Hollow Space (4 page)

* * * * *

Jada wanted to blame herself for not finding the common crystal sooner but just couldn’t. She wasn’t at fault. “Damn the black market and privateers,” she whispered bitterly. The urge to slam her fist into the closest hard object struck her. “No crystal should have to die like that one did.”

In her mind, the abuse suffered by the common D-quarterline, and then added to how she’d found the device, was nothing short of murder.
But who would have this knowledge? Nobody aboard this ship would understand that the crystal could take a lot
,
but it had been beaten until it cracked. That was a point of no return once it was energized. The poor crystal was damaged beyond repair.

“Come here, princess.” Michaelerus held out his hand to her. He’d been sitting behind his desk for the better part of an hour, letting her vent, not interfering with her indignation.

Capitulating easily, she strode to where he sat. “Sorry.”

“Why?” He pulled her into his lap. “You are allowed to be angry over what has happened.”

“Are you now telepathic?”

“Only with you.” He kissed her cheek. “The sand’s binding ties are strong, and they give a warrior in-depth insight into their mate’s thoughts.”

Really? How odd.
“I can’t imagine being attached to just one person that way.”

“Why not?”

“I mean I can read anybody’s thoughts—feel their emotions all the time. It would feel invasive to only be attached to a single psyche.” She shrugged. A long sigh broke from her throat when he nuzzled her neck. His tongue licked the sensitive area at the juncture of her ear and jaw. Delicious tingles raced down her back and raised goose bumps on her arms. “That feels wonderful.”

“If you ever leave my bed again without waking me, I’ll paddle your behind.” His hand came up and massaged her tit through her shirt. “Am I understood?”

“Yes.” The single word came out as a long low moan. She pulled away from him when he tried to hike her skirts up. “So, what have you been doing while I’ve stewed?” Granted, she’d been justified in her tirade, but it wasn’t very Dareauxian of her to let her full scope of emotions out there.

“Informing the Navorain liaison to the Community that the Navorains do not agree with the ridiculous rules proposed by the New Chastity Party.” He smiled at her and hauled her back onto his lap. “Larsus stated that he doubted they would be passed. It was facing strong opposition from not only the Dareauxians but also the Deltains and Perseysians.”

“That’s not that many members of the Community.” She didn’t really want to discuss the New Chastity Party or their platform. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed his cheek.

“Ah, it may not seem so, but the Navorains are a parent strain. Our allies will rally to the commonsense response that we cannot deny the mating rites of several of the core members.”

“I’m not following you.”

“The Navorains also signed the pledge to not take advantage of a sexually repressed kind.” He chuckled when she slapped his shoulder. “
Tsk. Tsk
. My
t
esra
needs to learn her place.”

“What does that word mean?”

“Wife.”

She laughed when he tickled her. After jerking out of his embrace, she ran across the room and nearly collided with Amanassa. His firm grip on her upper arms brought her to a dead stop. “Forgive me, counselor. My mate and I were…” She let her sentence fall off, knowing Amanassa could fill in the blanks.

“I see your mood has improved, princess.” There wasn’t a note of condemnation in her counselor’s voice. “This bodes well for you and your mate.”

“Has the crystal been prepared for transport to Dareaux?”

“As best it can be, Your Highness. It was badly damaged.”

“I’m aware.” Her emotions dipped. “It is regrettable.”

Amanassa lifted the
infanteum crystallae
from where it lay. “This belongs to another now.”

“I haven’t gotten that far,” she muttered.

“There is no time like the present.” He released the gem. A small smile lit across his face when he steered his gaze to Michaelerus “If you would start the play, Supreme Commander.” He brushed his hand down Jada’s long hair. “It’s time for our princess to feed.”

“I can wait. I know you must be half-starved, though.” She blushed. She was hungry. It wasn’t because Michaelerus hadn’t fulfilled her lust last night or sated her mating hunger but because she’d expelled so much of her energy trying to keep the common crystal alive so it could deliver its final report.

She’d used up much more of her store during her tirade. A gnawing ache burned in the pit of her belly. This hunger wasn’t base—it was primal. It was the pain that told her she was close to losing her strength. No Dareaux ever wanted to be in her position. She was on the brink of collapse.

