Captive Heroes Jan Springer Book six in the Heroes at Heart series. Can be read alone, but best enjoyed in series order. During a secret mission to locate their brothers on the faraway planet of Paradise, the Hero sisters become separated after they crashland. Taylor and Kayla While searching for help, Kayla is bound and imprisoned by the Breeders—along with a sexy male captive whose tantalizing scars pique her interest. She’s thankful when he rescues her, and irresistibly aroused when she becomes his captive. Wild lust flares in Kayla’s eyes—an erotic side effect of the Fever Swamp water. Taylor is going to enjoy administering the cure—lots of sizzling hot sex! Blackie and Kinley Injured and lost in a dense jungle, Kinley is intimidated by the big, scarred man hot on her trail, especially considering the erotic power he holds over her. Capturing his beautiful female prey, Blackie can’t wait to train her as a pleasure slave. When the wellhung male slips a collar around her neck, Kinley struggles with lust as a natural submissive.
CAPTIVE HEROES Jan Springer
Dedication My sincerest thanks to all the wonderful readers of the Heroes at Heart series. Thank you for your patience in waiting for Kinley and Kayla’s stories to be told. I really appreciate all your emails and letters of encouragement through the personal crisis in my life regarding my caregiving to my ill dad and subsequent loss of writing time. I will treasure your support, your comments and your advice, always. Now that I am able to head back to full-time writing, I look forward with immense anticipation to bringing you more intriguing stories that will captivate your hearts and arouse you to new heights. Enjoy! Hugs, Jan Springer
Acknowledgements I’d also like to extend my thanks to four gorgeous ladies who helped me along the way with the Heroes at Heart series. Tons of thanks to editor Violet Hughes for her helpful comments while editing this final book in the series. You rock, Violet! Bunches of hugs to editor Kahli Reid for accepting for publication this final book in the Heroes at Heart series. A huge thanks to publisher Raelene Gorlinsky for accepting the series in the first place and for coming up with the delightful series name. We were both newbies at Ellora’s Cave and I am forever grateful she accepted me into her stable of authors and into the Cave. Finally, warm hugs to editor Mary Moran (oh wise one) for taking the helm for part of this series from Raelene. I appreciate everything you wonderful, hardworking ladies have done. You all hold a dear spot in my heart and you will remain on my Best Editor keeper shelf, always. Yours, Jan Springer
Captive Heroes
Chapter One “Hull breach. Computer malfunction. Electrical interference. Life support threat.” The string of dire warnings shot like torpedoes through astronaut Kinley Hero’s layers of sleep. As she struggled to awaken from stasis, her gut hollowed out with nausea. The ship was in trouble. Trying to rouse herself had always been a bitch in the simulation sessions. God help her, this time was no different. The fatigue that accompanied awakening made it hard to keep her thoughts straight, yet she managed to open her eyes and stare into the saucer-shaped room she hadn’t seen for what should be—if the clock blinking on the far wall indicated correctly—about a year now. The small starship she and her two sisters were traveling in had been designed with the sleeping quarters smack in the middle of the saucer. All around her, computers hummed with activity. Various lights of red and amber frantically blinked, spewing off visual distress signals and echoing alerts. From what she could piece together in her foggy brain, the starship was falling apart—quite literally. Beyond the protective glass barrier of her sleep cocoon, the curling gray smoke dissipated for a few seconds. She swore beneath her breath at the hairline fissures that had appeared in the titanium framework. Fractures that—if not taken care of immediately—would lead to their demise. In one solid jolt of awareness, she punched the emergency button beside her head. The secure glass hatch slid open and immediately acrid smoke sank into her lungs, making her gag. Grabbing the oxygen mask that suddenly dropped before her face, she took a few deep, steadying breaths. The oxygen passed through her system with lightning speed, waking her fully. Power sifted through her and, within moments, her lethargy disappeared. Ripping aside the mask, she crawled out of the pod and moved through the smoke. Passing her two sisters’ sleep hatches, she punched each of their external emergency buttons, hoping to hell they’d grab the oxygen masks that would automatically deploy. The smoke got denser and bit into her eyes as she rushed to the life support console and discovered a virus had infected the system. She didn’t have time to figure out how that had happened, but managed to create an antivirus program to deal with the problem. Just then, something rocked the ship and she sailed through the air. Pain slapped her naked ass as she landed just inches from the captain’s chair. Grabbing the padded
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armchair, she hoisted herself onto the plush cushion and snapped on her seatbelt. They were in for a bumpy ride. The main computer continued to bellow warnings. “Security nonfunctional. Protective shields failing. Replicators off-line. Warp speed down.” A quick look at the master visual screen had her cursing up a storm. Her breath halted as the gorgeous planet grew larger and larger in the viewing window. Its pristine blue and sharp green colors and shapes looked eerily similar to Earth’s. Damn! They were going to crashland and she doubted she had enough time to stop the descent. There were too many things going wrong all at once. Panic paralyzed her, and for a few precious seconds her mind blanked out as she stared at the blinking warning lights on every system. One by one the systems were shutting down, down, down. Just like the ship. Down in a blaze of glory. Ah geez, she had to snap out of her morbid thoughts. Fifteen minutes was her best guestimate before splat time. The ship had hit the disintegration layers around the planet her brothers had warned against when they sent an SOS back to Earth over two years ago. This unexpected turn of events, the ship breaking up despite assurances from the tech guys that it wouldn’t, pissed her off. Kinley swallowed as she looked at the hairline fissures in the hull. Hopefully those guys who’d slapped this ship together were right and it wouldn’t fall apart. If they were lucky, the starship would survive the plunge through the atmosphere, but what about after that? It would need some serious repairs. She could get them out of this mess and patch up the ship, but only if they could get the replicators online. And only if they survived the crash. More arrows of anger slammed through her as she thought of her three older brothers, Joe, Ben and Buck. Damn them! They were crazy bastards! They should have come home like the good little astronauts they were supposed to be and not remained on this planet. Instead, they’d sent their ship back to Earth without them, opting to stay with the women they’d fallen in love with because they had feared traveling the time warp in the wormhole on the return voyage would disintegrate those women. For crying out loud. What kind of men would want to stay on a planet where the male species didn’t get educated and were considered nothing more than sex slaves? Idiots. When she got her hands on them… Sadness, strong and fierce, swept through her. Who was she kidding? She may never see them again. In minutes they would be streamlined with the wreckage and— “What’s happening?” Piper’s panicked voice rocked Kinley back to reality. Snapping her gaze to the left, Kinley found her identical twin sister standing right beside her. Thankfully the smoke was clearing and she could plainly see the fear on Piper’s face. Funny, she still looked the same after a year in sleep stasis—green eyes, pretty auburn, tangled hair and perfectly arched, dark eyebrows. Kinley wished she 6
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could keep the truth from her sisters, but they needed to hear the full extent of what was going on. “Everything’s failing,” she admitted. Her heart twisted with anxiety when Piper frowned. But her sister recovered quickly and nodded like a trooper, accepting the possibility that they may not survive. “I’m going to override,” Kinley stated. “You two get to work on saving the protection shields.” She focused on the task at hand. Their younger sister Kayla yelled something about losing cabin pressure. Piper swore and took off. Shit! “Deal with it!” Kinley yelled back and unbuckled herself from the captain’s chair. God, her eyes were still burning from all the smoke. The lingering, bitter taste made her want to gag. She could hardly see, could barely breathe. Hell, she could barely walk on the horribly tilted floor as she stumbled behind the bridge and popped open the red panel that would allow her access to the override button. Black haziness swept inward from the corners of her eyes and Kinley knew if she didn’t calm herself, she’d pass out. As if her sisters sensed what was happening to her, an oxygen mask flew in front of her face. She grabbed the mask and, with frantic, jerky speed, snapped it over her nose and mouth and deeply inhaled the precious, sweet air. Yes. Relief. The blackness hovering at the sides of her vision disappeared and Kayla’s worried glance had Kinley waving both sisters away, reassuring them she was fine. The oxygen effectively cleared her mind and she found the override button. Pushing it, she waited. Override was a state-of-the-art alternative that, should the computerized system fail, would let a totally independent mainframe take over. Untested in the actual field— but passing the experimental phase with flying colors—the new system utilized hydrogen atoms instead of the array of microchips currently being used. Suddenly the spaceship slowed and righted itself from the awful, steep tilt they’d been riding along. Yet they continued to plummet toward the planet and Kinley swore if she reached her hand through the high-tech glass pane of the spaceship, she would literally touch the planet. It was that close. And it was so pretty, too. The colors were deepening, the landscape taking vivid form. There were rolling hills, lush, green, jungle-like vegetation and sparkling, blue ocean waters. Kinley blinked, forced herself to rip her gaze from the mesmerizing beauty of the planet and came back to reality. The cabin was once again filling with acrid smoke. “Brace yourself for impact!” she yelled as she gave the planet one final glance and watched it continue to careen closer and grow bigger.
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Hurrying, she stumbled to the nearby consoles and quickly read that many systems were still failing. Thankfully though, life support, defense shields and replicators were now at yellow alert. Obviously the new gadget the tech guys had installed was able to fix the problems, but not fast enough. The swirling gray smoke continued to billow and she had a hard time seeing her hands on the keyboard. She should look for that damned oxygen mask. Heck, she didn’t even remember removing it or where she left it for that matter. “Kinley! Get your ass over here!” Piper shouted and through the smoke Kinley could barely see her sisters had deployed the three emergency pods padded with hightech crash-guard foam. Yet instead of climbing into their respective pods—which could save their lives—they were both dragging one of the heavy pods toward her. “Forget the consoles!” Kayla screamed. She tried to grab Kinley’s wrist, but Kinley smacked her away. Ignoring the fear in Kayla’s eyes, Kinley whipped her sister the biggest reassuring smile she could muster. “Get yourself and Piper secure. The longer I stay here and man the controls, the easier the crash.” God, she sounded totally calm. Was she in shock? “Let it go!” Kayla shouted, her blue eyes sparking with fury. “We all get into the pods together or we all stay out.” Anger slashed through Kinley’s momentary calm. Why in hell were they being so damned irritating? “No fucking buts. Do as I say! That’s a goddamn order,” she barked. Her sisters didn’t move. Determination and defiance marred their faces. Shit! They could be so stubborn. “Go! I’ll get in just before impact. I promise!” They hesitated a few seconds, studying her to see if she spoke the truth, and she sighed in relief as they rushed off, leaving her small pod nearby. Grabbing the joystick, she angled the ship into a steadier dive. In response, the ship jerked, creaked and the metal hull complained, but thankfully the ship moved in the direction she guided. If she played her cards right, she could bring this baby down on the water and glide them to a stop. Earth—correct that—Paradise looked breathtaking. Lush shades of greens and blues splashed past the window in an array of streaks. A split second later, everything changed. Although she was in an airtight ship, she imagined the pungent odor of stagnant water as the blues and greens gave way to browns, blacks and grays. Oh crap. What had happened to the nice scenery? Now everything seemed dark and dreary. The ship sped over the tops of gothic-like gnarled trees draped with hanging strands of brown moss. The pristine blue sky disappeared into the backdrop and suddenly the trees were replaced by a large, eerie black lake. Far ahead, more of those
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creepy trees loomed. Hopefully before the ship reached them it would slow enough in the water not to hit so hard as to crush her and her sisters to death. She had to land and she needed to do it now, because who knew how long this ship would hold together up in the air. Maneuvering the joystick, she angled as best she could toward the surface of water. “Impact in ten seconds!” she yelled in warning, and then wondered who the hell she was shouting at. Her sisters were already safely secured inside their pods. Heaving a sigh of frustration, she reluctantly released the joystick and literally threw herself into the nearby dimly lit pod. Slamming the door, she fell onto the heavily cushioned chair, slipped on the harness and braced herself. Not a moment too soon either. The binds dug painfully into her chest as the spaceship jolted and swayed with dizzying speed. Suddenly everything inside her pod became deathly silent, yet thankfully fresh air blew in all around her, compliments of the pod’s own life support system. Realizing she hadn’t turned on the audio, she wondered if it was a wise idea to do so. But she wanted to know what was going on out there. Needed to know. Reaching up, she flipped the switch and, for a split second, wished she hadn’t. A distinct swishing slammed into the pod’s interior as impact was made. Liquid pummeled the sides and she imagined the metal saucer sliding over the black lake like a skipping stone. The water wasn’t going to slow them down as easily as she’d hoped because they just kept on gliding. She didn’t know how long they sped along—probably only two minutes—but it seemed an eternity. Suddenly she tensed against her restraints as the pod jolted. Snaps and pops echoed through the interior. Oh crap! Trees breaking. Gut-wrenching screeches of metal being torn shrieked painfully in her ears. The spaceship is falling apart! She held her breath and fought the waves of panic until she finally screamed for everything to stop as her pod tumbled around and around—screamed for everything to stop making so much noise. She should flip off audio and get rid of the shriek of metal ripping before it drove her crazy or, at the very least, made her deaf, but the g-force was so strong it literally kept her arms and legs from moving. The ship jerked violently and something—the small white fire extinguisher or maybe the first aid kit—flew off the interior wall, slamming the right side of her head. White stars burst behind her eyes and a haze of pain enveloped her. Her eyesight dimmed. Panic slashed through her as the pod began rolling again. Round and around she went until she became nauseated and was screaming once again for the turns to stop. Then everything went blissfully and peacefully silent, including her. Pain knocked like crazy inside her head and queasiness continued to attack her tummy as she stared at a delicate, silver chain-link bracelet she wore on her wrist. A stars and stripes flag was engraved on one corner of the plate. “Allergic to Bee Stings” 9
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was stamped in big bold letters across the middle and “Kinley Hero” was in smaller letters beneath. Huh? Kinley Hero? Kinley? Somewhere…something in the back of her mind told her Kinley was her name. Kinley. Pretty name. A dense quiet permeated the pod interior and pushed away the thoughts of her bracelet. The silence crept around her like a dangerous lover. She wanted to give in to it. To fall asleep and dream, but the eerie stillness also frightened her. It became deafening to the point where she wanted to yell again. She would have too, but a loud thump-thump, as if someone was banging against the other side of the wall, had her jerking against her restraints. What the heck? Where was she? What was going on? She gazed dumbly at the harness ensnaring her naked body. It kept her bound tightly against a warm, pliable foam chair. As if through a long, black tunnel, frantic muffled cries came from outside the structure. Someone was yelling at her to open the door. To wake up. To get out. She didn’t want to get out. She wanted to stay here and fall asleep. Hot, acrid air and blinding brightness swept inside as someone opened a door, and Kinley closed her eyes against the brilliant orange light. Everything hurt. Her head. Her body. Just everything. “Kinley! Get out! The ship is on fire!” a woman yelled in a frantic voice. Fire. The stench of smoke. She didn’t like the smell. She didn’t want to die in a fire. Someone was unlocking the belts keeping her hostage and hands pulled at her arms. She kept her eyes closed and moaned a protest as dizziness swept over her. In a flash, she was released from those awful restraints but was forced into brown, stagnant water. And then she was swimming. Tasmanian devil swirls of orange-blue flames swept all around her. Moss dangling from nearby creepy-looking trees flared and burst into flames. Everything went black. “Come on, Kinley, say something.” A young woman she didn’t recognize snapped her fingers in front of Kinley’s face. Kinley closed her eyes again as another wave of dizziness swept over her. Nausea slammed into her stomach but, thankfully, she wasn’t sick. Okay, she’d passed out. She needed to stay awake. Felt the urgency in the other woman’s voice as she kept yelling. “Oh come on, don’t do this to me. We need to get Piper some help. She got burned in the crash.” Piper? What the heck was a Piper? A plane. She was talking about a plane, right? They’d been in a plane crash?
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Kinley forced herself to open her eyes as the woman cursed a streak of blue words that truly impressed her. Her gut clenched uneasily at the pale face bobbing nearby in the water. Someone dead? Then she realized the pissed-off chick’s arm was slung beneath an unconscious woman’s neck, keeping her face out of the water. Okay someone was hurt. She wished she could help, but she could barely keep herself afloat. “Just keep up with me, Kin. Just keep up. Keep swimming. That’s it. Dear God, please don’t make me choose whom I have to save.” The woman’s anxious voice snapped some serious panic into her. She needed to swim. To get out of this inferno. Even though they were in water, the air was intensely hot from the blades of flames popping up all around them. Black smoke billowed into the air, blocking the sky as the fuel on the water caught fire. They would burn if they didn’t swim away. And fast. Instincts told her to keep her head above the murky water. She told herself not to drink it, but she’d swallowed some already, leaving a lousy, swampy flavor in her mouth. Trees surrounded her as she swam. The branches were twisted and menacing, reaching toward her as if wanting to grab her. She needed to get away from them before they caught her. She swam faster.
***** Kinley must have blacked out again. She didn’t know for how long, because she awoke to discover she wasn’t surrounded by intense flames and heat or black rolling smoke that bit into her nostrils. The woman yelling at her to keep swimming was gone too. Thank goodness, because her shouting had irritated the hell out of Kinley. Her surroundings were peaceful. Lying on her back in some wooded clearing, Kinley touched the cool cloth on her forehead. Fresh, yet sticky, air shifted into her lungs, and aside from her temples throbbing and a few aches and pains here and there, she had no complaints. Above her the sky was a breathtaking blue, and all around her were gorgeous, tall green ferns that waved gently in the humid breeze. Beneath her a warm material hugged her back and, when she turned her head, a tiny zing of pain snapped against her right temple, reminding her she had a head injury. Fear hit her as she discovered a big black-haired man lying on his side right beside her. His elbow was propped on the ground, his head resting in his hand while he studied her. He had a nice, friendly face with a dark, sexy shadow that hugged his chin and cheeks. He had a straight nose and the blackest eyes she’d ever seen. He was smiling too, as if enjoying himself, and, to her surprise, his smile eased her anxiety. “Ah, you awaken again. The bump on your head is subsiding. How do you feel?” His voice was husky and the distinct feather-light brush of his fingers danced across the lower, right-hand side of her belly. His touch was erotic as he caressed her 11
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flesh. The lusty glitter in his eyes had her breath halting in her lungs. She wished for him to dip his fingers lower, to touch her between her thighs. She ached for him to rub her clit and extinguish her neediness. “Um, better,” she admitted, wondering who this guy was and why she wanted him touching her intimately. Her eyes widened as she lowered her gaze from his face to study his broad shoulders and chest. Curly black hair partially hid an abundance of scars that looked like lash marks from a whip. Wow, so he’d obviously been whipped? Did he take BDSM that seriously? Her temples resumed throbbing as she remembered flickers of being tied to a cold stone wall in a dark BDSM dungeon. She was laughing and clenching her teeth as the cat-o’-nine-tails bit into her tender flesh. Yeah, she was into the scene. It had been fun. But who the hell was this guy? Who was she? She couldn’t remember. “Do I know you?” she asked, trying really hard to resist the urge to grab his hand and move it lower, to between her legs, where she needed him to be. His grin widened. “You must have forgotten again. I have told you several times. My name is Blackie. It is the head wound that makes you forget. It should get better soon.” She would be better soon. She would remember things. Why did that thought make her unhappy? “What happened to me?” “I do not know. I discovered you near the Fever Swamps. Your body is bruised and I am sure you drank some of the water. As you know, when ingested the swamp water arouses a female. I had to…” Intense longing crossed his face and heat suffused her body. Swamp water aroused a female? What was he talking about? Flickers of something… His warm, tender mouth kissing her tummy. His fingers rubbing her clit and then dipping inside her vagina. Of her convulsing into one orgasm after another. Wanting more. Her cheeks flamed. “I had to make you come.” His voice was hoarse and thick with arousal. “You enjoyed it immensely. Do you not remember?” My goodness! He had to what? Her pussy throbbed. Excitement swept through her. Yeah, she remembered feeling really nice with what he’d been doing to her. “Do you wish me to do it again?” She creamed. Hard. Oh my. Yes, actually that would be nice. She should be afraid of him, shouldn’t she? She ripped her gaze from his intense stare and gazed down past her bared breasts to his dark tanned fingers caressing the light flesh of her belly. A black hair-like blanket covered her lower half. The texture tickled her thighs. She didn’t have to be told she was naked beneath that blanket. 12
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So why wasn’t she afraid of him? She should be scared. She should be. But no fear came. Just a yearning for him to keep touching her. A craving to have sex with him. Concern dipped his mouth into a frown and sadness whipped through her for making him worry. “You do not answer me. Do you still have your headache?” Oh wow, now she remembered. She’d had a blinding headache. Some woman had been yelling at her to keep swimming. What had happened to that woman and the one she’d been rescuing? Were they all right? “Was there anyone with me? Two other women?” she asked. He shook his head. “You were alone. Unconscious and naked. You had taken a blow to your head.” The woman had said something about not making her decide whom to save. Obviously she’d chosen the unconscious person she’d been dragging through the water. Oh well. At least she was alive and safe here with this guy. She grimaced as he reached up and removed the cool cloth, touching a tender spot on her right temple. “I am sure it still hurts, but the swelling is down. I will place more salve on. But before I do, do you wish to come again?” Oh my. His eyes sparkled with heat and, yeah, she wished to come. She swallowed. She had to be dreaming this guy. He was too good to be true. His big body was laced with muscles and he wore nothing but a breechclout. She certainly didn’t miss the huge erection pressed against the material between his very muscular thighs. She resisted the urge to curl a hand over his hip, turn her body toward him and slide up against him. Resisted the urge to undo that breechclout and palm his cock and slip his solid flesh into her throbbing, empty pussy. His biceps flexed magnificently as he moved his hand from where he’d touched her temple. That frown of his deepened. Yeah, he was worried about her. “Are you not feeling well?” “Um, sure. I feel okay.” Yes, she had to be dreaming. A guy she didn’t know seemed overly concerned for her well-being. “Then I shall make you come?” Sure, why not? She nodded. He grinned and arousal burst through her entire body. The sexy way he smiled, the intense lust in his eyes as he looked at her made her feel so desirable. “Your scar makes me very aroused.” “My scar?” “It is very sexy.”
