Desire's Prisoner (Planet Desire Book 1) (5 page)

The large atrium was usually a place for serene contemplation. The high-ceilinged room with its moist, humid air and terraced planting beds was the living center of the prison ship. It teemed with trees, grass, flowers, and plants that provided life-giving oxygen, food, and beauty to soothe the prisoners’ feminine souls. By unspoken agreement, the prisoners spoke in whispers and moved slowly about their gardening chores—but not so tonight.

Tonight,
men
were in the ship. Handsome, colorfully dressed, sweet-smelling
men
.

The pirates never stood a chance. Most had lost their shirts and shoes, stripped from them by laughing women. Not that they looked concerned. Most were laughing right back, at least those whose mouths weren’t otherwise engaged.

“Attention!”

The loud male roar from behind her made Evena jump, but it was effective. The room grew still in an instant.

Her dark pirate strode down the flagstone path to the central patio, hands on his hips, looking unbelievably sexy and stern in his black clothing and even blacker expression.

Evena noted the interested stares of the women, devouring him with their gazes, stripping him mentally and measuring his masculinity. She wanted to step in front of him to cut off their avid gazes.
He’s mine.

Mine?
Jealousy smacked her in the face. She tried to shake it off—she didn’t have a right to that emotion. Sure, she’d fucked him, but he belonged to the woman who would be his wife. And that woman certainly wouldn’t be her. Her pardon was in the works.

But, Evena hated the woman already. She would have him for life. This unknown woman would hold his body, bear his children—own his smiles and hot loving.

“Ladies, if I may have your attention, please.” Adam’s voice was a rumbling baritone. “Men, take your seats,” he said more firmly.

His voice vibrated down her spine. By the shivers she witnessed from the women in the audience, Evena could tell his voice had the same impact on them.

They seated themselves on the ground before him.

“You may be wondering what interest pirates have with a prison ship…” he said, with a smile curling one side of his mouth, “…not the obvious one that comes to mind, now.” He waggled an admonishing finger toward the crowd.

The women tittered in laughter as he had intended, Evena was sure.

“My men and I are weary of our lawless ways. We’ve captured many a Dominion ship, pillaged their cargoes…” he raised a single black brow, “…pleasured their women, and thumbed our noses at the Dominion all the way back to our ship.”

The women cheered his jab at their common nemesis.

“But pirating is a lonely business.”

Mary dug her elbow in Evena’s side.

When Evena darted a glance at her, she saw Mary roll her eyes. She grinned. The pirate was laying it on a little thick. “Mary, what do you think?”

“Are you asking if I trust them? Hell, no.”

“Am I a fool to cooperate?”

“Don’t see as we have much choice. They’re a rough bunch, but so far, no one’s been harmed.”

“If they do free some of the women,” Evena said thoughtfully, “their lives couldn’t get any worse, could they?”

Mary shrugged. “I don’t know. But I do know it’s gonna to be hell keepin’ order. Especially once they’ve made their choices.”

“What about you, Mary? Would you do this?”

“I’m a lifer. And I don’t have a family willing to pay for a pardon. This may be my only chance for freedom.”

“What if you aren’t chosen?”

“What are you talkin’ about? I’m gonna do the choosing.” Mary’s broad white smile flashed. Then she gave Evena a sideways glance. “Looks like you did some choosing of your own, already.”

“Not me. That was just sex. I’m going home.”

Mary shook her head, her expression disbelieving. “Uh-huh? Does Captain Blackbeard know that?”

Evena didn’t answer and turned her gaze back to the pirate captain.

“Along the way,” he continued, “we’ve searched for a home. A place where we could set down roots, self-govern without Dominion interference, and raise families. We’ve found her.”

Evena’s breath caught at the intensity of Adam’s expression. This wasn’t for the benefit of wooing the women to his point of view. He’d revealed his heart.