“You waited too long,” Michaelerus commented. He walked up behind her and leveled his hands on her hips. “Jada.” A warning clung to his whisper of her name.

“I was a little busy,” she responded in a vicious whisper.

“You know better, Your Highness.” Amanassa shook his head. “You do us little good if you die of starvation.”

“It’s not that big of a deal.” Okay, she’d like it not to be that big of a deal. Hell. She’d been hungry before. She’d even been nearly starved into a coma before. Still, that was back in the day when she’d been young and she’d given off energy as if she was self-rejuvenating.

“Get undressed,” Michaelerus fairly growled. Abruptly releasing her, he strode back to his desk. “Now,” he ordered when she spun around. “I’ll not hear of you languishing because you don’t have the brains to say ‘I need to eat.’”

He made it sound so simple. On many levels it was. Amanassa went to argue her position, but she stopped him by raising her hand. “He’s right.” She sighed. “How many times have you counseled me and then fed me after I have heard a confession. I should know better.”

Her advisor kissed the top of her head. “You should do as your mate has told you to.” He brushed his hand down her hair, an action synonymous with Amanassa trying to temper the truth. “I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

She bit back on a laugh. “Really?” More than aware that Amanassa appreciated her penchant for being punished, she giggled. She peeked at Michaelerus and wondered if he would get into a little Dom/sub.

Her mate cocked an eyebrow. His gray eyes sparkled. Lust infused the air with a heady scent. She moved a little farther into the room and strategically placed herself close to the door leading to the sanctuary.

“
Run
, tesra
. Run now or submit.
”
Michaelerus’s words echoed in her head.

“
Do you think you can catch me?
”

He chuckled.
“
What do you think?
”

Amanassa laughed at the duo. “I say we give her to the count of three.”

Michaelerus nodded. “The rules are simple in this game we play, tesra
.
I catch you, and you submit. If your counselor should be the one to corner you, he will be in charge of our game.”

She inched closer to the door. “Fine.”

“One,” Michaelerus said. The grin gracing his highly kissable lips grew. “Two.”

Jada spun around and raced for the door.

“Three.”

She would have slammed into the portal if Michaelerus hadn’t caught her arm and pulled her back against him. How such an enormous man moved so fast was beyond her. “You cheated,” she whispered. With her back plastered to his torso, his hot breath wafted her hair. Her heart rate exploded when Amanassa leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.

“I never said I fought fair,” Michaelerus whispered.

Delicious tingles raced down her body. A throb took hold of her core. She doubted she would ever get tired of Michaelerus or what his mere presence did to her body.

Sand slipped down on them. The music she was becoming more and more aware of played in the background. This time it wasn’t a soft, lilting tune. No. This time the beat was hard and fast. It drove through her. The pulse in her pussy grew in intensity. “By the Gods.” Her nipples turned to hard buds.

“Yes.” Amanassa winked at her. “You are true life mates.” He straightened and bowed to Michaelerus. “You have control of the play, Supreme Commander.” Naked hunger burned in his gaze.

“Are you ready, slave?” Michaelerus asked. He slowly turned her around.

“What do you think?” She lifted her hands to lay them on his chest. Beneath her fingers, she felt the hard tattoo of his heart. Images of having Amanassa deep in her pussy while Michaelerus pounded her dark hole popped into her mind’s eye. A shiver raced the length of her spine. “Tell me. I want to know what you expect from me.”

Her counselor was intimately familiar with her penchant of courting punishment during sex. She liked to be dominated. She also liked the mixture of pain and pleasure.

“I think you need a lesson in submission.” Michaelerus took a step back. “Undress.”

Caught between two alpha males had her nerves twanging with desire. Add in the lust careening through her and she was primed for anything, as long as whatever position Michaelerus chose for her ended up with her screaming his name.

“You’re learning, slave.”

“Get out of my thoughts.”

Liquid heat gathered in her panties when Michaelerus wrapped his arms around her waist. His left hand skimmed across her hip to gather her skirt. Amanassa strode to stand behind her and palmed her breasts. The already tight buds of her nipples amazingly tightened more, and she moaned. Michaelerus had dipped his hand beneath her skirt. He stroked her clit through her silky panties.