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She peered past her heaving breasts. Tried to ignore how ripe and red her nipples looked as they poked straight up into the humid air. She gazed down to where he touched, just below and to the right of her bellybutton. Yeah, there was a two-inch diagonal scar. Appendix. She must have had it out, but she simply couldn’t remember. “A scar excites you?” Amazing. “Most females have their scars immediately erased.” Plastic surgery. She wanted to ask him why he had so many scars. Did it turn his women on? Someone she knew got turned on by scars, but damned if she could remember whom. A flare of jealousy zipped through her. A good-looking guy like him must have tons of chicks. Why was he here with her? Where was here? Who cares, the guy wants to make me come. Right now that’s all I want. Questions I can deal with later. She moaned softly as the heated palm of his hand slipped over her stomach like an erotic brand. “Lift your knees and spread your legs,” he commanded. His voice was firm, yet gentle at the same time. An endearing combination. She did as he said and the blanket slipped off her knees and down over her belly. She widened her legs and his hand dipped beneath the blanket. He slid a finger between her slick folds and sunk it deep into her vagina. Her muscles clenched eagerly around him. Oh yeah, perfect. She moaned her approval. He groaned softly. She liked that guttural, wild sound of his. Liked it a lot. “You are creaming very nicely,” he whispered. Understatement. She swore he read her mind as the tips of his full lips curved upward into another magnificent grin. Endearing laugh lines erupted at the sides of his eyes. Eyes so dark brown they were almost black. Awesome coloring. He slid his finger out and rubbed her clit with her cream. She was quite sensitive there. He’d said he’d made her come. Yeah, like how many freaking times? Her pussy lips were heavy and swollen, her vaginal muscles gently aching. Had he fucked her while she’d been unconscious? Wow. She would have to ask him that. But later. Much later. She creamed harder at the thought of him doing her while she slept and reached up to massage her nipples. And boy, they were sensitive too. Had he been sucking on them? Touching her here? Pinching and rubbing her nipples like she was doing now?
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The burn of pleasure-pain quickly burst though her nipples from her rough, desperate tweaking. She gasped as his fingers rubbed her clit harder and she grew warmer, the exquisite tightness in her body growing. Oh yeah, this is good. Her eyelids began to droop from desire and she became mesmerized by the blackhair blanket moving up and down above his hand as he swiftly massaged her clit. Sensual jiggles stirred her breasts as his strokes moved her entire body. The pressure of his hand was sure and firm. Strong and deliberate. This guy knew exactly where to touch her to arouse her and knew exactly what he was doing. Bastard. Beneath his caresses she was virtually helpless as the pleasure mounted. Sweet electrical bolts snapped through her, promising nice things to come. The blanket slipped off, giving her quite the erotic view of his hand vigorously moving up and down, her thighs quivering as they tightened with anticipation. Oh sweetness! Breathe through this, girl. Breathe through it and hold this fantastic pleasure for as long as you can. She swallowed and held her breath as his head moved into view. He grinned, his dark eyes lust-filled, making her tummy somersault in a really carnal way as he dipped his face down. She arched against him as his hot tongue kissed along her scar, the light, wet slurp pumping hot blood through her veins. She moaned her approval. “Shhh…I will make you come and then you will sleep. Until the next time…” Oh my gosh. His black eyes sparkled as his tongue licked her, and then the sharp scrape of his even white teeth brushed along the length of her scar. His massage against her clit grew quicker, firmer. She played with her nipples, whimpering at the pleasure zipping through her. The erotic way his long black lashes fluttered as he closed his eyes. His tongue bristly as he laved it against her flesh. She ached for him to dip his face between her legs. She spread her thighs farther. Pleasure escalated. Her body tightened more. She pinched her nipples, twisting and kneading them. The erotic scrape of his teeth against her belly had her gasping. She closed her eyes, moaned softly as he thrust three fingers into her wet vagina. Her breathing grew labored as he pistoned and the slurping of her cream echoed through the air. And then she was there. The orgasm jolted through her pussy and straight up into her belly. She cried out her release, bucking her hips over and over again as he continued to fuck her with his fingers. White-hot flames of arousal caressed her senses, embraced and loved her. Perspiration sheened across her flesh, trying to cool the heat racing through her.
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She moaned and gyrated madly as he kept fucking her with his fingers. Her vagina clenched around his intrusion harder and harder with his every thrust. More vibrations snapped through her, rocking her hips higher and higher. She was flying. Dying. Living again. Somewhere, deep in the back of her mind, a voice whispered that she truly was a mess for letting a stranger fuck her like this. But she didn’t care. She embraced the pleasure. Rode it as long as she could. And when the climax ebbed, he stroked her right into another one. And then another. Afterward, she collapsed from sheer weakness, so tired she couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer. Not even his sexy smile as he placed the cool cloth back over her forehead could keep her from drifting away. She slept.
***** A man’s gravelly, lust-filled voice had Kinley drifting up from the sweet, deep sleep she’d been enjoying. She was curled tightly into the fetal position on her left side, and the sky was turning light gray as morning approached. A fissure of alarm raced through her as whoever was speaking wasn’t the guy named Blackie, and she didn’t like what he was saying. “Ah, Blackie has found another tempting female, has he?” a man whispered from immediately behind her. “A very succulent female that I wish to try out.” She couldn’t stop her whimper of terror as a large, very powerful hand slipped over her bare shoulder. Fear paralyzed her and knocked the last remnants of sleep right out of her as he pulled on her shoulder, hard enough to turn her over. She came face-to-face with the big man. His chest and shoulders were just as marred with scars as Blackie’s. He had partially undone his breechclout and she gasped at the thick, long erection hanging between his legs. She knew his intention and she wanted nothing to do with him. Oh no! Please no! His lusty gaze zeroed in on her bared breasts. The desire in his eyes brought an intense flush of shame snapping through her. She tried to lift her arms, but he quickly caught them, pinning them to her sides. No! “Ah yes, a very succulent female. And I can see by the way your nipples are ripe and red, and the bright lust shining in your eyes, that he must have already started the training.” Training? What was he talking about? She was not being trained for anything. Was she? “Let me go!” she cried. She struggled against his tight grip, but he didn’t budge.
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Dammit! The man’s blue eyes blazed with excitement and evilness and Kinley couldn’t help but tremble as he chuckled, obviously not caring what she wanted. “Let you go? You are our sex slave. You belong to whomever wants you. Blackie has had you. Now I wish to fuck you too. To show you I can fuck better than he, and when we return you will be fucked by all males whenever they wish it.” Oh my God. This can’t be happening. Run! She tried to move, to fight, but he continued to hold her arms so tightly she couldn’t budge. Panic buzzed inside her and her heart hammered insanely fast. Where was Blackie? Why was he letting this man do this to her? Had the bastard been using her just like this man said? A burst of anger slashed into her fear. Damn him! “I said get the fuck off me, you son of a bitch!” He grinned, showing her an array of rotting teeth that made her cringe, and she grimaced at his foul-smelling breath. His head lowered in an attempt to kiss her but she turned her face away, crying out once more for him to let her go. He didn’t. Instead, he only laughed. This time louder. He was enjoying her distress. What kind of a man was he? She gasped in terror as his mouth dropped against the valley of her breasts. She struggled harder but quickly realized the futility in doing so. Something inside her suddenly calmed, telling her to be silent. She obeyed her inner voice and went deathly still. She would endure this. She would wait for an opening to escape. “That’s it, woman. Just enjoy it. You females are made to be fucked. That’s all you are good for.” Slimy bastard! He released her arms and, as he began to climb on top of her, Kinley saw red— literally. The small sheathed knife at his waist captured her attention. In her terror, she hadn’t noticed it earlier. She didn’t think. She went into automatic survival mode and reacted. He descended upon her and his grin widened in victory. A horrific chill snapped through her and, before she knew what had happened, she’d palmed the knife. A split second later, a gurgling drifted through the air. The man went limp on top of her. Warm, sticky wetness splashed against her right hand and over her neck and chest. Panicking, she pushed at him and, to her surprise, he fell off her easily. There was blood everywhere. His face, his neck, but mainly on his chest. She must have stabbed him in the heart.
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Nausea climbed into her belly and she scrambled to stand. “What have you done?” Blackie’s low and deadly voice erupted from close by. He had allowed this to occur. He had been watching what had happened and, from the shock in his dark eyes, he hadn’t expected her to kill his friend. Fear sliced sharply into her. He would want his revenge against her for killing this man. He would hurt her. She needed to leave. Ignoring his shouts, Kinley sprinted as if her feet had suddenly grown wings. She ran.
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Chapter Two Several days later… Astronaut Kayla Hero couldn’t help but keep her eyes glued to the brown-haired stranger limping behind the caged wagon she’d been locked inside. The wheels continued to turn beneath her barred prison, spewing puffs of dust that clung to Kayla’s hot, damp skin. She and her two women captors—who sat on a wooden bench in front of the wagon—as well as the wagon itself and the man behind her, were being dragged along a road by four black horses. Despite being surrounded by lush jungle and having no clue where they were taking her, she couldn’t keep her eyes off the guy. He possessed an impressive arrangement of scars that crisscrossed his broad chest and shoulders and held a very seductive smile for her. A smile that made her insides flip-flop all over the place whenever he looked at her. God! There must have been something in that swamp water she and her two sisters swam in as they’d escaped the wreckage of their spaceship. She drank some of the water by accident. Maybe a few swallows…if that…and since then she’d been experiencing intense arousal and had become very aware of her femininity. The more she looked at this guy, the more excited she got. Although she realized it wasn’t normal, she just didn’t seem to care about the spaceship crash or the fact she’d been separated from her sisters after heading out to find help for them. It didn’t seem to matter either that she’d been walking for days or maybe even weeks, eating berries and wild carrots and other types of vegetation. But finally, early this morning, she’d been surrounded by a group of women. Nearnaked ladies who appeared quite confident in their state of dress…or perhaps in their state of undress. They’d asked her questions about which “hub” she came from. Hub meaning “village” if she remembered right from the information her brothers had sent when they’d decided to remain on this planet more than a couple of years ago. The women asked her who she was and she’d made up some fake name. When she’d asked for their help in going back into the swamps to get her sisters, they’d scowled at her like she was crazy, saying it was too dangerous to trek to the Fever Swamps. With a name like that, she didn’t want to stray close to the place either, but her sisters were there. Amid her protests, the women hustled her to a nearby town where she’d swiftly been given to a couple of tall, well-muscled chicks who had locked her inside this wagon. Shortly after that, the guy had been tied to the wagon and off they’d gone. The instant she saw him, her troubles had dissolved into the background. She was pretty 19
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sure the excitableness she experienced when she looked at him had everything to do with the water she drank, but hey, who cared. He reminded her of Tarzan. Tall, lean, deeply tanned, muscular… oh yes, very muscular. Black bristles covered his lower face, making him appear hot and dangerous at the same time. His chest had scars. She couldn’t help but inspect every one of those raised lash marks. She loved scars on a man. Always had. Of course those scars led her focus lower. To the area between his powerful thighs. Quite the swollen sac beneath a very big cock that was more than semi-erect, jerking and bouncing as he walked. Man she loved this planet and she loved the shape of his cock too. It was oh-solong, with a bulging, plum-shaped, purple head, and so engorged she knew he was craving some tender loving care. Heat suffused her face as she continued to inspect his nakedness. Warm wetness wept from her pussy and tight breaths of arousal shifted through her at the thought of his muscular, toned body coming down upon hers. Of him entering her swiftly. Sure, she was comfortable with guys and their cocks, but this man walking behind her, his wrists bound and tied with a length of rope that ran beneath the bars at the back of the wagon, had her cheeks warming. He was also drawing out her compassionate side. With his every step, he grimaced. He wore no shoes and his bare feet had to be smarting on the hot dirt road. Directly overhead the brilliant sun shone waves of heat rays upon his flesh, baking him a gorgeous dark tan. She was thankful to have a roof over her head, keeping her in the shade. The air was thick and sticky, making her shift uncomfortably on the primitive wooden bench. She wore no bra or underwear beneath the light green, see-through tank top and skimpy skirt she’d been given by those women this morning. In their haste to wake from sleep stasis and get out of the wreckage of the starship, she and her sisters hadn’t had time to dress. Playfully flirty, she couldn’t resist spreading her legs, allowing air to caress her pussy and to show him what she had to offer. Blowing out an aroused breath, she used her bound hands to brush away the perspiration dotting her forehead. Forcing her gaze from his luscious cock, she studied his face for the umpteenth time since they’d started this journey. The stranger possessed remarkable eyes. Warm and brown, like melted chocolate fudge. Every time his gaze locked onto hers, a hot rush of arousal pulsed through her. She wondered if he was one of those male sex slaves her brothers had vaguely mentioned in their message about how this planet worked. Here women were in charge and all males were uneducated slaves. No fun. She wanted to be the one dominated. Wanted this rugged stranger breaking her out of this wagon, dragging her into the dense, green foliage and taking her on the
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ground…or up against a tree…or… A knowing grin tugged at the corners of his lush, full lips. Lips made for fusing over her clit and sucking her until she came and came. Oh God, Kayla! Focus! Not on him! But on getting out of here! She needed to find her brothers. They’d get the help her sisters required, and then they needed to figure out how to get off this planet and go home. Crud! But how was she going to break out of this damned cage? All four sides were made of two-inch, solid metal bars, pounded into a thick-planked wooden floor. The roof was flat and also made of thick-planked wood. Her gaze moved from the wagon ceiling back to him. And what about him? When she had an opportunity to escape, she’d definitely have to take Mr. Yummy Tarzan along with her, if only to have him put her out of her delicious sexual misery. She resisted the urge to close her legs to him. She shouldn’t be so sexually blatant. Instead she embraced the sweet shivers sweeping through her as he continued to stare at her with erotic interest. She swore if he had his way with her, she’d enjoy every minute of it. Her gaze dropped back to his cock and she inhaled softly at the sight. Have mercy! His cock was getting bigger! Expanding, lengthening. Readying itself for her. Kayla moaned at the sight and found herself losing control of her senses. She craved for him to plunge into her. To spear into her pussy until she came apart, crying and moaning and whimpering. White heat enveloped her and she fought against pressing her tender clit into the warm, wooden bench beneath her. With every breath and every jiggle of the wagon, naughty vibrations cascaded against the area between her thighs. She inhaled softly, her world rocking at the knowing look in the stranger’s eyes as he raised them from studying her pussy to recapture her gaze. Fight it, Kayla. She moaned inwardly. Fight the erotic pull this man and this planet have on you. On this planet who knew what was in the water or, for that matter, in the air she was breathing or in the food they’d given her. Clenching her teeth, Kayla vowed not to bring herself off. At least not until he was sinking into her.
***** One more step. Another. One more. Keep going. Just one more. Those commands swept through Taylor’s mind as he struggled to keep from falling, his legs threatening to buckle with every step. He fought to keep his eyes focused on the female he’d been tracking since finding her trail in the Fever Swamps. When he’d first spotted her, she was being surrounded by a group of females. As he’d followed the females to a hub, he’d become so overwhelmed by her beauty he
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hadn’t heard the several women sneaking up behind him. Getting caught hadn’t been in his plan of breaking her free, but at least now he was close to her. This woman was too alluring for a simple male like himself, but every time he looked at her, obvious interest flared in her eyes and something inside of him screamed with happiness. This jubilance and protectiveness while gazing upon a female had never happened to him before. It frightened him and made him eager to possess her at the same time. She had wavy, dirty-yellow, shoulder-length hair, a color he had never seen on a female. He had thought she was one of those Yellow Hairs who ate males, but then he remembered she was one of those missing females that were kin to the talking Hero brothers and relief had slipped into his bloodstream. She had a heart-shaped face. Her eyes were pale blue, the same color of an early morning sky during the wet season. Her nose looked just right and she had the pinkest cheeks he’d ever seen. Her mouth looked velvety lush and he ached to kiss her. She had long legs too. Very long legs he couldn’t wait to have wrapped around his waist. Wide hips he wouldn’t hesitate to hold while he fucked her long and hard…and he would fuck her. But first he would have to break her out of that cage. Second, he would feast upon her pussy and third, he would drink from her until his thirst was quenched, and then she would accept his aching cock deep inside her hot, wet channel. Taylor groaned at the succulent ideas and kept his gaze transfixed on his prize. Her pussy danced in the shadows, beneath the cloth riding high on her thighs and, if he looked hard enough, he could see her glistening arousal wetting her cunt lips. The scent of her sex drifted on the softest of breezes and, because he’d followed her tracks from the Fever Swamps, fever twinkled in her eyes. She must have drunk some of the water. Not enough for her health to be in trouble like her sister, but enough to make her aware she would need sex to ease her aching lust. His friend Jarod had discovered this woman’s sister, Piper. Her petite, nude body had been lying motionless amid the moss-enshrouded rocks at the outskirts of the Fever Swamps. He’d managed to save her life by sucking the poison out of her pussy. Literally. They had fallen very hard for each other. If this female had swallowed the water, she would be sexually hungry. Her body would be hot and ready for the taking. She would need a male to cure her. She would need him. And he would make her belong to him just as Jarod had made Piper his woman. Warmth spilled through Taylor at fantasizing about a woman who would look at him with such love. The way Piper looked at Jarod. Yes, he would enjoy that. Enjoy it very much. But first, he must escape. Suddenly his wrists screamed with pain from the tightening rope and he lurched forward. He stumbled, almost fell and silently cursed the two females leading the team 22
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of horses. He’d overheard them say he and the woman were being taken to Death Valley and the Death Valley Boys. He needed to keep her from falling into the hands of the Boys. Once inside the walls of Death Valley, escape would be extremely difficult. The Boys had acquired the technology to outfit their captives with the ankle bracelets. That’s one thing that surprised him. These guards had not outfitted this female and himself with ankle bracelets that, upon escape, would track them. Perhaps it had been overlooked? If so, they were lucky. Or maybe these females would outfit them at nightfall. Taylor exhaled a frustrated sigh. If that were the case, things would get very difficult. The Death Valley Boys were a tight-knit group. They consisted of escaped males who’d once been sex slaves, just as all males were trained. They’d been taught to follow a female’s every command without question or suffer the consequences. Red-hot anger splashed through Taylor as he remembered the punishments. Different kinds of sexual torture—such as having heavy weights hung from his balls or cock and painful nipple clamps that turned a male into a submissive beast—were used. Cock cages, penis leashes, harsh whippings and sex on demand were a few of the hardships a male endured as a slave. Once when a female had broken the rules and educated a male, who just happened to be a close friend of Taylor’s, the male, in turn, began educating other males, including Taylor. As a result, males became aware of their slavery and fought their way to freedom. The violence inflicted upon them by the women had been turned upon the females themselves. Rapes, forced seductions and kidnappings occurred during the period of the Slave Uprising. Most of the males left their hubs. The majority moved to a secure valley— Death Valley—and called themselves the Death Valley Boys. It was a place where males ruled and females became captives and subservient. Taylor had been one of the original Death Valley Boys, until he’d decided the Boys went too far with the female captives. He and his friend Jarod had escaped. They’d lived on their own in a tree house, hiding from the Death Valley Boys and being hunted by females who were trying to recapture or kill escaped, talking slaves. But now, with the appearance of the Hero clan and Taylor’s promise to Piper that he would find her sisters, and with this luscious female pounding heated blood through his system, Taylor knew he would never be the same. As his focus renewed on the female, erotic heat flashed through him. His cock became so unbelievably thick and heavy he had to force himself not to grit his teeth at the sexual torture just looking upon her evoked. Oh the sweet, sensual things he could do to this luscious woman. He couldn’t wait to mount her, to fuck her, to have her. A cool wind breathed against his heated flesh and he gazed to the western horizon. The sun was setting in a misty veil of pinks and pale blue. Good. They would be making camp soon.