“There’s a small planet on the edge of the galaxy—beyond Dominion influence. She possesses everything we’ll need to build a new colony. Her atmosphere can sustain human life. The air smells sweet with breezes that carry the scent of a rose-like flower that grows there. There’s plenty of fresh water present in streams and lakes to support the crops we’ll raise. She’s green with trees and with plants we’ve determined are edible, and her seasons are temperate.”

A woman in the group gathered at his feet raised her hand timidly.

“Yes?” Adam smiled, encouraging her to speak.

“Does this planet have a name?”

Adam paused before answering. “I’d thought to let our wives select the name.”

“But your men said they weren’t married. None of your crew is,” another woman from the crowd said.

“’Tis exactly why we’re here.”

Dawning understanding produced faces wreathed with grins.

“How many?” another shouted from the rear of the group.

“About a hundred.”

“How will you choose?” “Will we get to meet the other men?” “Can I bring—”

The questions flew until Adam raised his hand for silence. “My men and I will be here for eight days. We’ll conduct interviews with all the women who wish to leave, determine those eligible, and then have them draw lots.”

“What do you mean by eligible?” the now not-so-timid woman in the front asked.

“Only fertile women in their child-bearing years. We want to raise families. The women must be able to produce children.”

The woman frowned. “Then who will help us with the work?”

“What about those with mid-wifery skills?” another asked.

“I can’t leave my Clara behind. She’s been a mother to me.”

The women’s questions and complaints rose to a crescendo.

“Silence!” Adam bellowed, then added, “please.” His exasperated gaze sought Evena’s.

She walked over to join him in front of the group that was rapidly growing contentious. “He’s offering an opportunity for freedom for a hundred of our sisters,” she shouted.

Sullen expressions grew thoughtful, and the women settled back down.

“Let’s not impede him. I’m sure he’ll deal fairly with you. In the meantime, we’ve guests. Let’s enjoy them while they’re here.”

Adam spread his hands wide. “I’ve brought foods and wine I suspect you haven’t enjoyed in some time. I’ll have the men deliver them to your galley. I propose we have a party to get to know each other.”

Cheers greeted his announcement.

Alarmed, Evena tugged on his sleeve. “Wine? A party? Just how do you suppose we’ll keep order?”

“That, my dear, is your job.”

‡

A
dam congratulated himself.
The party was well underway, and although debauchery ruled, violence was absent as a party guest.

He sat amid cushions that festooned the lawn of the atrium, drinking a glass of the precious French wine he’d “acquired” from a freighter a month past. Women pressed food upon him, dangling Arturian berries above his lips to nibble, and offering slices of Samureen cheese, which they fed him with their fingers. Looking around the garden, he could imagine how the sight must appear to the dour Captain McClure. He’d caught glimpses of her and her guards walking through the crowd. They were instantly recognizable, being the only prisoners present who wore their reclamation suits.

The rest of the women had searched their meager stashes for feminine attire and wore odd combinations of clothing—no doubt most of it intended to be worn as underwear. His men thought they looked delightful.

Laughter drew his attention back to his companions. Darak and Ivan reclined nearby. Two women—one a young blonde, the other an older redhead—struggled to strip the shirt from his young science officer.

Ivan groaned as the blonde moved closer to flutter her tongue against his flat brown nipple, while the other traced a path lower, licking her way through the sparse hair on his chest toward his navel.

Abruptly, the women halted and pulled off their clothing. At Ivan’s urging, the blonde straddled his face while the other tore at his pants, pulling them low enough to free his cock. Leaning over him, she opened her mouth wide to clasp him to the root, her cheeks hollowing as she sucked.

The woman with her legs splayed wide above Ivan’s mouth moaned, her head thrown back, her fingers pinching and tugging at her rosy nipples.

The woman working over Ivan’s cock rose to impale herself on him and leaned forward to take the other woman’s breast into her mouth. Together, the women rocked, moaning loudly. Ivan’s body bucked, his hands reached behind his head to grasp the ass of the woman whose pussy he plundered with his tongue.

