Desire's Prisoner (Planet Desire Book 1) (14 page)

Celestine snarled, her teeth bared like a wild creature. “Then it will just be you and I. Huh, Evena? You won’t leave. You won’t give up your pardon. You’re like me—you know how to hate.”

Evena turned her back to Celestine in deliberate dismissal.

Celestine pushed up along the wall, rising to a standing position. She took two stumbling steps toward Adam, but he didn’t reach to steady her, instead his hand remained on his weapon.

Suddenly, she lurched toward Evena, raising an arm.

Adam saw a flash of metal, but before his sword cleared its sheath, Evena spun on her heel and swung a leg high to intercept the dagger arcing down.

The dagger fell, skittering across the floor. Adam bent to retrieve it then stood back to watch. The battle was fairly weighted, now.

Celestine let loose an unearthly shriek and leapt at Evena with her fingers arched like claws.

Evena easily brushed aside her hands with a sweep of an arm, and then planted her fist in the middle of Celestine’s face.

The woman dropped like a rock, blood spurting from her broken nose.

Guards ran up to the door, peering inside.

Evena strode past Adam and out of the cell without a word to the other women.

Adam moved to follow Evena. Over his shoulder, he said to the gathering women, “Remove Aurelia from the room, and then lock down this cell. No one goes in.”

Evena kept walking, past the row of high security cells, through the HS Block gate. Her back stiff and unyielding, her pace increased until she ran.

‡

A
dam ran after
her.

When he caught up, he reached for her, but she shrugged away his hand. Next, he grabbed her shoulder and spun her to face him, finally halting her. He hit the button to open a portal on a nearby cell and pulled her inside, then he swung her into his arms and held tight.

Evena shoved hard at his chest. “Let me go.”

Instead, Adam gripped her by the waist and lifted her off her feet, taking her the few steps to the waiting bed. He tossed her down.

She landed in a sprawl of flailing limbs. “You bastard! I don’t want this. Not now,” she said, her chest heaving.

Adam ignored her words and crawled over her, holding her legs and arms down with his superior weight. She would face this.

Evena struggled, her face growing red from her exertions, but she couldn’t budge him.

Then she quieted beneath him, so he laid his forehead on her shoulder. “Are you quite finished?”

“Only until you move,” she said between gritted teeth.

Adam drew a deep breath and lifted his head. “Then we could be here for a very long time.” To emphasize his point, he stretched over her, making himself comfortable by arranging his body to match her curves.

Her chin jutted out. “I’ve work to do.”

“You’ve got grief to unleash,” he said quietly.

She glared. “You want me to cry?”

She acted as if he’d asked her to commit a heinous crime. “That would be a good start.”

“Well, I won’t.”

“Now you’re acting like a stubborn child.”

“Well, aren’t you glad you found out before you—” She gasped.

“Before I what?” he asked, wondering whether she’d been close to admitting what he already knew.

Her gaze slipped away. “Before you make a terrible mistake.”

“Do you have so little confidence in my judgment, love?”

“Don’t call me that.”

“What? Love? My love?” His hands pressed hers into the mattress. “Because you are, you know.”

Her expression darkened. “This is ridiculous. What you feel doesn’t matter.” She renewed her struggle.

Adam’s grip on her remained firm. “Don’t run away.”

She snorted. “I can’t even breathe.

He lifted his chest, resting on his arms. “You need to face this, Evena.”

“I don’t need your help. I don’t need anyone.” Her face crumpled.

His heart lurched. Now he wasn’t so certain whether he wanted to see her break. Her tears would unman him. “Aurelia’s death wasn’t your fault.”

“I’m in charge of this ship. If I’d been there…” Her eyes blurred with unshed tears.

He rolled to the side, carrying her with him, his arms surrounding her. Their faces rested on the pillow. “Let me help you.” Slowly, he forced her closer.

Stubbornly, she resisted him until their chests met. For a moment, she remained rigid. Then he felt a shudder pass through her body. He drew her closer, and she began to tremble.

Trembling was followed by weeping that started softly, then grew from a well of anguish.

Adam tucked her face into his neck and held her as sobs racked her body.

Gradually, they subsided, and Evena’s arms wrapped around his waist as she nuzzled closer to his neck. “I don’t understand,” she whispered, her voice clogged with tears.

Adam didn’t say anything, just stroked her back, letting her do the talking.

“Why did she go back there? Celestine nearly killed her when they were lovers. After she left, she knew Celestine had it in for her.”

“Celestine gave her that scar, then?”

“Mm-hmm,” she murmured against his neck.

“Aurelia likely wanted revenge. To taunt Celestine with her good fortune.”

“That’s so stupid. Celestine’s nuts. Why would Aurelia even care what she thought?”

“Why, indeed?” He knew now was the time to push his point, but nevertheless, Adam hesitated. He didn’t want Evena to feel cornered. There wasn’t much time for him to work around her anger. Anger that would be directed at him. Adam pressed a kiss to her forehead. “We probably won’t ever know.”

“Adam?” Tears leaked from her eyes onto the pillow.

“Yes, love.”

“Are you trying in your not-so-subtle way to get me to admit my desire for revenge is just as stupid?”

Adam clenched his jaw. Her tears were tearing at his heart. “Revenge is destructive, love. And futile.”

She closed her eyes. “It kept me alive.”

“No,” he said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “You’re stronger than that.”