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As they’d traveled along the dusty road, he’d been studying the terrain. It was rugged and rocky and an escape over this land would be difficult enough for him, weary from walking all day with no rest stops or water. But for her, the woman in the cage who appeared so delicate, it would be very difficult. Near to impossible in her bare feet. For a moment, he toyed with the idea of leaving her behind. Of going in search of help and then returning to Death Valley to break her out. He dropped the idea immediately. If he left her, the Death Valley Boys would have her in every way the instant she arrived. She would be ruined, emotionally and possibly physically. He didn’t want her damaged. He just wanted her. Escaping with him, she would hurt. Her feet, her body and her pussy when he finally took her. But he would make sure she hurt nice. She would be his. Tonight.
***** Blackie was gaining on her! Oh God, he was going to be on her in minutes. Anxiety screamed through Kinley as the black-haired, scarred man crashed through the jungle behind her. His heavy breaths ripped through her senses and she swore the heat of his gasps whispered over the back of her neck. He was that close. Up until a few minutes ago, he’d kept a discreet distance. Over the past couple of days, she’d eluded his capture and actually enjoyed setting false trails that led him to a river’s edge or to a dead end up a tree. But he’d always managed to pick up her trail again. She hadn’t expected anything different this time. After all, she’d killed that other man after he’d tried to rape her and Blackie had stood by and watched as she’d been attacked. At remembering the reason he kept trailing her, icy tendrils of fear raced up her spine, urging her to run faster. If he caught her, she wouldn’t have a chance at killing him. He was too strong. Too muscular and oh so powerful. She didn’t want to think about how the knife had sliced into that other man so easily. Didn’t want to remember all the blood. She hadn’t meant to kill him. Truly she hadn’t. She’d been afraid and, well, she’d panicked and reacted in self-defense. Oh God! She was so confused. She’d killed someone, so why didn’t it bother her more than it did? The only thing she knew for sure was she needed to stay away from her hunter. He was almost on top of her and she was tiring. Her legs were cramping due to exhaustion, but she grit her teeth against the pain and kept running.
*****
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He craved the female Kinley so badly, but he’d held off taking her the night she had allowed him to make her come over and over again. He’d wanted to wait until she was stronger. He’d been so turned-on by the scar on her belly. Aroused by her erotic moans and sexy whimpers. Too turned-on. He needed to capture her and explain. Hatred had flared in her eyes when she’d caught him watching her after she’d killed. The betrayal he saw had been a severe blow to his system. He had been out searching for food when the leader had shown up at Blackie’s camp. Back in Death Valley, he had warned their leader she would be feisty, perhaps unpredictable. Blackie wished to track her on his own and bring her back already trained. Obviously the leader had decided to join in the hunt after all. Blackie had returned to camp quickly after hearing her screams. Had come back to find her fighting him off. Defiance raged in her brilliant green eyes as she stabbed her attacker. He wanted to catch her. To explain. He wanted to keep her safe. To pleasure her. To make her his. Only his. But after she had stabbed their leader in the heart and he’d died, she had run like a bolt of lightning. He would have gone after her, but tradition dictated he stay with the body. To bring the leader back to Death Valley for all to see, and then to the place of the dead for a proper send-off. After the traditional funeral, he’d come back for her. He’d been hunting her ever since. His lungs burned with fire as he tried to breathe just a little deeper. Tried to run just a little faster. She was only twenty feet away. Her tired breaths echoed past his ears as she dashed through the dense undergrowth in front of him. Every few seconds he caught glimpses of her. The fear lacing her heart-shaped face. The splash of silky, curly brown hair that reached mid-back. Her sun-kissed bronze skin. Until he had found her unconscious, he’d never seen this female before. But he still wanted her despite her being a killer. He hunted her not only out of revenge but also because he enjoyed a challenge and because of his sexual attraction toward her. Maybe the pull was even curiosity. He wanted to see how hard it would be to train her. He wondered how long before she submitted to the desires he would instill in her. Faster! Desperation urged him and Blackie pumped his legs harder. He could smell her. Sweet, succulent, female. He’d never reacted to a female as he had this one. She was petite. Shapely. His for the taking. His female. Yes, he would take her. He would make her enjoy his pleasure no matter how much she fought. No matter how hard she resisted.
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His lungs continued to burn from the exertion, but her sweet scent seared more power through him. He ran faster and her fear wrapped around him as he reached out. His right hand clamped over her right shoulder. Her skin was hot, smooth and very inviting as he swung her around. She was screaming. Falling. Her eyes went wide with terror as she landed on her back. He came down on her, straddled her and, within seconds, held both her wrists captive in one of his hands. With a rope he bound her wrists, and then threw her arms up and over her head, tying the other end of the rope to a small sapling a foot away from her head. “Get off me, you bastard!” He allowed her beautiful voice to slice into his bloodstream and loved the erotic way his body hummed with desire. He let her buck and writhe beneath him. Tried hard not to let himself become too aroused as her petite body ground against his cock and balls. But it didn’t take long before he clenched his teeth together with the need to take her here and now. But the defiant gaze shooting from her eyes gave him pause. This was not a woman who would easily be broken. She would kill him before she let that happen. Just as she had killed their leader. No, she needed to be primed, seduced. But first he needed to tell her he had not wished for the leader to attack her. He had meant to train her first. As she fought him, he couldn’t take his eyes from her body. She wore clothing in an unusual way. He was used to females walking confidently in their nakedness or wearing sheer, see-through clothing. This female had taken his hair blanket. It had gone missing from his camp two nights ago while he’d been swimming in a nearby stream. She had torn it in two and draped half over her lower body, covering her buttocks and pussy and knotting the sides, allowing him erotic glimpses of her tanned hips and thighs. Her breasts were covered with the other half and secured by thin strips at her shoulders—strips that appeared to have been sewn by some sort of thin cord. Strips that loosened every second she struggled. He swallowed past his dry throat and willed those garment ties to open. As if the Goddess of Freedom herself had heard his wish, the strip on her left shoulder popped, revealing the generous curve of her breast and a succulent red nipple. He shuddered at the erotic sight, remembered how he’d taken those nipples into his mouth while she’d lain deep asleep in her fever dreams. As he peered at her nipple, it mesmerized him into a breathless state. He blinked in shock as a weapon appeared in her hand. She thrust it at him and he tried to roll out of the way.
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He wasn’t fast enough. Intense pain sliced into his upper arm, throwing him totally off balance. One second he was straddling her, the next instant he lay on his back, writhing in the brilliant sparks of red-hot agony, helplessly fascinated by the curvy backside of his momentary captive. She was quickly swallowed by the surrounding lush green ferns. Damn! He’d lost her! Forcing himself to roll onto his good side, he winced at the waves of pain ripping through his upper arm. He managed to stand and curse. The rope lay near the sapling, the end that had bound her wrists…snapped. He slapped a hand to his waist. His knife was gone. While he’d been distracted by her breasts, she’d somehow broken free of her bonds and slipped the knife from his sheath. Next time he wouldn’t make the same mistake. Next time he wouldn’t be gentle either. He didn’t want her damaged, but he would make her hurt. In a good way. She would be his. Even if it killed him.
***** Kayla stared through the metal bars of the cage at the full silver moon hanging low over the nearby trees. Huh. If she didn’t know any better she could swear she was back on Earth. The moon looked the same. The air smelled the same. For a moment, she pretended she was lying out in her parents’ rural backyard with her brothers and sisters, watching for falling stars. The moon blurred and a swell of emotions washed over her as she thought of her family. Her brothers had always been fascinated by the stars, the moon and anything to do with space, so it hadn’t come as a surprise when all three had been accepted into NASA after completing their education. Now her brothers were stuck here on this godforsaken planet, waiting for help from her and her sisters, and she didn’t have a clue how to get out of this friggin’ cage, how to find her brothers or get help for her sisters. She’d left Piper lying unconscious with Kinley, who appeared dazed after suffering a head injury. But Kinley had assured Kayla she was fine and, despite Kayla’s instincts telling her Kinley wasn’t acting right in that she seemed forgetful, she’d left them. God, had she been nuts, just leaving them there so she could go off to get help? The snap of guilt disintegrated. Yeah, she’d done the right thing. Kinley had always been a resourceful woman. She would stick with Piper and find food in the wilderness. She would make sure Piper was okay. But Kayla had been naïve in thinking the group of women she’d met on the dusty road after she found her way out of that wretched swamp would help her. All they’d been interested in was tying her up and bringing her to that village. There she’d been bathed and clothed, if she could call these flimsy see-through garments clothing, and
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then she’d been sent to the auction block and sold to these two women who’d quickly shoved her into this cage. Oh crap. She was letting everybody down. Big-time. She needed to get the heck out of here, but how? Resisting the urge to pull and push—yet again—on the metal bars, her momentary anger drifted away. There was nothing she could do about her circumstances right now. Everything was out of her control, so she may as well just try to relax. But she was anything but relaxed. Arousal lashed her. Yeah, there must have been something in that swamp water she drank. There just had to be. It was the only thing she could think of as to why she needed sex, despite everything else being not good. She sighed and thought about the man who’d been dragged behind the wagon. She’d always liked scars on a man, found them attractive, and his scars certainly made her insides jump like a live wire. Kayla rolled her eyes and cursed softly. God help her, she must be a sadist if a man’s scars turned her on. Plopping her ass back onto the wooden bench, she crossed her arms over her breasts and tried to ignore how erotically the night air caressed her hot, flushed skin. Too bad the two women had led the guy out of her sight. She frowned and a raw spear of jealousy jabbed into her. They were probably having a threesome or something! The envy of him being with those women had her empty pussy throbbing and aching to be filled. Her breasts were so tender and big and she was possessed by an overwhelming need to touch herself. She searched the surrounding darkness for any sign of them and saw nothing. The three of them were probably wrapped in each other’s arms, sleeping after some red-hot sex. They wouldn’t know what she was up to in this cage. She needed to get herself off, that’s what she needed. A nice bit of sexual satisfaction would clear her mind. Closing her eyes, she leaned back against the cool bars and slid both hands beneath the flimsy material, her fingers trailing upward until she cupped her breasts. Squeezing them lightly, she inhaled at the sudden surge of pleasure whipping through her. Whoa! Definitely something going on here. Yes, she was a sexual woman, but usually she needed a bit more stimulation to get her motor running. And her motor was definitely running fast and hot. Perspiration sprinkled across her forehead and her breaths became raspy as she rolled her tender nipples between her thumbs and forefingers. Erotic tightness zipped through her pussy and a harsh, insistent ache pulsed deep inside her vagina. The need for release had her squeezing her nipples tighter. The buds grew harder and she clamped her thighs together, trying to get some friction going while she tended her breasts.
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Urgency made her move one of her hands from her breast and thrust her top up, allowing the air to directly brush her fevered flesh. While she tugged her nipple, she used her free hand to peel off the skirt and drop it to the cage floor at her feet. She spread her legs and moved her hand between her thighs, smiling as she discovered the wet heat. She arched her hips and moaned as her fingers pressed past her wet pussy lips and swept feverishly against her swollen, sensitive clit. She trembled at the intoxicating friction and, within seconds, hot ripples of need built deep inside. Using the hot cream of her arousal as lubrication, she rubbed her clit with firm pressure, pinched and plucked her nipples harder and harder until the erotic bite shredded her like an unleashed storm. She lost control. Lost herself in the mindless enjoyment. She barely heard herself cry out into the quiet stillness of the deep, dark night. Barely cared if anyone heard her. Shaking and moaning, she jerked and bucked her hips, suspending herself on a rack of pleasure. Thrusting two fingers inside, she withdrew and plunged in again, making sure she rubbed against the sensitive nerve endings of her clit every time. She fantasized about the stranger taking her right here on the bench. He would be impatient, demanding yet tender. She’d seen at least that much in his eyes. Eyes that were unreadable most of the day, but every now and then gave her glimpses of his sexual needs, knowingly or unknowingly. She didn’t care which. She just wanted him. Tweaking her nipples, she continued her mad, erotic thrusts into her pussy. His lovemaking would be addictive. Intoxicating. As she came a second time, Kayla grew more aroused than before. Shit!
***** Taylor watched her from the shadows, panting as the silvery moon splashed beams of light over the female’s near-naked figure. She sat half on, half off the bench. Her garment was thrust up, revealing pert, luscious, creamy breasts he ached to touch. He craved to cup her swollen flesh in his palms. His breathing grew rapid and his cock throbbed and swelled as she moaned and thrust her fingers between her widespread thighs. Gritting his teeth, he was able to keep himself from stroking his cock. He could withhold getting his satisfaction for a long time. Denial had been trained into him over the years and the learning he’d endured as a sex slave was hard to forget. He would take this woman. He would quell his sex-slave training of self-control. But first he needed to break her out of that cage. Sighing with frustration, Taylor ignored the insistent throb in his cock and balls. After the two females had led him to a secluded area and tied him to a tree, he’d held his breath, awaiting the ankle bracelet he was sure would come. But they appeared
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too involved with each other as they’d held hands and giggled. Sexy, muffled moans and whimpers had come from behind some bushes they’d retreated to, and then later, silence. He’d waited a long time, making sure they slept before he’d moved into action. Slipping out of the binds had not been too much trouble. He’d used the friction of the ropes to cut into his flesh. The blood made things slippery enough to free himself. Then he had headed toward the wagon. That’s when he saw the woman…and what she was doing to herself. In Death Valley, masturbating—for females—was not allowed. Punishment would be whippings and bondage. Taylor grinned despite the discomfort plaguing his lower half. He would enjoy punishing this woman for her transgression. He could hardly wait.
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Chapter Three If she weren’t so exhausted from her several intense orgasms, Kayla wouldn’t have hesitated bringing herself off yet again. But the euphoria of the sexual haze drifting all around her was sweeping her into a blissful peace she really enjoyed. Her mind was freeing itself, devoid of questions, of anxiety and fear. She wanted to drown in the erotic blankness. She would have, too, had she not smelled him. His dominant, fiercely sexy scent—a combination of dust, sweat and intensity—tensed every fiber inside her into live wires of sexual awareness and intoxicating need. A split second later, she snapped her eyes open and found a shadowy figure fiddling quietly with the padlock of the cage door. She’d studied his silhouette enough during the day to recognize his powerful build, and she couldn’t stop the sensual gasp whispering past her lips as her body hummed with erotic alertness for him. “Not a sound,” he whispered. Suddenly her senses returned. He was breaking her out! Gosh! Had he been watching her masturbate? Oh man, how embarrassing! Blushing profusely at her disarrayed attire, she rushed to get her skirt back on and her top in place. Her legs nearly buckled, but she managed to hold on to the nearby bars until she was strong enough to walk to the door. A moment later, he opened the cage and his hands snaked in. Grabbing her by the waist, he literally swept her off her feet and she sailed right out of the cage. Powerful man! Those two words pounded into her brain like a battering ram and excitement and fear swept through her. He could overpower her easily. He could dominate her. Do whatever he wished to her once he got her away from their captors. In the silvery glow of moonlight his deep-set eyes glittered with lust, and the strong chin, the firm set of his full mouth spoke of self-control. Tension oozed off him as he settled her upon the ground ever so gently, an indication that maybe he wouldn’t hurt her at all. She couldn’t help but drop her gaze to hungrily scan those scars lacing his muscular chest, which was dusted with a soft shadow of hair. Once again heat flared deep inside her vagina, sending her senses whirling into erotic mode. Shit! All that masturbating was for naught. She was more aroused than ever! And it didn’t even seem that she cared about escaping after all. She was nuts! She had to be.
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She resisted the sudden urge to slap this man silly for making her throb with such intense need for him. “We go now. Stay silent,” he said coolly. The hands wrapped around her waist slipped away, and then his fingers intertwined with hers and he held tight as he pulled her along behind him. Fuck! The powerful grasp of his strong fingers captured her full attention and sent conflicting emotions spiraling through her. Dazed excitement at having him rescue her and feminine relief at having such a big, muscular man protecting her. Most of all, though, erotic-sweet fear had slipped into her bloodstream at the rockhard, huge erection he was toting for her. For sure he’d been watching her masturbate. His intentions for rescuing her were clear. And if she were to accommodate his blatantly demanding cock? What then? Would he let her go? Or would he turn her into a submissive sex slave? She wasn’t sure if he would agree to help her find her sisters and brothers. She didn’t really care about anything but having him thrusting between her thighs. Her emotions had once again gone haywire. She was in trouble. Big trouble!
***** She still had no idea who in the world she was, where she came from or how she got lost in this god-forsaken jungle. Looking down at the silver medical alert bracelet, she couldn’t so much as fathom a memory. Kinley Hero. The name felt right as she said it over and over in her head. The name belonged to her, yet she couldn’t think of a reason of why she was lost in this jungle. She remembered bursts of flames dancing on the water, the smell of fuel, her swimming with two other women. The blonde-haired woman with the startling blue eyes had told her to stay with the unconscious one, and then Kinley had awoken to that Blackie man fucking her senseless with his fingers. After killing the brute who’d tried to rape her, she’d seen the horror in Blackie’s dark eyes. Stabbing her attacker had happened so fast everything around the incident was hazy. Blackie would most likely want revenge against her for killing his friend. Yet he was the only person she could think of to get her out of this jungle. Keeping close to him even though he continued to track her made her hope that sooner or later, he would tire of her and head out to civilization. She’d be right behind him. That is, if she could keep from being captured by him. She just needed to stay close to him and not get caught. Close enough so she could watch his evening bathing ritual, but at the same time not be seen. Spying on him was the highlight of each night. Between the huge ferns, she lay on her tummy on the soft warm moss, her elbows upon the ground and her hands tucked beneath her chin.