Adam’s cock rose in his pants.
Where the hell was Evena when he wanted her?

The woman next to him slid a hand over him, caressing his dick through his clothing.

Adam closed his fingers over hers to stop her exploration. A glimpse of black in the crowd drew his attention.

Evena stood, her arms crossed in front of her, a look of disgust on her face.

She’d seen the woman’s action and made her own mind up about whether he’d invited it. Anger, swift and righteous, billowed his chest.
What right has Evena to judge me? She refused me.
He raised one brow and settled back against a woman whose breasts now served as his pillow.
What will you do now?

Evena’s expression grew impossibly darker.

Good.
He patted the ground beside him, an invitation to join them.

With a scathing look, she turned her back and walked out of sight. She wasn’t immune to his barbs. A fact he’d add to his arsenal of seduction.

“Damn, I didn’t know the boy had it in him,” Darak exclaimed hoarsely, watching Ivan and his small harem. The three women surrounding Darak, who’d been petting his body through his clothing, shrugged out of theirs, giggling.

Amused, Adam watched Darak feverishly push down his pants before flipping the young brunette nearest him onto her stomach.

She quickly came to her knees, her caramel-colored, heart-shaped buttocks in the air, as she wagged her ass playfully.

Darak’s large hands reached for a buttock each, squeezing and separating, giving Adam an excellent view of the woman’s open cunt and rosebud anus. Another of the women, forty-ish, big-breasted and blonde, slid beneath the black woman and latched onto her breast with her mouth.

The last woman, an attractive blonde with a thin scar that curved along her cheekbone, rose behind Darak and licked and kissed his back and ass, finally kneeling behind him to separate his buttocks and tongue his asshole. With a roar of pleasure, Darak plunged into the black woman, who squealed her delight.

All around Adam, women surged over the men, and over each other in an orgiastic frenzy. He felt the opening to his own pants give, and his cock bounded out, pointing toward the ceiling. “A moment, ladies,” he tried to protest but was shoved onto his back. A dozen hands divested him of his clothing. Mouths and fingers converged over his cock, licking, squeezing.

“Never saw one so big.”

“That’s not going up me,” another said flatly, but she still tongued the vein that pulsed along the underside of his dick.

“He’ll tickle my tonsils.”

Adam chuckled uneasily. Never having had his cock be the recipient of so much consternation, he was a little taken aback over the avid attention.

“Captain Zingh, may I have a word with you?” Mary’s upside down face appeared above his.

“Yes?” he asked absently, and then realized she’d provided him the perfect excuse. “Yes. Ladies, duty calls,” he said pompously, rising to his feet. “Uh…my clothing?”

The ladies giggled and shrugged, pretending ignorance.

He gave them a narrow-eyed glare, and then turned to Mary.

“Point that thing the other way, please.” She shuddered. “That should be registered as a lethal weapon.”

Amused she’d noticed, and that she wasn’t unimpressed, Adam crossed his arms over his chest. “All right, what was it you wanted to tell me?”

Mary glanced away then her eyes widened. “Damn horn dog,” she exclaimed. She was staring at Darak, who pounded away at the black woman. The younger blonde stood in front of him now, her legs on either side of the black woman. She’d pulled up her cunt lips to expose her clit, and Darak’s face was buried in her pussy.

Mary didn’t appear angry. Her gaze was assessing.

“Mary?”

She dragged back her gaze.

“What was it you wanted to say to me?”

“Oh. Nothing. Just thought you’d like to know Evena left in huff a few minutes ago, heading toward the galley.”

“And you thought I’d want to know?”

“Guess I also thought you were looking a little scared back there. Surrounded by all those women.”

His lips twitched. “Do you think I was afraid for my virtue?

“Nah, I know the pirate’s motto. ‘So little time, so many cunts to plunder.’”