitten him. Reassured, Camryn lapped across his skin. It felt smooth and silky, his salty taste addictive.

“What are you doing?” The sheer horror in the seer’s voice jerked them apart. “Stop right now.”

“Go away,” Ry snarled.

“I don’t think the two of you coupling is a good idea,” Mogens said in a stern, fatherlike voice. “The clouds warn it will bring change, things that can’t be corrected later.”

A thick silence bloomed, and Ry released her. She slipped down his body to stand on her own feet, but still they touched, unwilling to break their connection. Camryn stared at Ry, the heat in his gaze telling her the interruption was a postponement. That’s all.

She laughed weakly, giving away her nervousness. After a long pause she finally squirmed from between Ry and the wall. “I thought you were my father for a minute there.”

She would have walked across the other side of the room except her legs wobbled. Ry grasped her arm before she fell. He tugged until their sides brushed and clasped her hand in his in silent reassurance. Together they faced Mogens.

“The markings—they’re all over your chest.” His gaze speared to Camryn. “It’s you. You’ve caused this. Look, the cat tattoo on your arm has disappeared.”

“I haven’t done anything.” The seer’s accusation had Camryn pressing against Ry. And she didn’t like the rapid shift of the seer’s color from pearl gray to thunder black. “It…it’s not me,” she finished on a firmer note, refusing to let the alien intimidate her.

They needed her help. She was positive they’d do nothing to harm her because they required her to complete their mission. Or at least that was her hope.

“Leave her alone,” Ry ordered.

Camryn noticed the crew had returned, attracted by the raised voices.

“They slept together,” Jannike said. “They didn’t spend the night hiding from Red Mumbers. They spent it horizontal, and she’s infected our captain with a disease.”

The indignation in the woman’s voice brought trepidation. Camryn didn’t need an enemy and especially not a large Amazonlike female.

“Butt out.” Ry’s uncompromising voice held warning.

“She’s crew, Ry. She became crew the min we kidnapped her and brought her aboard the
Indy
. When did you change your rule about sleeping with crew?” Ry’s anger didn’t cow Jannike, which told her a lot about the man and the way he ran the ship. Despite the outlaw tag, he had honor and integrity.

Camryn let out a soft sigh, realizing she trusted him.

“I refuse to discuss the matter.” Ry’s voice didn’t encourage further debate. “Is everyone ready?”

“All ready, Captain,” Jannike said, her stance as rigid as her voice.

The flash of dislike in her eyes sounded a warning to Camryn. She’d trod on the other woman’s toes by grabbing Ry’s attention. Obviously the other woman considered Ry her property. When she glanced at the others, she saw a similar expression from Kaya. Camryn suppressed a someone-walked-over-my-grave shiver, as her mother would have said.

“Camryn and I will meet you at the tender,” Ry said.

“Today,” Mogens said.

Ry glowered at the seer. “In five mins. We need to collect clothes and weapons.”

“I don’t have any clothes,” Camryn said.

“I’ve packed apparel for you.” Kaya’s tone wasn’t any friendlier than Jannike’s.

Camryn sighed again, a flash of hurt bringing anguish. This wasn’t her world. Her place was… Her thoughts trailed off in uncertainty. Where? Since Gabriel had died, she’d drifted like a riderless horse. She didn’t have a place to call home, not with her brother and his family and not here on the
Indefatigable
.

“Five mins,” Ry repeated, his hard gaze slicing each of his crewmembers. After a slight hesitation, they moved, heading to the cargo bay.

Ry took her hand and led her to his private quarters. After a swift, hard kiss on her lips, he turned away to pack a bag. He stowed several sets of clothes plus an assortment of weapons. That done, he grabbed a clean shirt and dragged it over his head. When he looked at her again, his eyes were dark green and full of fire. The heat stole her breath, pinning her in place when he prowled toward her.

“I said five mins, and I mean to keep my promise, but I can’t go without marking you,” he said in a rough voice. “I need to stake a claim.” His bark of laughter held self-derision along with perplexity.