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The water sparkled as he stood knee-deep in the river and washed himself about forty feet away. The gentle, slow strokes as he lathered the corded, tanned muscles on his chest mesmerized her. Magnificent beast. A fissure of guilt sliced through her over the stab wound on his shoulder. He hadn’t covered it and the angry, red gash was a constant reminder of how violent she could be when threatened. Quickly she brushed aside her guilt. He’d had it coming. If he’d been nice, like the first time he’d had her, she would have been more accommodating. But he’d scared her with his brutality. Instinctively she’d panicked and defended herself. But she didn’t want to think about that now. She just wanted to watch the erotic show he put on before he went to sleep. Glorious cock. Her pussy throbbed with longing when he dropped his loincloth to reveal a long, swollen, fully aroused penis. She ached to have it in her mouth. She wanted to taste him, to smooth her tongue over the swollen, round cock head, to listen to his groans of arousal…just like he was groaning now. Both his hands were stroking the enormous length of his cock. His eyelids were half closed and his breath was escaping quickly between slightly parted lips. She trembled at his masculine groans as they drifted through the dusky evening air. He looked so glorious standing in the river. A bronze, black-haired god. A powerful man who caressed his hard cock, urging himself closer into a pleasure land. Feverish heat and her own arousal uncurled through her body, and quietly she moved to a seated position. She untied the shoulder straps of her garment and allowed her flimsy top to drop. Staring at his sexy bedroom eyes, she smoothed her palms lightly over her tender nipples, her body throbbing in an erotic rhythm to match his moans. The featherlight touches on her flesh made her fantasize about him being here, touching her. Just thinking about him having his hands moving sensuously across her body had her aching and shuddering. Uncrossing her legs, she dropped one hand between her thighs and found herself wet for him. Her finger dipped like an erotic flame into her soaked vagina. She pushed her finger deeper inside and pulled it out again, parting her labia, and seared a creamed finger against her clit with a soft, tender massage. She’d been doing this, pleasuring herself, for the past several nights while he masturbated during his evening bath. Call it entertainment on her part, or a desperate need for human companionship any way she could get it. Spying on him while he touched himself drew her like a moth to a flame. She was the moth and she needed to be very careful with her arousal or he would discover her secret. For a split second, she had an odd sense of déjà vu that she’d been burned terribly by someone in the past. Someone other than the attacker she’d killed.
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But the feeling quickly vanished as the heat of desire erupted to the forefront of her thoughts. Her nipples hardened beneath the palm of her hand as she continued the featherlight friction. With each thrust of her finger inside her channel and back out to massage her clit, she relaxed the tight control she’d wrapped around herself after discovering that nasty man who’d almost raped her. Maybe she’d been in shock…or perhaps there was another reason? But she wouldn’t go there. Not now, when she was in the mood for pleasure. Several more hard massages and quick thrusts and she fell into exquisite shivers. Her pussy flared with erotic need and she jerked as hard bursts of tremors splashed through her. Gritting her teeth, she bit into the release. Bit into the moans and whimpers threatening to give her secret satisfaction away.
***** Blackie could just about drown in his memories of earlier today. The female he had for too brief of moments squirming beneath his body. While he stood in the river, the cool liquid brushing past his legs, his hands stroking the massive length of his swollen, bruise-colored flesh, he stripped himself of all thoughts of revenge. In his mind’s eye, there was just the two of them. Male and female. He groaned roughly as he imagined her on her knees and naked between his thighs. Her sweet mouth smiling up at him, her green eyes full of heat and want for him. Her delicate fingers roughly stroking his elongated cock. Her wet pink tongue licking his purple, blood-engorged cock head, her teeth pulling sweetly on his ring, creating a shocking satisfaction. Yes, she would enjoy his cock plunging between her full lips. All her fears of him would dissolve as she thought only of pleasuring him and herself. Her breathing would be labored. Just like his. Her eyes lust-filled for him. Her eyelids heavy and drooping in anticipation of knowing that when she brought him to the edge of climax, he would push her to the ground and she would lie flat on her back, knees up, legs spread. Her breasts swollen, her nipples red and pebbled. He would part her plump pussy lips with his fingers, opening her vagina that glistened with juices. She’d extend her arms to him in welcome as he came down upon her, his hard, swollen shaft sliding into her. As Blackie continued to stroke his cock, the desire for release grew almost to the point of pain. Yet he continued to hold back. He wanted to be here, wrapped up in this wonderful assault on his senses, for just a few moments longer. He swore he could feel the warmth of her succulent cunt muscles wrapped around his flesh as he penetrated her. She would moan as her tight vagina stretched, accommodating his erection, and she would cry out in both surprise and anticipation at his size, wiggling her hips beneath him as he drove into her over and over again, impaling her to the hilt. 34
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His control began to slip as he envisioned the sweet way she would scrunch her eyes as he withdrew and penetrated her again. His heart thundered in his chest as his body demanded release. Erotic spasms and violent tremors shimmered and burst along his shaft in lightning speed and the gut-wrenching explosions caved his self-control. From somewhere far off her sensual moans and sexy whimpers literally bounced across the water. Goddess of Freedom! If he didn’t know any better he would swear she was here, nearby, the whimpers of her arousal real. He sank deeper into his fantasy of her. Sank deeper into her succulent pussy. The bold plunges produced magnificent spasms that shifted like electricity through his cock and balls. Shaking with wild abandon, he released himself onto his hands, imagining his release into her. “You belong to me,” he groaned into the orgasm. “You will be mine. I will own you.” An answering sexy moan drifted through the cool night air. He stiffened with renewed awareness. Had he imagined that erotic sigh? Or was it, in fact, real?
***** A deep sense of helplessness assaulted Kayla Hero as the stranger continued to haul her through the dark jungle. Sharp irritation mounted through her too. Bursts of anger at the shards of pain zipping into the soles of her bare feet every time she stepped on a jagged stone. Her anger and frustration only increased as nasty branches sprang out of the darkness and whipped parts of her tender body. Man! She’d been a jogger back home, but this kind of running just didn’t cut it. She preferred pounding her running-shoe-clad feet onto cement pathways, not this uneven ground with an abundance of tangled vines. She was beginning to hate her rescuer. With every hour that passed her hatred grew. How dare he keep up such a dramatic pace, and how could she be so stupid as to mindlessly follow a stranger like this? Not that she had much of a choice with the powerful grip he maintained on her hand. She’d been rescued from being a prisoner in a cage to being a prisoner to him. Where in the world was he getting all his energy from? God, he’d been dragged behind the cage all day with virtually no water to drink and he’d kept up this grueling pace through the night. As she ran with him, gray sky splashed through the dense jungle growth. A new day was dawning. All she wanted to do was simply stop running and lie down on the ground and let the ferns swallow her as she sailed into oblivious sleep. She’d never been so exhausted in her life and every muscle in her body sang with aches and pains from the brutal punishment. Suddenly, as if her brain shorted out, her legs buckled and she found herself falling. Pain seared her knees and the stranger cursed violently as he lost his grip on her hand.
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Thankfully he stopped and turned around, and for a moment she was almost overcome with immense arousal and compassion at those lash scars lacing his deeply tanned shoulders and chest. But when urgency and annoyance filled his gaze, defiance roared through her like a bursting damn. “I’m not moving from here,” she replied, totally surprised to find her voice strong and steady. “Get up. We must keep moving.” His sharp command and the serious determination in his warm brown eyes almost had her dragging herself to her feet. Almost. “Fuck off,” she snapped. “I recognize those two words as ones I do not like,” he said coolly. His eyes glittered with distaste and she almost laughed, but reined her amusement back to anger. “Oh fuck off,” she spat again, the irritation at his insistence they keep moving finally taking a firm hold. “I’ve had enough. I’m tired.” Despite her exhaustion, something deep inside her pussy called out to be filled by his cock. Warmth blew across her cheeks. Oh shit, she was blushing. She tried to maintain eye contact with him by thrusting her chin out so she could hold her head high in defiance, but her neck ached and she had no choice but to drop her gaze. His penis blatantly stood out from his body, pointing directly at her as if begging to be taken by her mouth. Although not wanting to, she reacted to having his cock so close. He smelled tantalizing. Irresistibly masculine. Primal urges awakened from somewhere inside her. Lust, deeply buried, sprang to life. Cravings she couldn’t put a name to threatened to sweep around her like a seductive blanket. If she wasn’t careful, they would push away all her common sense. She shouldn’t be reacting like this to a complete stranger. But she was! And truth be told, she didn’t care if she was reacting this way to him. Suddenly she thought how erotic it would be to sleep with this guy. To simply put aside all proper thinking about no sex on the first date—yeah right, like this is a date—and just go with her primal urges and have sex. For starters, she’d go down on him, suck him dry. God, she wanted to take his swollen flesh between her lips. To smooth her tongue against his hot cock. It seemed as if he knew exactly what she was thinking because a gentle touch on her right shoulder alerted her he’d moved closer. Purple laced his bursting cock head, the blood pooling and rushing through his long length and swelling his balls with his seed. Seed she wanted to taste. To have deep inside her. She moaned on a heavy pant and parted her lips. Her needs were taking over and she was going to just follow her instincts.
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“You cannot resist, can you?” His voice was throaty, full of lust. “You need me to quell the needs raging through you.” She gazed up at him, totally stunned. How did he know? But then she inhaled softly at the smug, sexy smile lacing his lips. Appreciated how hot he looked with the dark bristles shadowing his strong chin and high cheekbones. Excitement mingled with fear. She needed him to put out the fires racing through her like an inferno, but his cock might just be too big for her mouth. “Open wider.” He groaned as he thrust his hips closer to her. She did as he instructed, widening her jaw. The heat from his cock and balls washed against her face as he moved nearer. He pushed his immense erection against her slightly parted lips and she creamed. “Touch yourself. Your breasts and between your legs while I fuck your mouth. I want to watch,” he muttered and she became wrapped in the deep guttural command. Going totally and unbelievably on instinct, she ran her hand back and forth over her nipples, brushing provocatively, then reached down with her other hand and found her vaginal opening soaked. Dipping her finger inside her channel, she collected the warm juices and pulled out before splaying her fingers over her sensitive clit. While she stroked herself, the stranger slowly pushed his cock head into her mouth. He was moaning and breathing loudly as he sank deeper into her, stopping only when his cock touched the back of her throat. Man, having his hot, solid flesh in her mouth was so perfect. So right. He wrapped a hand near the base of his cock, preventing himself from going any farther, and then he withdrew and sank back into her, groaning at the entry. Heat spiraled through her at his primal, masculine groan. She gripped him tighter between her lips and at the same time massaged her nipples and clit faster. In moments she had a rhythm going in sync with his thrusts into her mouth. His long plunges made her tender lips bruised and hot. He stretched her jaw and throat every time he slid in, moving faster and faster. She met his thrusts eagerly, her tongue stroking beneath his cock as he entered. Her cheeks hollowed as she bobbed her head. His other hand sifted through her hair, curled around the back of her neck. His palm was a hot brand as he held her steady. His thrusts increased and so did the raw pleasure searing her senses. Her fingers stroked in and out of her sopping pussy at a faster pace, keeping up with his fierce plunges. He fucked her mouth like an expert. Fiercely. Perfectly. The skin on her body was ultrasensitive, every nerve ending on fire. Flashes of ecstasy exploded through her, gripping her, holding and preparing her for an oncoming climax. She moaned into the exquisite vibrations wrapping around her, her hips arching as she continued thrusting her fingers in and out of her pussy, making sure she stroked her clit on the way in. With her free hand, she played with her breasts, tugging and twisting her nipples. 37
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Erotic shivers assaulted her. Her pussy clenched and spasmed, making her wiggle her hips beneath the pleasurable onslaught. His thrusts came harder. He pounded into her mouth and she plunged into her pussy in the same erotic manner. He was driving his cock so perfectly that the tension unleashed inside her just as it was unleashing inside of him. The glorious waves came and swept over her. She cried out around his cock as he growled and came inside her mouth. Hot jets squirted. She greedily drank from him. She was so unbelievably thirsty. As he continued to pulse in her mouth, he murmured softly, tenderly, “Drink as much as you can. Drink. The more you drink the stronger you will get.” Yes, she must drink or she would succumb to the fevered heat flushing with lightning speed through every curve in her body. God, he tastes so good. A meal fit for a queen. Afterward, when her body stopped shuddering and his cock became dry, an unexpected strength flowed through her yet she remained aroused. When he pulled his semi-limp cock from her mouth, she reached out to him, wanting him back again. Wanting him to climb on top of her and take her. But before she could grab his hand and pull him down to her, he stepped away, out of her reach. Disappointment devastated her but within seconds she recovered her sanity. God! What was wrong with her! She’d just sucked off a complete stranger, masturbated in front of him and had almost pulled him down on top of her. “It is the swamp water.” He said it so casually she blinked with confusion. “Swamp water?” “From the Fever Swamps. The brown water. You must have drunk a little. When it enters your system, you become sexually hungry. You did not ingest as much as Piper, so I didn’t…” At the mention of her older sister, Kayla focused on one thought—finding Piper and her other siblings and getting the hell out of this erotic world. “Where is my sister? Take me to her.” Excitement shot through her and his face swam before her as she struggled to stand. To her irritation, her knees buckled and she couldn’t help but give in to her weakness, so she sat back down on the ground with a plop. The stranger made no move to help her up. Instead he splayed his hand softly back and forth over her right shoulder in a reassuring manner. “We will stay here and rest. Your sister is with my friend, Jarod. They are…together, as we are.” Together? Like them? What?
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Did this brute seriously think they were already in a relationship because she’d sucked his cock? Okay, chill. Keep it together, Kayla. This isn’t Earth. Different customs here. Just go with it. She forced herself to slow her breathing until she was calm enough to ask the question that burned through her like a wildfire. “Okay, where is she? So she’s okay? What about Kinley? They were together. Is she okay too?” “Piper is many days away. Only she was found. I was to search for you and her. I found you first and I am to return you to your sister, Piper. Then I will search for the other one.” Her gut hollowed out in disappointment. Damn! She wanted to hook up with Piper and find out what in the world was going on here. Fever Swamp water or not, she needed to get away from this Tarzan hunk before she began begging him to fuck her. “We should go back and find Kinley. She had a head injury.” He shook his head, looked up at the gray sky and frowned. Unease slithered through her as she followed his gaze. Okay, so the skies weren’t pure blue like they’d been ever since she’d crashed onto this crazy planet. They were light gray, like rain. They would need to find shelter. But where did one find shelter in a jungle? “You will begin to have more urges soon. Let me know when you can no longer stand them.” Urges? Oh frigging great! She was already needing to have sex with him. To have him between her legs. Her pussy quivered and moistened. Perspiration dotted her warm forehead. Oh boy, yes those were definitely urges. He lowered his gaze back to her and she could swear he knew she was getting all hot and bothered for him again. Thankfully he didn’t say anything like, “You can suck on my cock once more,” or she would have done it. “I do not know where to look for her. We cannot rest here for too long. They will follow us. Try to recapture us.” “Who were they?” Kayla asked, hoping to keep him in conversation so she could stall. “Those women belong with the Breeders. We were lucky they were taking us to the Death Valley Boys instead of to Cath. The Boys are the lesser evil.” “The Death Valley Boys? Cath?” “The Death Valley Boys would have you trained within a moon. You would not want to leave them.” Hmmm, she wasn’t going to ask why she wouldn’t want to leave them. At least not yet. “Cath would most likely turn you into her personal sex slave.”
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Okay, a personal sex slave to a woman didn’t sound so bad. “That is after we were both lobotomized. She is doing that to all talking males. Since she does not know you, she would do the same to you. She is afraid of strangers.” The chick sounded paranoid, but to lobotomize people? Not good. The Death Valley Boys were definitely the better choice. Kayla wanted to ask him all sorts of questions. Who was he? Where did he live? Who was this Jarod character? Exactly how many days to get to her sister? Why did he limp? And how had he gotten all those sexy scars? But before she could pose her curious questions, he hauled her to her feet. “We must go now. Come,” he urged and began pulling her along behind him. Well, she couldn’t even consider that a mini-break. She made no protest as her gaze fixated on all those delicious scars lashing his back. Yummy scars she couldn’t wait to touch, to lick or bite. Oh damn. She wondered how long she could keep her hands off him.
***** Taylor pushed her as hard as he figured she could take the pace. Instincts told him they were still being followed and he was in too much of a hurry to cover his tracks properly. The distant gray skies indicated the violent storms would be coming soon and the last place they needed to be was out in the open. They would need secure shelter. It would be a close call if they didn’t keep up a good pace. He also sensed her increasing arousal. Every time he cast a quick glance at her, the heat of need flashed in her eyes. Allowing her to suck him off would only keep her under control for a short while. She would need to be fucked to ease her out of her arousal. He swallowed tightly at the thought. He wanted her bad. He wanted to thrust his fingers into her yellow hair and hold her head still while he kissed her full lips. He craved to see her pale blue eyes flare with pleasure as he sank his cock deep inside her pussy. He wanted her impaled on him. Writhing beneath him. Most of all, though, he needed to squash these intoxicating tremors of need that stormed through him every time he looked at her, touched or smelled her. Allowing her to be recaptured by the Breeders was out of the question. Just thinking of her going to the Death Valley Boys struck terror straight through him. As he continued to tug her through the dense undergrowth, he cast another glance at her and that dark pounding heat slammed into him again. The erotic way her nipples pebbled against her garment and the enticing way her breasts looked beneath the sheer fabric of her top had him wanting to fuck her right there and then. She held much too much power over him. He would have to control his intense need for her. He would have to wait until he could stand the tension no longer. Then he would take her. 40
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***** The female named Kinley had come into his camp last night while he slept. Her succulent scent drifted through the layers of his sleep and he had awoken immediately to find her sensual silhouette mere feet away as she rummaged through his food pack. At first he’d assumed she was an erotic dream, as he’d had many since first seeing her. He’d thought her a vivid fantasy with a well-rounded ass shimmering against the shredded blanket clothing she wore. As she’d bent over, her back to him and the silvery moon splashing along her seductive features, his cock had swelled too quickly. He would have groaned aloud at the intense arousal slamming along the length of his cock and into his balls and lower belly, but he hadn’t dared break the fantasy. It was only after she’d opened his food bag and stood with some fruit and dried meat clutched in her hands that he realized she was real and not a dream. But by then she had vanished into the dark surroundings. Quick moving on his part allowed him to follow her in complete silence and now, in the early morning glittering, gray rays of dawn, he found her lying fast asleep on green fern boughs. His gut clenched. She lay on her side, her hands tucked under her chin. Her face was a picture of peace and she was totally oblivious to his nearness. She would be punished for her thievery. But he would wait, for presently he did not wish to see the immense fear of him in her eyes. He did not want to see the panic upon her discovery of him. Right now he wished to watch her and wonder why she’d kept close to him over the past days. Was she lost? Was she wishing to be captured by him? Did she crave to be bound and gagged and brought to Death Valley and fucked by the males? Or perhaps she wanted him to take her? Blackie crouched on his haunches. He waited.
***** Kinley dreamed of the man with black hair and black eyes. Dreamed of how tenderly he would touch her and how passionately he would kiss her. Erotic tremors rippled through her as she imagined how he’d press the heated palms of his big hands over her breasts. He would rub her nipples softly, gently, until arousal shimmered through her. “You are too beautiful to be real,” he would whisper from somewhere above her. His voice, dark and seductive, would lure her deeper into the world of sleep fantasy. In this dream, she did not fear him. Here he could not hurt her, but she could imagine his masculine smell—fresh jungle and the crisp, clean rivers he bathed in. He
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was strong, powerful and dominant. His sexy scent was utterly delicious and awakened all her senses. As he rubbed her breasts, his mouth—hot and demanding—smoothed over her lips. The friction sent the heat of awareness through her and her mouth swelled as he kissed her hard. “You taste as sweet as those berries you took from my food bag last night.” He breathed against her face as he lifted his lips from hers. Berries, yes, they’d been delicious. Red, ripe strawberries. Her favorite. They’d been plump, sweet and so addictive. She hadn’t been able to stop eating them. She’d barely been able to make it back to her fern bed last evening. The one she’d made so she would be hidden by a wall of protective lush greenery. There, after eating more of the berries, she’d fallen fast asleep and slipped into a red-hazed world of carnal pleasure. A world where she’d dreamed he’d tied her wrists and ankles. Where he’d kissed her so passionately the heat slamming through her body had almost made her combust. Kinley smiled as she gazed into his dark eyes. He would never hurt her in this world. Here she was safe. An intoxicating glitter of amusement and desire flared in his black eyes as she arched her back and pushed her breasts harder into his palms. She loved the pressure he used with his hands and her nipples tingled as he brushed them. Soon her lower abdomen clenched with exquisite need. Wet lust drenched the area between her thighs and she shuddered with a sweet, desperate longing to have him covering her body with his. She ached to have him filling her, impaling her so they could become one. He lay beside her, his magnificent, sun-kissed body turned in such a way to allow his hands to roam her breasts and for him to bend his head to kiss her. He looked exquisite sitting so close to her. A man who, in reality, most likely wanted to kill her for stabbing his friend. Yet in this dream he wouldn’t kill her. He could only bring her the pleasure she craved. Her gaze dropped to his breechcloth, or maybe cockcloth would be a more appropriate term. He possessed a very pleasing bulge, which strained to be free. Just as she yearned to break free. “You wish to touch me,” he said softly and her gaze snapped back to his amused grin. To those black lust-filled eyes that made her insides long for him. “Reach out, my beautiful female. Reach and take me into your palms as I have taken you.” He nodded to where he was brushing her pert, swollen nipples. “Do to me as I do to you. Pleasure me,” he ordered, his voice becoming strained and hoarse. When she reached out, her fingers trembled. But why when she wanted him so badly?