She’d have collapsed had he not held her upright.

“You’re wet for us, slave. This pleases me.” Michaelerus moved the elastic aside. The pad of his finger teasingly traced her slick folds. His fingers moved closer and closer to dipping into her soaked pussy. Her thigh muscles jumped and twitched as she tried to buck against the hand doing amazing things to her body.

Her body went haywire when Amanassa pinched her nipples. “Ah.”

Michaelerus’s mouth came down on hers. His tongue plunged between her lips, moving against hers, reminding her she was about to take the sexual ride of her life. She clutched his shoulders for support. Her fingers fisted in his shirt.

Please. Please. I need this.

Michaelerus lifted his face and traced a finger of his free hand down her cheek. Suddenly, he plunged his digits deep in her channel. The
slap-slap-slap
of his palm slapping against her clit as he fucked her with his fingers sounded in the air.

Energy zinged all around them. Her climax built. The throb thrummed stronger. A plea for release sprang to her lips. Michaelerus cut her off by sliding his thumb into her mouth.

Needing a good fuck, her poor pussy screaming to be stretched by a hard dick, she squealed when both men abruptly moved away.

“I want to watch you suck Amanassa’s cock—nice and slow. Show me your talents, slave.” Michaelerus slapped her ass. Behind her, she heard the rustle of clothing being removed. “Suck him nice and slow,” Michaelerus reiterated.

She took a few shaky steps to where Amanassa stood. Gulping, Jada nodded. She fell to her knees before the man. Gripping his giant cock, she took a tentative lick. She opened her mouth and took the head between her lips. It took her a few minutes to find her pace, but she was soon taking most of his shaft down her throat.

“Put your hands behind your back,” Michaelerus commanded.

Lifting her face to meet Amanassa’s steady stare, she released his cock from her mouth. She placed her hands behind her back and gripped them together in a white-knuckle clutch. It took her a few tries, but she managed to get Amanassa’s cock back in her mouth. She was just getting her stroke back when Amanassa gripped her head in his hands and held her still.

Every inch of her body tingled with desire. Zips of energy flowed between her and her advisor. Her pussy throbbed so bad she was only seconds away from coming.

“Not yet,” Michaelerus demanded.

Damn, she’d never been this turned on before. It was hot as hell to know Michaelerus was watching her suck off another man.
I need you to fuck me. To give it to me until I scream your name.

Eased up by a pair of strong hands on her shoulders, Amanassa’s cock slipped out of her mouth. “Undress for me,” he muttered. The tone of his voice informed Jada that her counselor was on the brink of coming as well. “Once you are done, sit on the desk.”

“I want to watch you touch yourself before I pound your ass.” Michaelerus began to disrobe.

Blowing out a breath, Jada imagined Michaelerus’s hard length stroking her dark hole. Her pussy ached for attention, too.

She gave her mate credit. He sure knew how to turn her on and keep her lust ramped.

She pulled off her top and tossed it on a companion chair. Her bra joined it next. After shimmying out of her skirt, she then removed her panties.

On legs that felt positively jellified, she made her way to his desk and eased her body down on the smooth surface. Turning her head, she watched Michaelerus and Amanassa stroke their cocks from base to tip.

“Spread your legs wide,” Michaelerus ordered. “Fuck yourself with your fingers. I want to see you come.”

She slid her middle finger into her pussy. A low moan broke from her throat. She added another finger. Her feminine walls clutched her fingers as she stroked them in and out of her channel. The pressure in her belly grew. Her free hand came up to tweak her nipple. She was on the verge of a major orgasm. “Yes. Yes. Yes.” Still, she tingled for a cock or two.

“Come for me, Jada. Do it now.” Michaelerus’s voice permeated the passionate haze fogging her senses.

Strong contractions ripped through her. Even so, she continued to pump her fingers into her pussy, keeping time with the driving beat of the music flowing in her—around her. “I need you!” she shouted.

“What do you need?” Michaelerus asked. He strode the short distance separating them. “Tell me.”