ROMULUS (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 1) (29 page)

Rom dropped the axe and fell to his knees. His emotional floodgates burst open and the thirst for vengeance poured out. But at what cost? He had taken the life of another human being. His bloodlust now satisfied, he could think more rationally. Regardless of how wicked that life had been, he would have to face charges, in spite of Falcon's promise of secrecy.

As Rom pulled himself to his feet, Falcon appeared at his side. "I know what you said but you'll have to take me into custody. I couldn't live with the knowledge of this crime."

"You have committed no crime, Romulus. Look." Falcon picked up Victor's knife and swiftly slashed the beheaded man's chest open. Oblivious to the blood, Falcon pulled the skin aside to reveal the computerized equipment inside. It was an android.

"But I thought... The blood... How?"

"I will admit to a slight deception. As I am not full Noronian, I do not always adhere to a code of honesty but rather to a vow to help others. I relied on your anger to cloud your perception. I had to risk the possibility that you could have been severely injured as well. I hope you will forgive me for that. I was relatively certain you would be the victor. I have seen you fight when it was only a game."

"Falcon, you've done me a great service this night. Perhaps someday you'll come to me for a favor."

"Perhaps. Now, get cleaned up and let someone repair your head. I will return you in time to see your lady awaken."

* * *

"How do you feel?" Romulus tenderly stroked Aster's face with trembling fingers. He knew the light had dulled her memory somewhat, but at least her mind had not suffered serious damage.

Aster's sleep-dazed eyes focused then squinted shut. She remembered what had happened to her and sat up and pressed her cheek to his chest. He held her as tightly as she needed.

"You're safe now. He can't hurt you anymore. Nobody can, because I'm never letting you out of my sight again."

Aster slowly relaxed in his arms. "What about Cherry? Is she all right?"

"That was a lie to lure you here. Cherry was at work the whole time. She'll come to see you tomorrow."

"I still don't understand what he wanted."

Rom described the events precisely as they occurred, purposely stopping at the point when Falcon stunned Victor.

"Well, I'm sorry you broke your law about violence but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy that you got in one good kick for me. Speaking of lies, I hope that's what it was when you agreed to send him back to the United States. You wouldn't really do that, would you?"

"I kept my word. He's already been sent back."

"No!" she cried, falling back onto her pillow and covering her face with her hands. "It's all my fault. If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't have been able to coerce you into anything."

Rom pulled her hands away from her face. "There's nothing for you to feel guilty about. With the governor's permission, I worked out a way to keep my promise, punish Victor and render him harmless. It came to me when I remembered your comment about variations to the honesty code. Before he was transported, the medical team assisted my plan with their special talents.

"Victor is now John Smith, a balding and plainly unattractive, traveling salesman, walking along a country road in Nebraska. He's been provided with a memory of his reconstructed life as a lower middle-class family man, with one missing piece of information. He has no idea what city his beloved wife and two children are living in, awaiting his return. He will be compelled to spend the rest of his life searching for them. I thought it was rather ingenious, although my first plan was to beat him to a pulp."

"Ingenious? It's brilliant. At least he won't hurt anyone now but himself. By the way, did you say the name of the tracker who helped you was Falcon?"

"Yes, why?"

"Good-looking man with great hair and cat's eyes?" she asked.

Rom arched an eyebrow.

"Did he tell you we'd met?" she pressed, looking very worried.

"No, he didn't mention it. You have ten seconds to explain before my jealousy detonates. I'd never met him before yesterday."

The expression on his face let her know he wasn't joking about the green monster. She caressed his jaw with her thumb. "Let me rephrase my description of him—a man, not nearly as tall or as handsome as you, with hair like a woman's and really weird eyes. I hardly noticed him. I met him during my excursion yesterday. He said you were an acquaintance."

"Did meeting him have anything to do with my surprise? From what I saw of it, the answer had better be no."

Aster laughed at this new side of him. "As a matter of fact, it did." She hurried on when his mouth dropped open. "But not the part you got a preview of."

"You know, none of this would have happened if we were joined. I would have known what was going on immediately. This should convince you. Be my mate, Aster. Please."

Aster felt a ripple cross her stomach. "The whole time Victor had me, I talked to you in my head, knowing you really couldn't hear me. There is nothing I want more than to be your mate. I would be the happiest woman in both our worlds if we were joined."

Rom crushed her to his chest and sighed with relief.

"But," Aster continued as she pushed him away, "I won't do it."

"What?" Rom said, shocked. "How can you say that after this? I almost lost you forever." His joy transformed into angry frustration.

"Because nothing's changed, Rom. True, I can't and don't want to leave you. Both of our worlds need you as governor, now more than ever. I'm praying the Tribunal will overlook your infatuation with an inferior being. That definitely won't happen if I'm inside your head. I don't believe you could shove our joining down their throats with a toilet plunger!"

"And I told you I no longer care about the governorship or the Tribunal. Another competent administrator will be chosen." Rom paused. This was not the time to have another argument. He would give her time to recover before insisting she give up her stubborn attitude on the subject of their joining.