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Tentatively touching the clothed cock, she gasped as his erection twitched and strained toward her. He inhaled sharply at her touch and she smiled to herself. Yes he wanted her, just as badly as she wanted him. The strings at the sides of his bronze waist held him from view. She pulled on one side and the string opened just as easily as the ones that had held her breasts from his view. Huh, she didn’t remember him lowering her top. Oh well, this is just a dream anyway. A hot, scorching dream that had her panting and loving his touch. As she drew his cloth away, his cock sprang free like a giant, swollen serpent and she focused on his length. Kinley swallowed at his enormous width and shivered at the intoxicating, smooth, plum-shaped cock head. She exhaled slowly. How would his immense size be able to slide into her? A red, lusty haze swirled through her senses and her hunger for sex grew. Wildfire ignited her body as she cradled his big erection. Smooth, silky power surged against her fingers and he groaned softly. His eyes closed, his body tensed with arousal as she wrapped his swollen cock in her fist and squeezed gently, enjoying the heat searing into her palms. She struggled to gather her thoughts as one of his hands left her breasts and smoothed over her appendicitis scar. “Keep touching me, wild beauty,” he croaked. She did as he asked. Eagerly, she stroked his silky-smooth steel shaft. She loved the solid length, the heated pole. She wished he would impale her and bring her the fulfillment she craved. “This scar…it truly arouses me,” he said in a strangled voice. Kinley couldn’t help but chuckle. “You have a scar fetish?” she whispered, enjoying the erotic way his fingers trailed over the raised flesh of her scar. He touched her as he had the last time and it brought out her excitement and need, just as before. He blinked down at her, puzzlement in his black eyes. It seemed as if he had no idea what she meant. She would have posed that question to him, but his fingers trailed from her scar and tickled over her tummy, then dipped sideways to her waist. She held her breath as his fingers worked the tie of her hair blanket skirt. The tip of his pink tongue peeked from his mouth and anticipation raged in his dark gaze. “You lie before me like a banquet. A feast for my eyes. A torture to my hot fingers. I wish to quench my heat inside you, but I dare not.” A worry wrinkle creased his forehead and she wanted to beg him to take her and do what they both needed done.
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Yet she remained silent and transfixed by his long, steady fingers as they lifted her lower garment away from her hips. Warm air whispered against her mons. He moaned at the sight of her. A wicked, wild sound that sent shards of erotic heat spiraling through her. “Beautiful female,” he whispered as his gaze remained riveted to the area between her thighs. “I have been anticipating seeing you like this again.” Beads of perspiration dotted her forehead. The eagerness for pleasure softened her tension and she spread her legs, allowing him to see more. Lightly, he ran a strong finger up along her inner thigh. His lovely touch claimed her flesh and she found herself tensing, needing, wanting this dream to be real. Her pussy clenched with anticipation of his finger entering her and she moaned in protest when he didn’t penetrate. Instead, he trailed his finger lightly over her outer labia lips. His touch was a gentle whisper, an exquisite promise of things to come. Her heart raced as he found her sensitive clit. Softly, tenderly, he explored the intimate bundle of nerves. The pressure snapped wild shivers through her, making her forget to continue stroking his cock. A quick jerk of his hips returned her attention to his needs. She ran her hands along his length, instinctively getting rougher and quicker, the blood straining against his satiny-hard flesh as his pleasure continued to grow. She could barely concentrate on him as he rubbed her swollen breasts and at the same time massaged her clit. Energy built deep inside her. A sexual fire she used to enjoy back on Earth erupted, igniting long-dormant memories. Back on Earth? Something flashed in her brain. Something frightening. For a brief moment she struggled to remember and realized it would only ruin her erotic dream. Yet it was something she should know, but it slipped away into the excitement that once again raged through her. Tension roared. Anticipation soared. When he finally thrust a finger into her wet pussy, she convulsed and cried out as flames of arousal slammed into her like a storm. He withdrew and came into her pussy again with two fingers. He plunged hard, fast and as rough as she craved. Embracing the convulsions tightening her body, she continued stroking his cock. She jerked her hips, gyrated, closed her eyes and allowed herself to sink into the mindless pleasure he gave as he played her body like a musical instrument. Slurping mingled with her cries as release charged through her with the erotic speed of lightning bolts. As he finger-fucked her, she removed one hand from his cock and splayed her fingers over the massive expanse of his chest. Feathery curls dusted her fingertips and thick raised welts pressed against her palm. Moans erupted from him as she stroked his scars. It was as if just touching his chest unleashed the pent-up tension because he groaned and his cock jerked several times. Suddenly hot, slick liquid spewed over her breasts as he came. 44
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As Kinley’s release ebbed, he withdrew from her pussy and delicately sucked his fingers. They were wet from her arousal and he grinned, inspecting each digit before licking…one long finger at a time. Slowly, seductively, he lapped at his fingers until, to her surprise, once again the stirrings of another round of pleasure began their erotic mount. His black eyes studied her and it slowly dawned on her that something wasn’t quite as she thought. She struggled to stop the rising panic. “Oh my God, you’re real,” she gasped, and the fire of embarrassment flushed her cheeks so hot, her face would surely explode in a burst of flames.
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Chapter Four It was sweet torture, her overwhelming need for this strange man with the warm, brown eyes and body full of scars to fuck her. In Kayla’s entire life she had never felt so unbelievably sensual and feminine. She swore every one of her nerve endings flared with fire and her entire body sizzled with sexual alertness. With his every movement, she tensed and hoped he would turn to her and say, “Let’s fuck.” Maybe his explanation regarding the swamp water was true and not just some crazy idea he’d come up with to get her into his bed. Well…make that his bed of ferns. Kayla glanced up from the river’s edge where he’d left her with stern instructions to drink the water and bathe while he prepared a nest of ferns for them beneath a huge, twisted oak tree. She’d almost broken into tears when he’d come to a halt in front of this gorgeous blue river. She hadn’t believed him when he said they would rest. Yet there he was, snapping off those long green ferns and placing them one on top of the other until the unmistakable outline of a rustic mattress began to form on the ground. Heck, who would have thought ferns could be used in such a way? But then again, these ferns weren’t the small ones she was used to seeing in the swamps and wetlands on Earth. Nor were they the kind near the campgrounds she’d camped at with her family when she was a kid. No, these ferns grew in lush, five feet or longer bushes, their green foliage half an inch thick and spongy to the touch. Kayla returned her gaze to the sparkling river. It meandered as far as she could see in both directions, and lining the low banks on both sides were those towering ferns. The promise of drowning herself in a cold drink of water almost lured her into the pristine clear liquid, but then she stopped. What if this water wasn’t safe to drink? What if it was the same kind of water as that brown swamp water she and her sisters swam through after crash-landing? Maybe he wanted her to drink it so she would become intoxicated with lust and easy prey for him. Kayla bit her bottom lip and stared at the lazy, moving water. Oh please, prey on me! She dared to dip a bare toe in the liquid. Oh man, talk about heaven. Nice and cold. Just what she needed to douse the flames of lust consuming her. She was definitely beginning to burn with extreme need again. It came in waves now. The need to fuck, followed by the need to rest. And she was just entering the need-to-fuck phase again. 46
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She closed her eyes and bit back a moan as she closed her legs tightly and wished she had the nerve to finger-fuck herself into oblivion. Maybe she could if Taylor disappeared for a few minutes. She was sure that’s all the time she’d need to masturbate. Her cheeks warmed over what had happened when she’d been locked in that cage on wheels. Over how fantastic the release had been while she’d masturbated under the moonlight. Kayla swallowed and bit back yet another moan as an arrow of lust slammed though her when she relived seeing the stranger’s shadowy figure at the cage door. The glazed arousal shining in his eyes. The son of a bitch had been watching her masturbate. Her lust only grew when, earlier this morning, she’d accepted his cock into her mouth. Sweet oblivion couldn’t be better than when she’d orgasmed at her own hands with his cock thrusting into her throat. She blew out a hot breath and advanced a few steps into the clear, cold water. Soft sand shifted beneath her sore feet, instantly massaging her toes. Even the sand beneath her feet shifted with an erotic touch. Her pussy creamed as she stepped deeper and the water splashed against her skirt. She looked down to see the flimsy garment floating on the water all around her. For a moment she was like a ballerina, her skirt billowing as she twirled. Goodness, it reminded her of being back in a dance room at the age of five, struggling with ballet lessons. Her parents had taken pity on her and yanked her out of dance classes. They’d asked her what brought her the most happiness and she’d said animals. Her dad had then accompanied her to the local animal shelter where they’d both volunteered a couple of hours every Sunday afternoon for many years. It was at the shelter she’d decided to become a veterinarian. Then, halfway through her second year of veterinary school, her brothers had sent back a mysterious code embedded in a message for NASA. A couple of her brothers’ astronaut friends were able to decipher the meaning—no one should return to this planet. Their theory was that they had traveled through a time warp or some sort of time fragment. They had mentioned finding an exact replica of the Statue of Liberty decaying on some sandy beach. It was eerily reminiscent of a classic movie she’d seen about three astronauts who’d landed on a future Earth where the planet had been run by apes. Thankfully this planet wasn’t inhabited by talking apes. Instead she had a sexy stud on her hands and yet another wave of lust crashing through her. Kayla bit her bottom lip again and whimpered at the erotic heat wreaking havoc on her senses. Dear mercy, the wild way her blood was rushing through her veins had her heart crashing against her chest in anticipation of sex. The tension inside her continued to mount and her thoughts all seemed to zero in on one thing. Sex! With this guy who was making a fern bed for her! Shit. 47
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She needed to get laid or her brain was going to literally fry and her body would soon follow. Cupping her hands into the cold water, she splashed her breasts, hoping to douse the flames of lust. The caressing liquid only made things worse. The heat burning through her slipped up a couple of notches. Oh boy! She was getting way too aroused. She needed some relief. Maybe she could just sneak over to the other side of the river and lose herself in some hot self-fulfillment in that bouquet of ferns. She was about to do just that when she smelled him. Male. Sexy. Close. Wow! Did her body know how to react or did her body know how to react? She was drenched with anticipation. Shaking with need when his body heat seared her backside and his hands curled over the swell of her hips. Kayla cried out at the hot intensity of his touch. “Bend over,” he whispered. She drew in a sharp breath at his words. “What…what about protection?” He kissed the area of her neck where it met her shoulder. “Protection?” he murmured and licked her throat. She could barely control the excitement racing through her as he kissed behind her ear lobe. For a moment she almost said, “To hell with protection. To hell with the consequences.” But she cried in frustration as an inner voice warned her to be careful. “Birth control. STDs,” she gasped and suddenly realized this guy wasn’t from Earth. He was a stranger in a strange land. “I’ve had the required birth control shots. The woman with the Hero brothers, Dr. Annie, gave them to us…” He licked her again, this time at the nape of her neck. Unbelievably erotic shivers charged through her in sensual waves. A woman with her brothers? He knew about her brothers? Oh this news was way too cool. And they had a doctor? Just what Piper and Kinley needed. She wanted to ask him more about where her brothers were and about this Dr. Annie, but his next words scattered all sane thought. “I’m safe. You are safe with me.” She would ask later. Right now she needed sex. She trembled at the deep timbre of his voice. Maybe those were only words he was saying in the heat of the moment. Some guys said anything to get a woman to submit to them. She didn’t know him. Was he one of those types that would say anything just to have unprotected sex? His hands were blistering hot as they caressed her hips and her senses became dazed by his erotic touches.
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Damn him! She couldn’t stop herself from listening to him. She needed to get fucked. Hoped to heaven this guy wasn’t going to literally kill her with some sort of sexual disease in her need for sex. “Bend over,” he instructed again. She drew in a hard breath and fought the desires, the lust, the need to have him thrusting between her legs. “Trust me. I will not make you pregnant. We are given shots for diseases. I am safe. This need for sex that you feel. It is the swamp water. It has taken hold. Soon you will not be able to fight it.” No shit. And he certainly was taking advantage of her need, wasn’t he? She gasped as he nuzzled her earlobe, sucking it into his very warm, moist mouth. In a rush, her resistance dissolved. She needed to be fucked and she needed it now. Bending over, she moaned her disappointment as his hand on her left hip vanished, but she cried out with pleasure as it smoothed up between her thighs and his finger slid against her clit. He thrust his finger inside her tense vagina, pulled out and swept his lubed finger against her pulsing clit. He plunged into her vagina again, collected more cream and rubbed a few more times. He continued the routine until the tension inside her spiraled and she instinctively began gyrating her hips. She grew so wet, her juices spilled from her. “You are very wet,” he groaned. So true! “And I need you to fuck me,” she moaned. She was so close to the edge of pure pleasure-insanity, she just might end up dying before he took her. He moved away from where he’d been sucking her earlobe and nuzzling her neck, allowing her to bend over to the point where her nipples skimmed the cool water. Taylor’s finger slipped away from her clit and his hand returned to her left hip. His breathing had increased and she, in turn, panted with anticipation. God, she wanted to scream at the intoxicating intensity of knowing he would bring her the release she so desperately craved. She was on fire and at that moment her pussy was the center of her universe. Taylor’s hands tightened on her hips and she gasped and cried out as his flared cock head nudged into her vagina. She hissed as he pressed into her, his thickness giving her an exquisite bite of pain as he entered. He stretched her, held her. Filled her oh-so-agonizingly slowly and completely she thought she would go mad from the teasing, erotic speed he used. Before he could completely impale her he moaned, withdrew and surged into her again. This time he thrust into her with such fierce power Kayla exploded beneath an onslaught of exquisite convulsions. She bucked against him, needing more. Wanting more. 49
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He chuckled—partially strangled, partially wild, partially satisfied. The slurping of wet sex and splashing water zipped through the humid, early afternoon air as he began a harsh, thoroughly sensual rhythm of plunges into her. Her desperate cries mingled with his male moans. The combination was like music to Kayla’s ears. She’d never heard anything like it. Pure and wild, the erotic groans slipped into her bloodstream, increasing her need to climax. He drove into her again and again. The friction of each plunge massaged her clit, bringing her closer and closer to that elusively delicious orgasm she so needed for release. The tension built, and then suddenly she was flying. He gripped her hips and thrust harder and harder, deeper and deeper. His driving strokes possessed her. Shudders rocked her and raced through her like electrical jolts lashing her body. They sucked her mind, body and soul into an exquisite vortex, melting all her controls and sinking her into a pool of agonizing pleasure. From somewhere far away his groan of release and his seed, hot and wet, filled her. God, she loved the wild emotions and the orgasm that rocked her. She wanted more, and yet she was so totally satisfied as he pulled out of her, she collapsed onto her knees into the cool water. Her mind was numb, her muscles sore. Her body shuddered as Taylor urged her to stand on her wobbly legs. He instructed her to spread her thighs and she was surprised when his hands splashed water between her legs and he gently washed her. The coolness of the water had her moaning with relief, but the firm touch of his hand as he cleaned her had her pussy throbbing for more sex. Oh God, she was insanely addicted to this guy, wasn’t she? After a few moments, he grabbed her by the arm and urged her to move upstream where he instructed her to drink the water, informing her it was safe. Her legs were weak and rubbery as she bent over, half expecting him to take her again from behind. Actually she wished he would because deep inside her the familiar luscious ache, the desperate need to have his arms around her and have him make love to her was growing again. This time the intoxicating need for him seemed different. Less desperate and more loving. She liked it. She liked it bad.
***** Kayla’s eyes fluttered closed and, seconds later, the slow and steady rise and fall of her breasts assured Taylor she slept. But he valiantly struggled not to get a hard-on at her large nipples poking against the damp fabric. Unfortunately his cock, having taken on a mind of its own, quickly grew and swelled. He would simply have to deal with this problem. She should sleep well after this fucking session and all the hours of running. He couldn’t be sure how far behind their captors were, but he sensed they were still being followed.
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Call it instinct. A male always sensed when a woman—or in this case women—was hunting him. Truth was, he was surprised only two women had been assigned to bring them to Death Valley. He imagined with him being such a prize—an ex-Death Valley member—his former comrades would have sent an army to make sure he made it there. Surely the Boys would pay handsomely to get one of their own back into the fold, even through Taylor wanted nothing to do with their ways. Maybe because the two captors were involved in some hot and heavy relationship they were lax and did not follow protocol. Not his problem though. His problem was trying to keep from fucking this female while she slept. Sighing, he nestled on the lush fern bed beside the Hero woman. Normally he would not go to such spoiled measures. Traveling alone or with his friend Jarod, he’d always slept on the hard ground. In this case, however, the woman seemed to bring out the protective side in him. He wished her to be comfortable when she slept. He wanted her aroused and ready for him when she was awake. Needed her, always. Taylor opened his eyes as a frisson of shock zipped through him at that last thought. Yes, he craved for this female to want him just as Jarod’s female did him. But did he require her forever? That concept had not entered his mind…until now. He pushed himself over onto his side and once again watched the female. He’d been doing that quite a bit, hadn’t he? He simply could not get enough of looking into her pale blue eyes, or how her dirty, tangled, yellow hair wisped around her face whenever a warm breeze swept her cheeks. She was a striking woman. Delicate in nature, yet strong physically. She did not order him around as the females he was used to did. This one was like a breath of fresh air and she smelled very good too. Female. Sweet. Succulent. His. All his. Smiling, Taylor closed his eyes and slept.
***** Kayla opened her eyes and blinked at her surroundings. The gunmetal gray sky overhead looked sinister and brooding, not at all pristine and blue as it had yesterday. The air was still humid and held a heavy tinge of oncoming rain. Stormy weather. She struggled to bring herself fully awake, but it was so snug and peaceful on this fern pallet, she found it quite difficult to move her aching body. The pace Taylor set had been brutal, but after having rested she understood the frantic speed had been necessary. Her legs and feet were heavy with an odd tiredness and sore from stepping on stones and sticks. Her pussy, in direct contrast, was pleasantly tender from Taylor fucking her. At the thought of having unprotected sex with a stranger, anger roared through her for not 51
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being careful with birth control. Yeah sure, he’d said he was protected, but was he really? This wasn’t Earth and the occupants may have birth control for males. She would have to trust him for now, for sanity’s sake. Hopefully when she found her brothers, they would verify this hunk’s story. God help her if they didn’t know anything about it and God help her if she didn’t find her brothers or sisters. Stinging tears welled up in her eyes, blurring the sky. She needed to find her siblings and get them out of here. In the meantime, she would have to deal with this overwhelming sexual attraction she possessed toward a perfect stranger. Sweet mercy! She couldn’t wait to tell Piper and Kinley. They would absolutely flip over her Tarzan. Especially Kinley. She would be so jealous. Piper, on the other hand, would think her stupid for having unprotected sex. Piper wasn’t as outgoing with sex as Kinley and Kayla, and yet Taylor had said Piper had hooked up with his friend. Interesting. She couldn’t wait to see the guy who’d caught her straitlaced sister’s eye. Kayla’s mind returned to Taylor and the sex they’d shared. It had been phenomenal. Best sex she’d ever had in a river. Hell, she’d never done it in a river before. Back on Earth she’d done it in the backseat of a car and in a bed, but never like this. Never so hot. Never so instinctively wild and so dammed good. Too good to be true. Which meant something had to be wrong with her to so easily give herself over to this hottie. Yes, something was definitely wrong. A whiff of tangy wood smoke drifted beneath her nostrils and alarm zipped along her nerves. Smoke meant people. Were their captors nearby? Kayla bolted to sitting and winced, her body aches reminding her they were worse when she moved. Instantly she spied small spurts of orange flames from a campfire about twenty feet away, on the sandy outline of the river’s edge. Piles of rocks were set at each end of the fire and between them, about six inches above the flames, lay a horizontal stick with several small fish skewered onto it. Okay, she hated fish. Always had. Despite her distaste for that particular seafood, her tummy suddenly growled up a storm as a juicy whiff wavered teasingly beneath her nostrils. Her mouth watered. So the guy knew how to cook fish. But where was he? Another frisson of alarm rippled though her. Had he left her here alone? Oh shit! She didn’t want him to be gone. She wanted him to take her to her brothers. And she had to face facts. She wanted to experience more of the ripe, uncontrolled lust that ran through her body whenever she looked at him. Kayla blew out a tense breath and gazed closer at her surroundings. He had to be here somewhere. She didn’t know how she suddenly sensed he was nearby, she just did. Was it instinct? Wishful thinking?