Her arms tightened and she pulled him closer. “Adam?” She brought her tear-stained face closer.

“Yes, love?”

“I can’t stand it here anymore. Please, don’t leave me behind.”

“Never,” he promised, his voice rough.

Evena sighed and rested her cheek in the corner of his shoulder.

Adam rocked her from side to side, bemused. He’d never comforted another human being in his life. With Evena, the gesture came as naturally as breathing air.

Her lips slid to his ear, and she drew his lobe between her teeth.

A shiver wracked his body.

“Adam,” she whispered, “I need you inside me. Now.”

Eager to give her anything she wanted, and just as eager to fill her body and life, Adam quickly unbuttoned his pants and shoved them past his hips.

Evena lifted away to peel down her suit and pushed it off the bed.

They met in the middle, hands seeking each other’s bodies, trading caresses and kisses.

Evena climbed over him and reached between them, grasping his cock in her hand and placing it at her portal. With a single flex of his hips, he drove upward, as far as he could reach, wanting to be a part of her, wanting her to acknowledge she was a part of him.

“I love you,” she said, and leaned down to kiss him.

He closed his eyes for a moment, savoring her words. “I love you.” He pushed her hair back, bracketing her face. “I love you,” he repeated.

Evena’s breath caught on a sob, and she began to move—slowly at first, her eyes drifting closed. Her hands clutched his shoulders, kneading. Her hips rose and fell, building friction between his cock and her steamy channel. Until the heat consumed them both. When she cried out, she crumpled, folding over him.

He held her until their hearts slowed.

For a long moment, they clung to each other. Then, recovering herself, Evena straightened and wiped the tears from her face. “It’s too late for you to change your mind, now. You’re stuck with me.” Her face wore a fierce frown.

He smiled and cocked an eyebrow. “Now, why would I keep looking? You’re a perfect fit.”

She slapped his shoulder playfully. “That’s right. No more testing the well with your wick.”

He laughed. “What? You won’t share me with five wives? I was rather hoping to start a colony all by myself.”

“You’ll just have to settle for the children I bear,” she said, a glower wrinkling her forehead.

“Have you no pity for your sisters? Shouldn’t you share?”

“Because I care about them, I don’t want them torn asunder by your—”

“—enormous cock?”

“I was going to say enormous ego!”

“And you won’t ever have a hankering for a threesome again?” he asked, the devil in his smile.

“Well,” she began, a blush staining her cheeks, “
if
I ever get a
hankering,
it will only be a one-off thing. Occasionally.” Her blush grew darker. “Maybe. But I won’t share a marriage with another woman. If you want that, then you’ll just have to—”

He drew her down for a kiss. “You are all I need. But, if you ever want a walk on the wild side, darlin’…well, I’m not the man to deny you.”

She shoved at his chest. “You did that on purpose.”

“Of course,” he grinned.

“You drive me nuts.”

“My mission in life.”

She shook her head. “I have work to do, now.” She leaned down to press one last kiss against his lips. Her expression grew serious. “Thanks,” she said softly, then climbed off him and quickly dressed.

Adam reached for his breeches, which were a crumpled mess around his thighs, and wrestled a moment to pull them up.

Together, they entered the corridor to find a group of Evena’s guards awaiting her orders.

Adam let her go. He had his own duties to attend to, and a prison escape to arrange.

*

Evena found Adam
in the cafeteria later, surrounded by a group of laughing pirates, an earphone tucked around his ear.

“Yes. Around 350 of them,” he said into the microphone. His face reddened.

His men laughed harder.

“Will you leave off? I can’t hear a damned thing when you’re giggling like a bunch of girls.” He stalked away several feet and turned his back to finish his conversation.

Darak looked up. “Hello, Evena. He’s just making the last arrangements for the shuttle. It will be here in the morning, after first rising.”

“Perhaps
your
first,” Ivan said, clapping Darak’s shoulder. “Old man.”

The men grinned when Darak batted away Ivan’s arm. “I’ll give you old man.” He turned back to Evena, a crooked grin on his face. “Why aren’t you packing along with the rest of the women?”

Evena shrugged. “Nothing here I want.”

Adam’s arm slipped around her waist. “I certainly hope you’re wrong.”

Evena leaned back against him and ground her buttocks against his cock.
I’m a wanton. I don’t care who sees how much I love him.
“Maybe one little thing or two.”

Adam growled into her ear.

“If you gentlemen will excuse us,” Evena said, and walked quickly to the door. Her heart beat fast, and she felt a smile warm her face.
Everyone should be as happy as I am right now!

“About that little thing,” he said as he caught up.

Evena giggled then bit her lip. Her pace picked up.

“Why are you in such a hurry?” he asked, amusement in his voice.

“We’ve only seven hours until morning. Do
you
want to waste a minute? Of course, perhaps you’d rather spend the time with your men.”

He snagged her with an arm around her waist and pushed her against the wall of the corridor. “Perhaps we shouldn’t waste time finding a bed.” His hands landed on the wall on either side of her shoulders, and he leaned down to kiss her.

Evena hooked a leg around his hips and ground her pussy against his cock. “
I
don’t care if
you
don’t.”

“Captain.”

“Yes!” Evena and Adam both shouted as Mary strode down the corridor, face dark as a thundercloud.

“Fights are breaking out in the cells.”

Evena drew her gaze from Adam’s lips and frowned. “What the hell do they have to fight about?”