Chapter 16

Cherry came to visit on Wednesday as she had promised. Rom would not go into his office but did let the women have some privacy. He refused, however, to allow Aster to get out of bed and was taking great pleasure in waiting on her.

After Aster brought Cherry up to date, she asked, "What about the problem you were having in your love life? You all looked a little stressed at the dance."

Cherry giggled then grew serious. "You know, I don't want to get tied down to one man. Maybe it was growing up in such a large family, I don't know. I was always just one of the flock. Half the time my own mother forgot which one I was. I love being the center of so much attention for a change. Besides that, I always felt I had to keep a tight rein on my sexual desires. Suddenly I find myself in a world where nobody sees anything wrong with an active, diversified sex life."

"Cherry, you don't have to make any excuses with me. I'm not the same old prude I used to be."

"Well, the point is, Thor and Apollo each have qualities that I adore. If it was either one separately, there's no question I'd have already been to bed with him. Thor's the problem, as you guessed. He's fine when it's the three of us together, but he can't stand it if Apollo and I do anything without him. And Apollo hates it when Thor's upset.

"Their solution is to make it a threesome, in every way, rather than break up any part of the triangle. Although I'll admit to fantasizing about it, acting it out for real is a little much, even for me. I can't keep holding them both off though and they've agreed to leave it up to me. I have to make a decision of some sort."

The old Aster was shocked. The new improved Aster tried to be helpful rather than critical. "There's an educational video about it, if more information would help."

"Hah! That's my Aster! When in doubt, study!"

"You wouldn't laugh like that if you saw the triple X-rated instructional videos I watched!"

Cherry shrugged her shoulders and jumped into her next topic. "I do have some good news to share. I was selected to play a fair size part in someone's fantasy and everyone said I was wonderful! My manager actually told me he believes I'm headed for stardom! Do you believe that?"

Aster just smiled.

* * *

Cherry was pensive during her ride to work that night. Unlike dear Aster, she did not need a book or video to show her what it might be like to have two men at the same time. Hell, it was her favorite fantasy to masturbate to. How often had she joked about needing two men, so that the second could jump in when the first pooped out? But actually doing something about it was another thing entirely.

The more she thought about it, the more certain she was that her strict moral upbringing still influenced her life. Perhaps, some years from now, she would be as uninhibited as the average Innerworlder but for now, a
ménage à trois
would remain relegated to her private fantasies. Assuming she could convince Apollo and Thor to agree to her choosing only one of them to be her lover, the question was, which man would she prefer?

Thor, so dark and intense, would come to her with barely controlled hunger. His mouth would plunder hers as his large hands would arouse her body, demanding she be as wild and as desperate as he. She could easily imagine his strong, muscular body taking possession of her smaller one with just enough roughness to add a dangerous edge to their lovemaking. She knew, without needing to see him naked, that he would be larger than the average man and that he might take her to levels of excitement she had never before experienced. And he would want her again and again.

Then there was Apollo, so beautiful and free-spirited, who would come to her smiling. He would tease her with his delicious kisses and soft caresses until she was weak from wanting him, yet he would make her wait for her fulfillment. Just looking at his gorgeous face and perfectly formed body was enough to turn her on. She would try to play his game of self-restraint, but he would insist on pleasuring her at least once before gratifying himself. And when he finally entered her, he would know ways to make the climb to the top last longer than she had ever thought possible.

Thor would love her deeply and want to keep her at his side, promising stability and security.

Apollo would love her lightly and avoid a commitment of any kind, promising fun and laughter.

After reporting backstage, she sought out both men to tell them she wished to take only one of them as a lover or keep both as friends. "The truth is," she said, holding a hand of each man. "I'm crazy about the both of you and I love the fun we have all together. I am sorry, but I'm just really confused."

Apollo squeezed her hand and gave her a peck on the forehead. "We understand. And we're flattered that you can't decide which of us to choose." He stared into Thor's eyes and, after a few seconds, his best friend nodded. "So, you don't need to make such a difficult decision. We'll do it for you. But we'll have to discuss this between ourselves."

Much later that night, she was wondering just how long they planned to discuss the matter, when her vidcom announced that she had a visitor. A moment after her vidcom monitor showed her who it was, she opened her door to greet her guest. "Hey, Apollo, I had a feeling you're the kind to keep a girl waiting."

She had the door half closed when a large hand grasped the edge.

"And I'm the kind who knows what you really want." Thor stepped inside and pulled her hard against him.

As his mouth took demanding possession of hers and his hands clutched her bottom, he thrust his thick erection against her, confirming everything Cherry had imagined about the dark man.

Apollo leaned down behind her and whispered in her ear. "We decided we wouldn't be very good friends if we didn't stop you from making a terrible mistake. And that's where we think you're headed. Besides, it's unfair of you to push one of us away without knowing exactly what you'd be giving up," Moving Thor's hands from Cherry's hips to his own, Apollo eased his rigid shaft into the valley of Cherry's bottom. "C'mon, Cher," he murmured, shifting himself from side to side against her. "We're too good together. Just give us a try. And if you still want to send one of us away after we've done our best to change your mind, we'll go along without an argument. But
you
are the one who will have to decide which it will be."