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And to her surprise, she was…relieved? Good grief! She’d never been dependant or relied on a man in her entire life. Why start now? Get a fucking grip, girl! Taking a few deep breaths, she relaxed and stared at those crispy, sizzling fish. Once again her stomach growled. Oh yeah, definitely famished here. She hadn’t eaten since…well, the women who’d locked her in that cage had given her loads of food. Fruit mostly and some raw vegetables, but fruit and veggies only took a steak-and-potatoes kind of girl only so far. And evidenced by her not-so-trim figure, she’d certainly had her share of eating out at fast food restaurants since she couldn’t cook worth a damn. Not that she’d never tried. Both her mom and dad were avid cooks. They’d loved teaching their kids the art of cooking. Unfortunately Kayla never shared their passion. She preferred to eat out. Especially since her obsession for studying veterinary medicine kept her in her dorm room most of the time. Going out to eat and having occasional sex with a guy were the only times she pretty much left her room. Kayla closed her eyes when another wave of worry threatened to turn her into a washer full of tears. Hers was a tight-knit family. They’d always looked out for each other. Had been raised that way. It was an inbred instinct to find her brothers and bring them back home. And if she was to carry out the mission of reuniting the family, then she’d best get her ass in gear, eat that fish, find that hunk and get moving. From out of the nearby forest of waving green branches and towering ferns, Mr. Sexy Tarzan stud made an appearance. Immediately that insanely beautiful stab of longing crashed into her. His lithe, fit body moved gracefully as he strolled along the sandy river shore toward the fire. His every step was sure and confident as he padded barefoot, his muscular arms laden with sticks for the fire. Her crash course in survival training had taught her certain types of wood caused less smoke than others, and he must have known this too as the fire was virtually smokeless. But Taylor was anything but smokeless. The guy oozed fire and sexuality with his nicely tanned, nearly naked body, and she couldn’t get enough of looking at him. The craving for sex shifted through her again. An almost overpowering need for skin-toskin contact with him. A wicked desire that stretched into her breasts and deep into her pussy. She shivered as he dropped a few sticks onto the fire and lifted his head. He caught her gaze and, for a moment, she swore she had an entire body orgasm as he studied her with his stormy brown eyes. They seemed filled with both a restlessness to keep moving and a wild desire to fuck her again.
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Heat flamed through Kayla as she dropped her stare to his cock, only to find it covered by a green, apparently fern-woven breechcloth, which truly only increased her urge to have his cock free so she could look at it again. And, of course, have him sinking deep inside her. Oh yes, she certainly wanted to send out “fuck me now” signals. His eyes narrowed slightly as if he’d read her mind. Oh boy, talk about being dropped into a sensual inferno. Her body was tight and tense. Her heart was hammering away like a battering ram and damned if her breasts weren’t swollen and her pussy creaming, readying for him. Wow, she needed to get a grip on herself. She needed food and to find her brothers and sisters. Not more scrumptious sex with him. “I thought males weren’t allowed clothing?” she blurted. Taylor stiffened for a second, and then the tips of his lips curled upward in an amused grin. She couldn’t stop the flames of embarrassment licking her cheeks. “I’m wearing this so I have at least one or two seconds of hesitation before I fuck you again. Perhaps the extra moments will prevent it from happening.” Kayla blinked in stunned shock. Had fucking her been so bad? She turned her head from his intense gaze so he couldn’t see the hurt screaming through her. Why had he fucked her? She’d been like an animal in heat in the river. Had her sexual arousal frightened him away? Or maybe he didn’t want to use his sex slave-lovemaking skills on her? Maybe he’d done it because of what he said about drinking water from the Fever Swamps? And he’d simply been administering first aid? Before he’d taken her, she’d lost control of her mind and her senses. Her brain had shut down, and when he’d entered her all she’d wanted to do was lose herself in his powerful thrusts and the awesome orgasm that had followed. The sex between them had been totally different than the mellow, ho-hum sex she’d experienced with guys in her previous relationships. On Earth, she’d always prided herself in maintaining control in sex and not becoming wild and mindless as the creatures she tended in her veterinarian clinic. Now she understood why her female patients needed to be mated when they were in heat. She needed to be mated! What was going on with her? Whether it was the tainted water she drank, the fresh air or this hot stud, something instinctual had been unleashed. Some animal lust deep inside her craved Taylor. She was so deep in thought, she hadn’t noticed the cooked fish on a piece of wood dangling in front of her face. It was the tantalizing scent that made her mouth water and her tummy growl. “You must eat, gain your strength.” Gain your strength for some more hot and heavy fucking, his brown eyes announced as his heated look pierced her with electrical, animal magnetism.
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He’d squatted on his haunches right in front of her. His body was tense and alert as he studied her. “Come, take it. Eat.” Oh she’d love to eat him again. Kayla smiled inwardly and accepted the stick with the fish. “We will stay here only until we finish eating. Then we must leave.” Kayla’s face must have reflected the disappointment crashing through her. “I do not think they will capture us, so you need not worry. We will not go at such a quick pace. But I will need to leave you alone many times to cover our tracks as we go.” Leave her alone? Now was her chance to find out what he knew about her brothers. “You mentioned the Hero brothers when…” Okay, she couldn’t verbalize what they’d been doing at the time. Her face went hot. “Earlier you spoke of my brothers. How far to them? Are they with Piper?” Her hopes were dashed when he shook his head. “They are apart. The three brothers are farther away. They are with their women in the Outer Limits. We can get to it by water quicker than by land.” “Are they well?” Taylor smiled and nodded eagerly. “Very well.” Was he really taking her to Piper? For all she knew he was just making up that he knew her sister as he went along. Would she be better off not believing him and separating from him? Using one of those opportunities of him being away from her to escape? Not that he was holding her against her will. Sexually yes, physically no. But seriously, was there a difference? Enough thinking of the sex, Kayla girl. Get a grip and ignore those gorgeous muscles lacing his arms. “How far away are my brothers?” His broad, naked shoulders bunched up. “It depends.” “On?” She slid one of the cooked fish off the stick. The scent of wild onions and some unidentified herbs drifted into her nostrils. They smelled delicious. “The storms,” he answered. Kayla followed his gaze to the gray sky. Yep, it did look like rain and the sticky humidity made her skin clammy. “It is not laced,” he replied softly as she inspected her meal. “Laced? What?” He nodded to the fish. “It is not laced with any drugs, if that is what you fear. I may have lived with the Death Valley Boys, but I did not adapt nor agree to their ways.” Whoa. This was nuts. “You lived with the Death Valley Boys?” “Jarod and I. Yes.”
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“Jarod…that’s the guy Piper is interested in, right?” He nodded and bit into his fish. The crunch of his chewing and the succulent scent wafting off the warm fish made her mouth water some more. “And these…Boys, they laced the food with drugs?” What kind? Why? His full lips dipped into a frown and his eyes glittered with intense seriousness. “Many of the women taken during the Slave Uprising were…uncooperative. The males used the same techniques on the females as were used on the males. Eat your fish.” Kayla couldn’t wait any longer. Taking a bite, she gasped in surprise at the moist explosion of flavors against her taste buds. Outside the fish was crispy and savory. Inside the white meat literally melted in her mouth. Okay, so she didn’t hate fish anymore. She took another bite, and then another. Gosh, it tasted good and she was famished. Within minutes, she had devoured the two fish. Damned if she didn’t want more. She eyed the one fish left on Taylor’s stick. “Go ahead, eat it. I have more on the fire.” More? Heaven! There is a God! They ate silently and Kayla helped herself to three more fish as Taylor brought them over to her one by one. Oh yeah, she liked this treatment of him serving her. Liked it a lot. “Where in the world did you learn to cook like this? You should be a chef in some exotic restaurant,” Kayla gushed as she licked her fingers, wishing for an ice-cold beer to wash down the wonderful flavors tingling on her tongue. “What is a chef?” he asked, one eyebrow cocked in question. “A cook, someone who gets paid a lot of money for their services.” “Servicing females is done for free. Always has been. Unless you are assigned to Brothel Town. Then your owner gets the payment.” “Were you in Brothel Town?” Kayla asked. She wanted to know everything there was to know about this man. “Yes, many times,” he admitted and gazed up at the sky, acting totally at ease with the conversation. “And I suppose you serviced many women?” “That was what the females wanted.” His gaze darkened to what she surmised was anger as he lowered his eyes from the sky to study her. “I do not do what females require of me anymore. I am a free man. I intend to remain free. I would die before I accept captivity with a female again.” Okay, no relationship with this guy. He suddenly stood. Yep, he was pissed, if the way the muscles in his cheeks twitched was any indication. 56
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“Go to the river and drink as much as you can. We need to travel.” Sweet need ripped through her as she followed his command and on extremely tender tootsies headed down to the creek. The cool sand sifted like heaven through her toes and the heat of their earlier sexual tryst rose though her as she stepped into the water. She remembered every hard thrust, every pleasure grunt of his—as well as her whimpers of arousal—along with the intoxicating way he’d held her hips as he’d fucked her. Think about drinking the water. Don’t think about the creamy wetness between your thighs or the fantastic way he filled you. Cupping her hands, she dipped them into the water and drank as much as she could. Her heart twisted in disappointment when she turned around and found him kicking sand into the fire. She’d hoped he would join her, fuck her again. Well, he’d certainly made it clear he wouldn’t do what a woman wanted him to do, so no use asking him to put her out of her sexual misery. Thankfully though, the need for sex wasn’t insane as it had been earlier. The need was more pleasant…kind of like a sexual attraction should be. After drinking her fill, she forced herself to get out of the river. When she met up with him at the covered campfire, the bed of ferns had disappeared along with their tracks in the sand. “We will follow the river. Stay in the water. I will meet with you as soon as I make sure all the evidence of our meal is gone. Then I will track back a little and set a false trail. Go that way.” He pointed to her right and then rushed off into the nearby woods. She stared at the area where he’d just disappeared. Dark and spooky. No way was she going back in there. The water looked much more inviting. She stepped into the river and began heading the way he’d instructed. She’d forgotten to ask him if—after he took her to Piper—he would then take them to her brothers. Come to think of it, he really hadn’t said much else about her brothers and had steered the conversation away from that subject. She thought about calling out to him, but then a nasty low grumble of thunder roared far off in the distance. The ominous warning made her pick up her speed.
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Chapter Five Stunned disbelief wrapped around Kinley’s neck like a hangman’s rope. How could she not realize he was real? He’d just finger-fucked her again for God’s sake. How had this happened? And he was smiling down at her! A confident, smirky, I-caught-you smile. Well, screw him! There was no way this guy would lay another finger on her. Rage unlike any she’d ever experienced roared through her. Rage mixed with lust. She’d had fantasies of this moment, of him capturing her. But it had always been fantasy fun. This was not fun. If she hung around, he would overpower her. Just as he had when he’d previously captured her. But this time was different. Even as she struggled to get up in order to make a run for it, he was already leaning over her. His big body gently guided her to the ground, his heavy weight pushing her deep into the fern bed she’d made for herself. She swallowed at the panic when the hard knot of his arousal pressed intimately between her thighs. She was trapped and something snapped inside of her. She didn’t want to be in this position. Didn’t want it at all! Lifting her arms, she pounded her fists against him, targeting the knife wound she’d sliced into his arm. But it was bandaged and, to her frustration, he didn’t so much as flinch as she hit him. She quickly moved to attacking other parts of his body, but her blows merely bounced off his hard, lean muscles. His powerful legs were tangled with hers, making them useless. A head butt was in order, but when she tried to get into position, he merely moved his chest a bit off her and his face farther away. Damn him! He’d thought of all the angles of escape, hadn’t he? Smug bastard. She was caught. Caught! Dammit! “You belong to me,” he growled. His black eyes glittered with triumph and Kinley held her breath as he dipped his head and brushed her lips with his. It was an erotic, featherlight touch. Ever so gentle. Ever so teasing. Very nice though. Stop it! This is serious shit! If he kissed her again, she would bite his lips and bite off his tongue. He chuckled but didn’t attempt another kiss. God, could this guy read her mind? “I will let you watch. The next time I do it,” he murmured softly.
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The next time…what was he talking about? And then suddenly she understood. He knew she’d been watching him when he’d masturbated. Of course! He’d been waiting for her last night. He must have been waiting, and then he’d followed her back here. He’d let her come closer to him over the past couple of days. He’d let her get comfortable so she could sneak into his camp and grab some food. Then he’d followed her. And she’d fallen for it. Stupid, stupid, stupid woman. “Do you remember my name this time?” he whispered. She threw a fuming stare at him. “Get off me,” she ground out between gritted teeth. He didn’t move. Like she’d expected him to? Not. “I am called Blackie. Do you remember?” His eyes narrowed with concern as he studied her. “I remember you. I wish I didn’t.” There. That remark wiped away his concern. He glared at her. “I own you now. You belong to me. I will do whatever I wish to you and you will accept this. You will accept me.” Arrogant, wasn’t he? “You don’t own me and I will never accept you! I will escape the first chance I get.” “I enjoy your fire,” he taunted and her gaze flew to the pink tip of his tongue as it peeked out from between his lips. Suddenly, she longed for him to kiss her again. She was a total dunce for thinking such a thing. She’d killed his friend. He wanted revenge. He was probably going to kill her. Okay, she needed to keep calm. Too bad they weren’t role-playing. It might have been fun. Yes, by the lusty glaze in his eyes, he certainly did enjoy this situation. “You will be good in bed.” The confident way he spoke made her cheeks flame. “Get off me or I swear I will kill you.” At her comment, his dark eyes darkened even more—if that were possible. “I must get off you? Why? Because the law forbids my being on top, female? Because you wish to be on top?” The sexual insinuation merely threw more fire onto her anger. But she forced herself to tamp it down. Save your strength, Kinley. You’ll need it to escape. Or to meet his every thrust as he fucks you. She blew out a frustrated breath. Shit! She wanted to escape, yet at the same time she wanted his fingers thrusting into her pussy again. Wanted the sex again, but it could never be because he wanted her dead! “You do not need to fear me. I did not know you were being attacked. I was away from the camp when he came. I am sorry I did not react quicker. I was shocked.” 59
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Join the club, buddy. Okay, so he said he wouldn’t hurt her, but could she believe him? Naïve thinking, girl. The man saw her murder his friend. The man experienced her violence when she stabbed him. He will hurt you if you try to hurt him again. It’s called self-defense. “Kinley.” Her name rolled off his tongue like magical music and she liked the way he pronounced it. “A beautiful name for my warrior woman.” Warrior woman? Oh for Pete’s sake! “Okay, listen to me, Mr. Blackie. I need to tell you straight up what is going on. I need for you to get me out of these woods and back to civilization.” So I can figure out who the hell I am. And get away from this sexual haze that captures me every time I’m with you or even look at you…despite you probably wanting me dead. Something dangerous flashed in his eyes. Had she insulted him in some way? “I do not follow females’ instructions anymore. Not ever,” he snapped. “I have told you I will not hurt you. That does not mean I must submit to any commands of a female. I am a male of my word. But you are still my captive.” His face had grown red with anger and Kinley shivered at the pure lust splashing into his eyes. “The Boys will make you see who is in charge now, female.” The Boys? To her surprise he produced a collar from somewhere beside him. Something wild and warm slithered through her. Instead of panicking, she felt totally opposite. Serene. Within the blink of an eye he’d climbed off her and pulled her to sitting. Now! Run! She would have done it too, but he clamped a soft, black leather material around her throat and snapped it shut. A tiny beep echoed through the air. Somewhere deep inside her a zing of peacefulness, or maybe it was surrender, zipped through her. He had her now. There would be no escape. Besides, the leash appeared electronic. Where the hell kind of place was she when guys ran around almost naked, living like savages off the land, yet had an electronic-controlled collar? She had to be on some rich guy’s secret island or something. This must be some BDSM game and she was the bait for this guy. He held tight to a black leather leash and twisted the other end of it around his wrist. If she made a dash for it, she’d be taking him along for the ride…or he’d break her neck if he yanked hard enough. “That’s right, my warrior woman. Stay still and surrender to it.” She bit back a sharp retort about him calling her a warrior and remained silent. No use arguing. He held the reins, so to speak. He looked down beside him and she followed his gaze. Her breath backed up in her lungs. Not because the collar around her
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neck was too tight. What surprised her was the arrangement of items he’d laid out at the foot of her fern bed while she’d slept. Despite the arrow of panic searing into her, sensual shivers whipped through her at the sight of the chains and the clamps. Damn her. Had she gone sex-crazy? Some hot stranger—who until moments ago she thought meant to kill her—had her in a collar and leash and, from the gear he’d spread out, had every intention of making her his sex slave. And she was aroused? Maybe her arousal had to do with something in the air she was breathing. This is not Earth. And how did she know this was not Earth? Kinley shook those thoughts aside as a calming voice from somewhere at the back of her mind told her if he’d planned on killing her, he would have done it by now. Wouldn’t he? Yes, she had to keep that thought in her head. Based on what she had recently recalled, her memory was going to come back slowly. In the meantime, she needed to stay as calm as possible and escape the brute the minute she had the opportunity. “I know being captive frightens you, but you will get used to it. I will enjoy pleasuring you and I will teach you how to pleasure me.” “Never,” she replied coolly, avoiding his gaze and the slave gear on the ground. “Obviously this is what the creep meant when he said you were training me.” “He was correct. I will train you to crave sex from whichever male demands it from you. Life is easier for females after the training.” Great. Just fucking great. “I said never, buddy. And I mean N-E-V-E-R.” “I’ve heard many of the females say this word ‘never’ after they arrived in Death Valley. But the Boys have been trained all their lives to pleasure and please. They know the weaknesses of a female’s body and now they use them quite expressively against their females. I will find your weaknesses.” Who the hell were these Boys? Damn. The collar was her weakness. The surrender, the submissiveness sliding through her bloodstream the instant that collar had snapped around her neck attested to that fact. He smiled at her silence. “Good, you know when to hold your tongue. Now hold out your hands.” “No,” she spat and hid her hands behind her back so he couldn’t get them. She knew what he wanted to do. She’d seen the leather wrist cuffs and other things. Her pussy creamed. Oh God, she was nuts! “If you don’t wish me to cuff your hands, then I assume you wish to do what needs to be done.” Damn him!