Camryn understood his bewilderment. The need to touch him, to indelibly mark him blazed through her like a compulsion. She didn’t understand. Hell, she didn’t really want the male, but the sheer desire pulsing through her sex made her wonder if something alien inhabited her body.

Ry nuzzled her neck and shifted aside the fabric of her borrowed shirt to lick her skin. The rough rasp of his tongue sent a tremor straight to her breasts, her clit. Her body throbbed wantonly. Yearned. Ry licked across the same spot in the opposite direction then without warning, he bit down. Sharp teeth sank into her flesh. Fiery pain brought tears to her eyes and she felt the warmth of blood. Her blood.

A loud groan rumbled deep in Ry’s throat. He stroked his tongue across the puncture wounds and immediately the pain receded. Her entire body tingled, her pussy clamping down with hunger. She moaned with pure bliss. He rasped his tongue across the sensitive spot again and pleasure shot the length of her body. Her pussy pulsed with the waves of an unprecedented climax. Camryn gasped, and when he licked across the bite for a third time, she soared. She trembled, her legs crumpling when the waves of acute pleasure became too much.

Ry caught her to his hard chest, a primal snarl of satisfaction emerging from behind his bared teeth. Startled, she stared into his eyes, the waves of pleasure still rippling across her skin and internally. His eyes were still green but the shape…lord, they’d changed shape, becoming more slanted and almost catlike. And the dark pupils, they were thin, black lines. Astonishment froze her in place, her heart galloping in the beginnings of an adrenaline burst. Ry didn’t seem to notice. Instead he made a sound like a satisfied purr, reinforcing the catlike image and dipped his head. His tongue dragged across her wound and produced another orgasm so intense she screamed. She arched in his arms as she rode out the waves of fast, furious pleasure. One final lick and she shattered, the world turning dark.

Chapter Four

“What have you done to her?”

“Nothing!” Ry clasped Camryn’s petite body closer to his chest and refused to let Mogens inspect her closely. She was breathing, her breasts rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Her color looked good, and he sensed she’d revive when ready. Ry placed her gently in a seat and buckled the harness to keep her safe.

“I need my bag. Be right back.” Ry took two steps and stopped, turning back to glare at his crew. “Don’t touch her.” He waited until they nodded before running along the narrow passage to his quarters. He grabbed his bag and sword and sprinted to the tender, uneasy at the separation from Camryn. He burst through the door of the tender to find Mogens examining her with Kaya hovering at his shoulder.

“Get away from her.” Ry shoved Kaya aside, sending her flying across the floor and snarled, flashing sharp canines in warning at Mogens.

The seer backed away, raising both hands in a signal of surrender. “I didn’t touch her. She’s all right. Easy, Captain.”

Unease filled the main cabin of the tender. Ry eyed each of his crew in turn, waiting for them to acknowledge his status. One by one they looked away, conscious of the danger if they didn’t. Ry inhaled, alert for sudden moves. He wasn’t sure what ailed him or why his behavior had drifted into aggressive, but he needed to protect Camryn. The need beat at him with primitive urgency.

Camryn gave a small sigh. Her brown eyes flickered and opened. “Hi.”

The breathless sound zapped straight to his gut, helped the panic in him disperse.

“Captain?” Kaya asked in a cautious manner. “Are we ready to leave now?”

“Yeah.” Ry sank onto the chair beside Camryn. Because he had to, he reached out to touch her hand. She flinched, her gaze wary when she glanced at him. Her fingers rubbed back and forth across the place where he’d bitten her. Hell, he’d bitten her. Ry couldn’t believe it. “I’m sorry,” he said in a low voice. He didn’t want the crew hearing his apology. “I’ve never done anything like that before. Are you all right?”

He watched, mesmerized, when she ran her fingers over her neck again. “It’s okay,” she whispered after a nervous look at Kaya then Mogens. “It’s not sore.” She let her hand drop to her lap and stared out the porthole of the tender.

Ry frowned. The bite had disappeared. No puncture or teeth marks, just soft, silky flesh. He’d tasted her blood, licked the wound clean. What kind of savage was he? He grunted, wondering if he’d ever learn of his heritage and what drove the feline.