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“I’ll do it,” she muttered. If she did what he wanted, she had at least some semblance of momentary control. He swooped over to grab something from the ground and she couldn’t help but notice the crisscrossed scars lacing his body. Thick slabs of marred flesh twisted across his tanned back and shoulders, dipping lower to disappear below the breechclout slung oh so low on his hips. No wonder he hadn’t reacted to her punching his wounded arm. He’d experienced much more violence than what she’d dished out. The thought of slamming her fists down on his neck in an effort to escape came too late. He straightened in record time and held up the items. They were beautiful, she had to admit. Slave chains—delicate, silver chains that were interlaced with glittering, ruby-red gemstones. She tried hard not to look at the clamps and loops attached, but for some insane, inexplicable reason, her gaze latched on to the items and her pussy creamed some more. Oh God! This couldn’t be turning her on! “By the way you watch the training gear, I see you are impressed. I made it myself. Made it with you in mind, days ago when I thought you were the woman in Death Valley with Jarod. But the lack of a scar on that woman’s belly made me realize I had the wrong female. She was someone who looked exactly like you, but she was not you.” Someone who looked like her? Something fluttered in the blank depths of Kinley’s brain. Something just out of reach. And then it was gone. Anger reared through her again, replacing the submissiveness. She needed to escape him and she needed to escape now! He easily caught her wrists as she prepared to attack him. “You bastard, let me go!” she screamed, wanting to gouge out his eyes. He yanked her wrists around until he held her with one hand. He slapped on first one cuff and then the other. Each time the lock hit home it beeped, signaling it was secure. She was effectively cuffed and only a couple of inches of leather hung between her wrists. He pulled her against him and his entire upper body pressed intimately to hers. Heat. Masculine heat and hard flesh melted along her curves. She swallowed as his strength dominated her. “You belong to me, female,” he breathed. “At least for now. By the time we reach the Boys I am to have you properly trained. They will know you killed the leader and they will be both angry at you for killing him and aroused at your bravery for doing so. They will want to mount you. You need to be craving the sex, regardless if they are not tender.” The serious tone in his voice and the firm coolness blazing in his eyes reeled in her anger.
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“Where is she?” Kinley asked through gritted teeth. “Where is this woman who looks like me? Where does she come from?” Maybe it was her he’d seen? Maybe she belonged with the guy named Jarod. “Her name is Piper.” Kinley fought back the unexpected tears welling up in her eyes as the familiar name slammed into her. His face blurred. Piper was the name of that unconscious female, not a plane. “After he took her, I helped them escape.” He took her? Who took Piper? Her tummy rolled with nausea. What did Blackie mean? Her imagination suddenly ran wild. Visions of naked flesh. Grunts in the darkness. A heavy body lying on top of her. Her legs spread-eagle. She’d been unable to move. Unable to fight them off. Oh God. Panic. No, don’t do this to me! The tender pad of his thumbs wiping away her tears made Kinley return to the present. She blinked, her heart beating faster, unable to understand what that ugly memory meant. One thing she knew for certain, it didn’t pertain to the event that had led her to kill a man. This was something altogether different. She tried to quell her anguish from the flashback she’d just experienced. “The one who looks like you will be kept safely by Jarod. He is big and strong as I am. He is also gentler. She appears to enjoy his lovemaking.” She? Piper? Okay, concentrate. Piper was the unconscious woman in that swamp. Kinley remembered another woman. She’d told Kinley to stay with the unconscious one. And Kinley had…until she’d left to go find food and, when she had returned, Piper was gone. Yes, she remembered now. That meant Piper was alive and this guy had helped her escape. He had empathy. He would help her too. Obviously he’d found her in the swamp and taken care of her. He couldn’t be totally bad if he was so concerned about her memory either. Despite needing to remember more, she couldn’t think of anything but having this guy’s big body pressed against hers. Her earlier panic—then again in that flashback—was gone. Suddenly, with this guy, she felt…safe. “Up, on your feet,” he commanded. He didn’t wait for her to react before he grabbed her wrists and easily pulled her to standing. “Stand still. This will be over quickly,” he whispered, almost tenderly. With his free hand he lifted one part of the chain. It had a clip. “This will attach to the middle loop of your collar.” He brought her away from his body and she kept her stance defiant as he hooked the chain to the loop at her throat. The gentle brush of his knuckles against her chin made her inhale strongly at the electrical intensity of his touch. The tinkle of the chains was musical and soothed her rattled nerves. 63
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“These,” he held up a couple of smaller, more delicate chains, which were attached to another part of the main chain, “are clamps. They will go on your nipples.” Her pussy creamed at the thought of his hands on her breasts. Oh boy! Was she perhaps in another sleep fantasy? “Put them on your own nipples,” she muttered. To her surprise, he laughed. “You learn fast. When I feel you are ready, I will let you put them on me. In the meantime, I will outfit you.” His free hand brushed against her clothed right breast. She stiffened at the touch. Not because she didn’t like it, but because she did. Shit, what was wrong with her? He could kill her if he chose, yet she wasn’t afraid. He held her freedom in his hands. Was she in shock? Perhaps, but if she was in shock, would she be so alert to the next move of him clamping her nipples? She had no other choice but to submit. To give up all her control…or at least make him think she was giving up all control. He would become complacent and then she would run. “Turn around,” he instructed. “Why?” she snapped, wondering what he was up to. “When I say turn around, you will do it. Or do you wish to look me in my eyes while I touch you?” What the hell? Confusion zipped through her. What made him think she would let him touch her? A jolt of energy slammed though her neck and shimmered throughout the erogenous zones of her body. Her breasts, nipples, her pussy, even her ass were all sensually stimulated at the same time. She almost dropped to her knees from the erotic impact as it curled through an unusually sensitive spot behind her earlobes, around her mons and even beneath her armpits. The son of a bitch! There was something in the collar. An energy—not painful, but sensual. It electrified all her senses. It seemed as if she were about to…to have an orgasm. And then the electrical stimulation was gone and the impact left her breathing hard and anticipating his next words. “You must obey me, Kin-lee. It is in your best interest. I must show the Boys you belong to me and I can do so only if you obey.” “I am not a dog. I am a woman,” Kinley replied sternly. And who in the hell are the Boys? His harsh scowl gentled and his tone softened. “You are female. You belong to me. Do you not understand? Have you never heard of Death Valley? Of the Death Valley Boys and our ways?” “With a quaint name like that why would you want to go back there?”
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At her question, a flash of amusement sparkled in his eyes. Her gaze flew to the small remote in the palm of his hand. To his thumb on a button. An orgasm box. That’s what it would do if she didn’t obey. It would stimulate her to the point where she wanted him to fuck her. Ingenious contraption. She didn’t want him pushing that button. Didn’t want him to have the satisfaction of seeing her aroused again. “Turn around.” His voice was cool once again. Cool and commanding. He held up the box in a threatening manner and she tried hard not to look down as he held what appeared to be a leather belt in his other hand. Damn him. She sighed in defeat, turned around. She could not move, could not protest as he placed the leather belt around her waist. She inhaled at the odd excitement shimmering through her as he pressed his body against her backside. His arms came around and moved her bound wrists closer to the belt at her waist. Within an instant, he clipped each of her cuffs to the belt. Instinctively, she moved her hands to see how much give she had outward. She estimated about two inches. Yep, she was definitely caught. Lulled by the soft, delicate sound of his breathing, she focused on his tanned hands as they moved from the clip to her naked belly. She tensed, both loving and fearing this intimate touch. “I will not take you against your will, female. But the Boys will. We must have sex before we reach Death Valley. And when we do have sex, you will be begging me for it,” he said in her ear. Arrogant bastard! She shook her head. “I will never beg you,” she whispered, her voice thick and husky. Heat chased over her skin as he slipped his hands beneath her top and under her heavy breasts. His palms on her flesh were scorching, enticing. Oh God. Would he take her against her will even though he said he wouldn’t? “As I will never beg you, female,” he taunted. To her surprise he didn’t cup her breasts. Instead, he pulled her back and closer against him. She stilled as the full outline of his very thick and long cock branded her right buttock. He’d obviously removed his loincloth. The cloth she wore on her lower half was short and, from the imprint of heat lashing her, she would estimate his cock at a good ten inches with a three-inch girth. Just as big as she remembered the times he’d masturbated in the river. A flash of her first time stealing into his camp slipped into her mind. She’d been so scared he would wake up, she’d grabbed the first thing stuffed in his pack. It had been that weird-looking hair blanket she’d found draped over her lower half the first time he’d finger-fucked her. That blanket was what she’d used to make her clothing. 65
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She may not remember who she was, but she did prefer wandering around the jungle with some semblance of clothing to protect her body from the lashings of the ferns and branches. Thankfully the bump she’d had on her right temple was gone. That goose egg would explain her memory loss and jumbled thoughts. Maybe it was better her memory hadn’t returned. Maybe if it had, she wouldn’t be feeling so…free? Obviously that earlier flashback of her pinned down by several men and being very afraid gave her the clue she had some issues to deal with. Kinley blinked at that thought of being free. Heck, she was anything but free. Well, maybe in an odd way she was. She didn’t have to think of anything. Now that he’d caught her, she wouldn’t have to worry about where her next meal would come from or how she would get out of here. She had to do…nothing. Hell…reality check, Kinley. You are his captive. He is in charge. He has all the decisionmaking powers for your survival. “Feel the imprint of my cock against your body, Kinley. Feel the heat of my hands on your body,” he whispered. For a split second, she did as he asked. The intoxicating outline of his cock and the nice way his hands were splayed over her belly held her attention. But then she realized exactly what he was doing. Why he touched her from behind. He was planning. Preparing her. Getting her used to his touch. Getting her ready for him. For those Boys. She inhaled sharply as his hands moved slightly higher and his thumbs caressed the undersides of her breasts. For some insane reason, she concentrated on what he was doing with his hands. Her pussy clenched as his thumbs swept upward and over her nipples. Instantly they tightened and beaded into hard pebbles. She swallowed. Breathed deeply. Shivered at the sensations. Centered all her attention on his touches. His heat. Him. “I can feel your control lessening,” he breathed. Oh damn him, he was right. He began rubbing his palms over her nipples, creating erotic sparks and unleashing shivers. Wetness erupted between her thighs. Oh God! She hated this. Loved this. She was mad. She was high. She was nuts. He tweaked, tugged and brushed her nipples, unleashing fires of excitement. Flames of need. Fiery licks of want. A pinch heated her nipple. She didn’t have to look down to see what he was doing. Knew instinctively what he’d done to her. She inhaled at another pinch on her other nipple. She loved it! His breathing quickened. Hers met his and matched the rapid rhythm. Her breasts were heavy, swollen. Her pussy throbbed. She needed him. Inside. 66
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She blew out a tense breath as his hands left the nipple clamps on her. The musical tinkling of the silver chains finally encouraged her to lower her gaze. The outlines of the tiny clamps, her large pebbled nipples and the sensual outline of her swollen, heavy breasts showed beneath the top she wore. The visual aroused her. The thick band of his cock pressing harder against the curve of her ass had her pussy and her fists clenching in frustration. No, she would not beg. She could stand this. He was just getting her used to his touch. But truly, somewhere deep inside her, she wanted to beg. Wanted him to beg. Oh shit. He obviously knew how to torment a female, didn’t he? Or maybe he’d simply guessed that she would love the way he touched her breasts. Or maybe he was an expert at brainwashing? Maybe he’d somehow put a suggestion of her wanting him into her head? Why was she allowing this man to touch her like this? She should be fighting him, shouldn’t she? She froze as his hands palmed her belly again. “Now for your other half.” He spoke with such softness lacing his voice, she found herself lulled by him. His hands moved to her waist and his fingers dipped beneath her skirt. She focused on the wetness between her thighs, mentally urging him to bring his hands there. She held her breath as he tugged at her makeshift skirt. He moved his body away and his thick cock disappeared from her buttocks. Her skirt slipped over her hips, brushed past her knees and dropped around her ankles. Even if she wanted to run, how could she? Her skirt had effectively become a restraint. Wow! This guy knew exactly what he was doing. Something heavy and hot bubbled deep inside her belly as his warm palms slid seductively over the curve of her hips. Kinley breathed in as every callus on his fingertips traveled like a silk trail along her skin. When he smoothed his palms over her pelvic bones, tracing along where her thighs met her abdomen, erotic heat zipped through her body. She swallowed, her heart pounding with anticipation and fear as his fingers curled across her mons. She tensed when he whispered in her right ear. “Relax, enjoy. I told you I won’t hurt you. Not if you don’t want me to.” Oh my! Maybe he was some sort of sadist. No, he was no sadist. He touched her too gently. Too tenderly to hurt. He must mean pleasure-pain. Yes, he had to mean pleasure-pain. To tell the truth, she wasn’t sure whether or not she was into that. But he would most likely help her find out. That is, if she didn’t escape first. Not that escape was an option at the moment. One hand dipped between her thighs. When his finger parted her labia and stroked her clit, she moaned softly at the wicked tremors pulsing deep inside her pussy. Yes. This feels good.
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She hated that she loved it. Loved how he made her feel. He began a soft massage on her engorged clit and her legs went wobbly. Her pussy was wet, hot, weeping. She spread her legs wider and leaned back against his hard muscular frame as she panted. The musical clinking of the chains melted more of her resolve. She moaned in protest as his fingers slid away from her clit. More fingers claimed each side of her labia. He pulled and massaged and she became wrapped in a world of need, of want, of denial. On one cunt lip came a pinch—hot—like the one earlier on her nipple. He was clamping her labia. The other lip got pinched. A slow burn followed. Her body hummed. He soothingly tugged the chain. The clamps jerked gently on her labia and the chain dipped between her legs, brushed against her tender clit. Then a hand came from behind, between her legs, the chains singing their musical song as they tinkled in his fingers. He yanked the chain up behind her and she gasped as it slid through her ass crack. Suddenly her labia were pulled tight and so were the clamps on her nipples. Erotic shivers burst through her pussy and breasts, bringing her to the dark edge of need. Once again she almost gave in to the urge to tell him to fuck her, but she struggled to breathe that idea away. No, she couldn’t let him see the effect he had on her. She had to have some sort of pride. She’d been so deep in thought, in denial, wrapped in her sensuality, she didn’t even realize he’d moved away from her. She almost fell. “Replace your garment. We must leave now,” he muttered. His voice was unmistakably drenched in lust. While she quickly pulled up her skirt his high arousal caught the corner of her eye. Scorching appreciation slid like wildfire through her veins. Touching her had made him just as heated as she’d become. Disappointment rocked her as he covered his bulging erection beneath his loincloth, and she wondered who would be the first to break down and beg. Her? Or him? If she were a betting woman, she’d say whoever broke first, they’d do so sooner rather than later. A brisk yank on the chain pulled everything tight, making her gasp in surprise at the exquisite tremors shimmering through her. The tug was his indication to follow him. And so she did.
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Blackie’s cock screamed for release. He had expected this overwhelming reaction to touching her. He just hadn’t entertained the thought she would bring him so easily to his knees. In the past several years in Death Valley, he had instructed many females as sex chattel for the males. Had learned to treat them with tenderness, with strength and firmness as one would train a horse. He’d even taught a few females to become addicted to ménages. He’d enjoyed sharing these women. Enjoyed the pleasure on their faces. But this female he did not wish to share. This female he did not wish to train or take against her will. He did not wish to break her spirit. He just wanted her the way she was. Fiery. Angry. Confused. That’s how she’d looked at him when he began to lead her on her leash. She looked needy…for him. Just as he was needy for her. Goddess of Freedom! Had she put a spell on him? Did she know how she affected him? That scorching flames of lust branded his flesh every time he gazed upon her? She must know. He’d seen her spying on him as he had re-clothed himself. Her eyes had widened as appreciation tensed her body. Her cheeks had blushed with anticipation and the tip of her pink tongue darted from between her slightly parted lips. Perhaps she thought him too big for her? His cock too long and too thick? That he would hurt her upon entering her vagina? He had tricks to make a female wet and this one had been very wet as he’d massaged her clit. Her warm cream had splashed against his hand. She was aroused even while she was bound. He had quickly brought her in touch with her sexuality and she had enjoyed it. He had enjoyed it. A zing of frustration laced through him at the thought of returning to Death Valley. As per their new rules, she would belong to the Boys—as all the other females did. She would go to any male or males who wished to fuck her. Unless, of course, he wished to fight for her. He suspected he would have to fight for her every day for the rest of his life if he went back to Death Valley. He grimaced. If he fought the males, then he wouldn’t have the strength to fight her. Thunder groaned somewhere on the darkening horizon. They would need to take cover. Fast. The stormy season would be here soon. They would need to find shelter on higher ground. A new sense of urgency made him pull harder on the leash. He ignored her yelp of surprise as he led her toward the nearby cliffs. The cliffs contained the caves. There they could find shelter and rest, and there they could fuck.
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Chapter Six A sensual drowsiness embraced Kinley as she followed the man who’d captured and collared her. The terrain was rough and flat on the plateau they were walking along. They’d left the jungle quite awhile ago and he was heading toward the dark, rocky outcropping that appeared closer than it was in reality. They would need some form of shelter before the looming storm hit, because far in the distance behind them, ominous, rolling black clouds were drawing closer. Thunder cracked and she cringed as every forked, white flash of lightning arrowed to the ground. But that lightning was nothing compared to the electrical jolts shifting through her body with every step. The journey had started out easily enough. She’d been able to handle the humiliation of this man leading her around by the collar. It almost seemed as though she were used to the collar. Used to being bound. But that was crazy, because she could remember nothing. She was able to grit her teeth as the pleasure-pain sparkled through her nipples and labia, compliments of the clamps and the way he’d bound her with thin silvery chains. She could even handle the chain he’d slipped between her labia. It seemed oddly soft as it rubbed and caressed and tugged at her highly aroused clit, not to mention it sensually rubbed the crack between her ass cheeks. If he chose to push that arousal button on the box he continued to hold in his hand, she would likely lose her mind in the biggest orgasm of her life. While walking, she’d become highly sensitized to every part of her sex. Had become, she was sure, addicted to the wicked shivers zipping through her heated body. She found it odd that she was able to tolerate the clamps. Something deep at the back of her mind told her the clamps weren’t supposed to be worn for this long a period due to the dangers of pinched nerve endings and cutting off blood supply. But hey, instead of hurting, she was being pleasured. Since he had access to the electronic device, he must have access to other state-ofthe-art devices such as harmless clamps, which certainly was a good thing. She’d also discovered he was a magnet—her gaze stayed riveted to the backside of him. Mostly everything was covered by the huge burlap knapsack he wore, but she found herself concentrating on his exposed parts. On his powerful legs. On the bunch of muscles that bulged in his upper thighs as he walked…as well as his rock-hard ass—all of which were darkly tanned from the sun. From what she could see, there were no tan lines for this hunk. No siree. Just pure skin and muscle, which flexed magnificently with his every move. Those electrical sparks of arousal amplified at the thought of spending the oncoming night with him— 70
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embers of excitement she should not be having for her captor. Yet she was having them and, since she had no memory of who in the world she was, she may as well just go with it. He moved them faster now. Urgently tugging on her collar, making the carnal sensations shimmering through her increase as they finally reached and began to climb the rocky incline. The rubbing of her clit, the pulling of her labia and nipples reminded her of his hands touching her. If she had the chance, she’d be writhing, bucking her hips and finger-fucking herself into sensual oblivion. Damn him! She needed to get herself off or she’d go mad! In order to keep her mind from totally falling into a sexual haze, she counted the cracks of thunder to determine the distance of the storm. One steamboat, two steamboats, three steamboats….crash. One steamboat, two steamboats….crash. “Move faster. We are almost there!” he shouted as the roar of the wind began to pummel them. It was getting dark really fast and the first real flickers of fear grabbed hold of her. If I go any faster, I’ll be a useless, orgasming ball of flesh, you son of a bitch! She wanted to shout at him, but she kept her thoughts geared to counting and observing the storm. The clouds were bruised with purple and black. They looked incredible. “It is an acid storm! Hurry!” he growled, and then suddenly he stopped. His fingers went to her cuffs and he released her hands. Yes! Free! Quickly, he grabbed her right wrist. “Do not try to run. You will die. You must follow me!” In that brief instant, she caught his gaze. Fear shone in his eyes and it seared straight through her too. The son of a bitch was telling her the truth. He yanked at her and literally had her flying over the boulders. Had he said acid? As in burning acid? Like, she must have heard wrong. Right? Something hot and painful seared her upper right arm. She yelped in disbelief as a quarter-size part of her flesh bubbled and became red. Oh my God! He was serious. She picked up speed, her sexual haze now forgotten. A couple more shots of hot pain sliced into her arms. One on her upper thigh. Burning flesh assaulted her nostrils. She swore when a blue spark snapped off his knapsack. Oh shit! Then another blue spark…and another. Holy crap!
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The wind screamed all around them, its fingers tangling in her hair. Her scalp burned as the wind painfully pulled on the strands. The odor of burning hair permeated the air and she fought the rise of panic. She needed to stay strong, force herself to remain as cool as a cucumber. And she needed to follow his instructions. He’d stopped again and was shouting something at her, but damned if she could hear above the roaring wind. A couple of hot blasts of steamy air almost knocked her over, but thankfully he grabbed hold of her and steadied her. Then he let go and struggled to get something out of his knapsack. When he drew out a large, very thin, fur blanket—similar to the one she’d stolen from his sack—and draped it around her shoulders, she understood. Her hair had the possibility of catching fire. Not good. “Over your head! Follow me!” he shouted. “What about you?” she screamed and thrust the blanket toward his hand. But he’d already turned around and slung the sack over his back again. He started moving them up the hill. Damned male! They never listened anyway. Pulling the blanket over her head, she followed him. More blue sparks snapped off his knapsack. More odors of burning hair. Parts of the sack started smoldering. She yelped as pain bit her ankle, but the rest of her was well-protected as she held the amazingly light fur blanket over her head and shoulders. Thunder cracked overhead and sparks of white lightning zipped off a nearby boulder. Well, so much for her cucumber coolness. It disintegrated and panic began to grab a firm hold. What if they burned to death? Dear God, what a hell of a way to die! And she meant hell quite literally. Oh stop with the bad joke, Kinley. Hot air seesawed painfully through her nose and into her lungs. Darkness and lightning wrangled for control. Blue sparks fought with white sparks. It seemed as if they were climbing forever. Her legs grew tired, her hand clutching the fur loosened and she almost lost the blanket a couple of times. But thankfully, sometime along their way up the rocks, he’d grabbed hold of her other hand. It was a reassuring gesture. Her lifeline to another human being. Someone who might actually give a shit if she died here. Suddenly he stopped, turned and cursed at the sky. The anger in his dark eyes frightened her. His hot hands slipped around her waist, and then her feet flew off the ground as he swept her into in his strong arms and began walking again. Her weight would slow them down and she struggled to get out of his arms. “Hold still!” he growled with anger. “I can walk!” she insisted. 72
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“The rocks grow hot. You have no footwear. I do.” Okay, she got the message. Charbroiled feet were not on the menu tonight. Thank goodness, he did care! White and blue sparks zinged off the rocks like a display of fireworks had been set off right in front of them. It would have looked pretty had she not been so damned scared. Then the rain came screaming along the rocks behind them. Hot stabs of rain pelted her exposed feet and she bit back a scream as she envisioned her feet burning off. Then a cold flash of air swept away the humidity and the fierce winds stopped. The storm suddenly seemed far away as he carried her inside some sort of shelter. “Where are we?” Her voice echoed as she gulped madly at the fresh air, inhaling it deeply into her tortured lungs. “A cave,” he answered. No shit. In the damp darkness his breaths erupted, hard and heavy. His body heat wrapped around her curves. The safety of being in his arms disappeared as he set her down on a carpet of soft, cool moss. Oh very nice, and her sore, tired feet totally appreciated the carpet. “Do not move until I light a fire,” he said softly. “There are holes here to fall into and there may be dangerous animals that have also taken refuge.” Holes? Animals! Yippee. Lovely vacation spot. Her heart beat a mile a minute as she gazed at the yawning opening of the cave. Shivers of dread screamed along her frayed nerve endings as white lightning forks flashed just outside. As the thunder boomed, the moss trembled beneath her feet. Was that acid rain on fire? Streaks of orange zipped by in an almost sideways movement. Thankfully it didn’t enter the cave. She held the fur blanket tighter around her body, looking for comfort as the cold dampness chased away her body heat. Somewhere deeper in the cave—from the blackness—came a shuffling. How the hell could he see anything? Relief washed through her as a welcome orange glow erupted on the nearby ground. More flames rose, and then there was enough light. He’d lit a fire. “You’ve been here before,” she said, understanding. He nodded in the firelight. “So you know exactly where we are?” Again, he nodded. He shrugged out of the knapsack and reached into the nearby darkness where he produced more firewood. He piled the sticks onto the fire. The flames grew and crackled, giving off more light. Against a wall was quite a huge heap of wood as well as layers of bark.
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“The wood is damp, but dry enough to stay lit. The smoke escapes out of a small crack in the rock above so we have fresh air. Come closer to the fire and warm yourself,” he ordered. The male gruffness was back in his voice, the earlier softness gone from his features. As she moved to the fire, pain burst where the acid rain had hit a few spots on her arms and legs. But she welcomed the lovely heat from the fire as it splashed around her body. “Here is salve for the burns.” He handed her a small, wooden container about the size of her palm. He’d removed the lid and inside was a light-colored cream. “We keep cream here in case,” he explained. The fire snapped and hissed as he tossed more wood onto it. The sparks, floating delicately upward, moved quickly to a two-inch-wide and about ten-inch-long crack in the otherwise solid ceiling. “Put the healing cream on now as it works better and faster when you put it on right away,” he said and stood, towering over her. Gosh, but the man was a giant. “What about you?” In the soft glow of the firelight, blistered burn marks laced his legs and arms. “I have experienced worse.” Oh dear. Mr. Tough Guy, huh? Okay, Kinley girl, rein in your compassion for him. Rein it in. You aren’t wearing a collar and slave chain for nothing. “While I am gone, do not venture out of the cave. You will not last long out there.” That’s for sure. Streaks of orange continued outside the opening. Without another word, he disappeared into the dark cavity behind her. Kinley did as he instructed and began dabbing the cream onto her fiery blisters. Who was she to argue with the guy, anyway? Defying him and not putting on the cream would only hurt her and anger him. Not that she wouldn’t want him angry as hell when he fucked her. If he fucked her. If. If. If. If she let him. No, when she let him. That is…when he begged. Yeah, he had to beg first and then she’d crack. All too quickly, the man returned and with him so did her arousal. Okay, so he knew how to train a woman to crave pleasure. That didn’t mean she would crumble to her needs. At least not yet. Outside the cave entrance, the wind was blowing so hard…like a freight train. “We were lucky,” he said as he handed her a skin-type canteen. She took it and eyed the opening, wondering if he’d maybe dropped a drug in there. She was dying of thirst, but was she willing to put her life on the line by trusting he hadn’t put a drug in her drink? Obviously he had done it before with the food she’d
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stolen from his knapsack. How else had she been so deeply asleep he’d been able to finger-fuck her into that mind-blasting orgasm without her even realizing he was real? God, was that only this morning? She handed the canteen back without drinking anything. He said nothing as he accepted it and tossed back a drawn-out drag. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down in his long, thick throat. She enjoyed the way he held the canteen with those strong fingers and the sensual way his lips curled around the mouth. His eyes were closed in what seemed like sensual bliss as he drank and she licked her dry lips with anticipation, regretting not taking a drink. Okay, so he wouldn’t drink his own drugged water, right? But she would get down to the matter of how he’d been able to finger-fuck her without her realizing it. While his eyes were closed, she studied his naked chest. It was wide and corded muscles rippled through his shoulders. A light dusting of downy black hair covered his chest and she recoiled at the scars that were lashed across him. Just thinking about the pain he must have endured while being whipped made her sad. Who would do such a horrid thing to a man? When her gazed traveled upward, his black eyes were studying her. “I would not have drugged your water,” he replied and held out the canteen. How the hell did he know what she’d been thinking? “But you drugged the food I stole.” He shook his head. “Not drugged. The berries I placed into my sack were meant for you. I admit they are called Sexual Berries for their seductive qualities.” He had a funny way of thinking those Sexual Berries weren’t drugs. What was he, stupid or something? “Females crave sex. First they fall into a deep sleep, and then they have sensual, sexual dreams. The dreams seem so realistic they think the visions are actually happening.” “Then you didn’t…” He didn’t finger-fuck her? She let the sentence die as disappointment laced her voice. There was no way she was going to tell him he played the hot sexy stud in her sensual, berry dreams. Damn him, but dare she believe him? He was licking his fingers, for crying out loud. He had fucked her with his fingers! “Yes, I did touch you. You were whimpering in your sleep. I knew you needed release.” The sides of his mouth drew wide in a knowing smile. How embarrassing. Her cheeks grew hot and she accepted the canteen, cleaned the rim with her palm. The cool liquid tasted heavenly as it splashed down her parched throat. She couldn’t get enough. Simply could not stop drinking. That is, until his hand wrapped around her wrist like a band of steel and he stopped her. “Enough, you must eat something.” 75
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He took the canteen from her and handed her some dried meat. It smelled pretty good and tasted even better. Salty and sweet at the same time. They ate in silence, him handing her some dried fruit that looked like figs, which he allowed her to follow with the rest of the water from the canteen. When she finished, she found him studying her again with those dark, dangerously sexy eyes. Eyes that made her breath catch. He was looking at her like he wanted sex. “Hand me the fur blanket,” he instructed in a cool, commanding voice that instantly made her bristle with anger. She didn’t like the way he ordered her around, and truth be told she didn’t want to lose the security of the blanket on her shoulders. It had kept most of her body warm and hidden from those penetrating, I-want-sex-now black eyes. He snapped his fingers. “The blanket.” Setting her teeth, she reluctantly whipped off the blanket and threw it at him. His eyes blazed in momentary anger, but then the tips of his mouth once again tilted upward ever so slightly. The bastard was amused? However, he said nothing as he stood and laid the blanket on the stone floor near the fire. “Come here and lie on the blanket,” he said as he grabbed more wood and settled it in a teepee over the coals. Orange and yellow flames burst and tangled around the sticks, illuminating the cave even more. When she didn’t move from where she sat, he frowned. “I said come and lie here.” “I’m fine right here, thanks.” She smiled, but inwardly nervousness rocked her. Would he rape her now? Take her up against the rock wall, rough and hard…or gentle and tender? What kind of a lover would he be? “If you wish to argue, I can easily argue. But by the way your nipples are hard as pebbles against your cloth, I believe you wish relief. Lie down on the fur and you will get relief from the chains and clamps.” Relief. Oh baby, he didn’t know half the relief she needed. All that walking and tugging and pulling on her labia and nipples, not to mention the erotic rubbing on her clit from that chain. She had to admit she was sore. It was an odd soreness. An arousal that she liked. She wanted him to rub those sore spots and make her very happy. “Unless you need to go first?” he asked. Go first? Oh man. Okay, she got it. The bathroom. Her cheeks flamed at his question. “Um, where is the…um…ladies’ room?” He frowned in puzzlement. “Ladies’ room?” he repeated. “Powder room, bathroom? Pee?” “There is an area to the right, an alcove that we use.” We? Kinley frowned. She bet he brought all his captive women here. Asshole! 76
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“Just point me in the right direction and I’ll go it alone.” “I will accompany you. Stand.” Kinley swallowed her frustration. The last thing she wanted was for the guy to watch her, but she really did need to pee. Thankfully when he led her off to an alcove, he had the decency to turn his back while she did what needed doing. Then he led her back to the fire. “Why would you care about my comfort?” she snapped, more comfortable with her anger toward him than her unexplained arousal. His eyes flared in the darkness. “Do as I instruct, female. Lie down or suffer the consequences.” Oh big, tough bully. She wanted to ask what he meant by consequences, but figured she just might be better off not knowing. Besides, she was getting really tired. “How long do these types of acid storms last?” she asked instead. May as well get as much information out of him as possible. She would need to know how to keep from becoming charbroiled after she escaped. “Lie on the blanket,” he growled. His penetrating gaze made it clear he expected her obedience. The musical tinkle of her chains sang through the air and all her clamps tightened as she first sat, and then lay on her back. Not wanting to see the lusty apprehension in his eyes, she closed hers and tried to steady her fast breathing. “Lift your garment above your breasts,” he commanded, his voice husky and low, aroused. Her pussy creamed wet heat and she struggled to keep her thoughts in check. She was both nervous and excited as she did his bidding and lifted her top, fully exposing her upper half to him. For a moment all was quiet except for an occasional crack of thunder. The clamp released from her right nipple, and then her left. Her nipples tingled, but strangely the burst of pain one would normally get after having worn clamps for so long was merely a mild soreness. Now, how would I know that? But her thoughts disintegrated and she moaned softly as he smoothed cool soft cream over her tender nipple. “I had not intended for you to wear these for this long,” he whispered as he sensually rubbed. “I’m sure the storm interfered with your plans for me.” She couldn’t help but whisper. Exactly what are your plans? she wanted to ask, but the intoxicating way he rubbed the cream into her nipple had her already hot for more of his touches. The tenderness eased. Then it was gone.
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She almost popped her eyes open when cool cream smoothed over her other nipple. The soreness lessened and disappeared just as with her other breast. His breaths seemed to grow heavier as he moved his fingers away. A moment later, he touched both her nipples again. His featherlight, tender brushes against her flesh were like flames licking her and she found herself sinking into a pit of want and need. Her pussy clenched. Oh damn him. He remained silent, but she believed he knew what he was doing to her. He was priming her. This was foreplay. Heat and wetness dripped from her core. A burning, aching agony erupted deep inside her vagina, and when his fingers left her nipples and splayed over her belly, she didn’t hesitate to lift her hips. Shameless! Wanton! But she just couldn’t help herself. She needed…release…from him. He removed one hot palm from her belly and fiddled with the tie at her right hip. The cloth loosened and fell away. Mild air breathed against her flesh. A moment later the tie at the other side loosened and she held her breath as her skirt fell away from her body. “That’s it, female. Spread your legs nice and wide for me.” His voice sounded far away and she automatically spread her legs for him. She forced herself to open her eyes, to fight the electrical heat zipping through her body as she anticipated his next touch. When it came, she jolted. Tender fingers trailed a line of white-hot fire up along the insides of her thighs. Oh yes! She closed her eyes. Pretended he was her lover. The man she loved. The man who would help her remember who she was and how she came to be here, lost and all alone. The clamp on her right labia tightened briefly and then was gone. The other quickly followed. Hot, tingling agony swept through her pussy lips. Lips that were swollen and aching and aroused and sore. The hand on her lower belly pushed down and tension blossomed deep inside her. An aching need to be filled. God, she loved the tender, alluring way he stroked her. The way he made her want sex even though she shouldn’t want it. Not like this. But God help her, she did. She moaned as cool cream touched her fiery pussy lips. In her mind’s eye, she pictured how his callused fingers were sliding over her flesh. He smoothed the lube over her outer labia, pulling gently as he drew one lip aside to touch her clit. She moaned again. Clamped her mouth shut in defiance. No, he couldn’t know how much she wanted this. She struggled to keep her hips from moving, from gyrating.
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Her need for sex was trapping her into doing what he wanted. And he wanted to fuck. She didn’t have to open her eyes. She could feel it in the air. Sensual electricity blazed between them, pulling them closer and closer. His hands left her body and he began removing the chains. They tinkled and soothed her rattled nerves. The leather belt with the cuffs around her waist was the next to go. The collar he left on. As well as the leash. “You will leave your garments off. Do you understand?” She nodded, her legs trembling as she anticipated his next move. “Lie on your side, front toward the fire.” She didn’t even think to say no. If he wanted to fuck her spoon style, then so be it! Just fuck me please, sir, and thank you very much! That was the least he could do after getting her all hot and bothered with his sensual touches. She turned on her side and he lay down behind her. Disappointment rocked her as his clothed cock pressed intimately against her ass cheeks. “We must sleep,” he muttered, his voice heavy with unmistakable lust. Oh no, fuck me! Fuck me! Panic zipped through her. She thought about begging him. That’s what he wanted, right? She froze when his arm slipped over her waist and a hand slipped up her belly to cup her breast. Oh yes. He was just teasing her! She made a move to reach behind her and undo the ties of his loin cloth. “Lie still,” he snarled. “Sleep!” Oh God. No, not sleep. Sex. I need sex! Beg him, Kinley. Beg him. No, she wouldn’t…couldn’t. Her pussy yearned for him. Ached to be filled. Her nipples were so taut, her clit way too swollen and angry with need. Then came his low, knowing chuckle that smoothed over her nerves like seductive silk. He did want her to beg. He wanted the satisfaction of seeing her reduced to do his bidding because he knew a female’s weakness. Hadn’t he said that? He wanted her to beg him. Screw you, stud! A roll of defiance mingled with her arousal. Screw you! She bit her bottom lip to keep herself from begging. But she was close. So damn close.
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***** It was a beautiful sunset. Taylor caught glimpses of the clear, blue sky overhead while they walked in the river. The earlier gloomy, gray sky and the dark, rolling clouds in the distance signaled it would only be a matter of time before the stormy season hit this area. The ominous clouds were located toward the Acid Zone. He knew better than to go there unless absolutely necessary. Not much vegetation grew in that rocky area and if it did, it disintegrated during one of the storms. Taylor stifled a shiver at remembering finding the remnants of some poor soul who must have been caught out in the open during a storm in the Acid Zone. Nothing had remained of the person except white bones. He nodded toward the sky so the female could get a look at the beauty. When she lifted her head, appreciation sparkled in her eyes. The sky had turned a deep, pure blue, the white, puffy clouds streaked with gold as the sun sprayed against them. In the far distance ahead of them, the trees gave way to a lush plateau, then to purple hills. In those hills was the Outer Limits. The Outer Limits was a place forbidden to most. Yet after escaping his enslavement with the women and then leaving the Death Valley Boys, he and his friend Jarod had made it a point to explore that area. They came up with nothing truly significant except for a giant stone female statue, falling apart. Its crown and the torch she carried were pitted with rust and holes. The statue was rumored to be chiseled from stone after the original Goddess of Freedom, a woman who’d raised an army against males, enslaving them all. But now some male slaves were free, thanks to Jarod and Jarod’s sister, Virgin, the woman who had educated them. Some males had taken their education and turned evil, stealing women, enslaving them and taking on the name the Death Valley Boys. Other males, such as himself and Jarod, were harmless. At the thought of soon seeing Jarod, Taylor’s heart warmed. He and Jarod had lived here for a while. Hidden in the jungle, they’d built shelters in the treetops. The tree house was where Piper and Jarod had been many days earlier, when Taylor had left to search for her sisters. It was where he hoped to find Jarod and reunite them all. It would be good to see the fear melt in this female’s gaze when he reunited her with Piper. Perhaps then the woman wouldn’t look at him with alarm and she would trust that he wouldn’t hurt her. As the river meandered closer to the area of their tree house, he led her from the river and down an almost invisible path. His heart picked up in excitement, but moments later he noticed footprints near the water’s edge. Normally a set of footprints would not alarm him as he would recognize them as Jarod’s. This time, however—if Jarod were around—there would be two sets. His and the female’s.
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But there were more. Three males and two females and none of the footprints belonged to Jarod or his female. So who had come by here? No one knew of the tree house except for Jarod, Piper and the Hero brothers. Yet the Hero brothers and their women would not dare to venture far from their own village. Not with the stormy season so close at hand. Unless there had been some emergency… If the prints didn’t belong to a friend, then there was definitely trouble in the air. “Why have we stopped?” the female asked. Ordinarily with her standing so close, he would have been able to think of nothing else but breathing in her sensual scent and taking her up against a nearby tree. But sex would have to come second now that his survival instincts were in peak mode. He pointed to the footprints in the mud. “Three males and two females,” he whispered. Excitement flared in her eyes. She’d misunderstood. “My brothers and sisters?” “I do not think so.” The happiness was dashed from her features and it irritated him that he was so disappointed by her devastation. He did not have time to dwell on his reaction. They were standing out in the open. Easy prey for any enemy. For all he knew, the footprints could belong to the two women who’d enslaved them. They may have brought along slave male trackers to hunt him and the female. He didn’t want to frighten Kayla unnecessarily, but it was best to keep her safe. “There may be trouble. We need to get out of the open and to be very quiet.” He’d expected an argument from her or, at the very least, for her to look frightened. She was neither. Instead she merely nodded as her eyes blazed with a seriousness he’d not seen in her. Most of the lust fever had gone and he believed she could now think clearly, without the thoughts of him fucking her. Fucking her had done good. So had the rest and food and drink. He liked that she had a cool head under pressure. A hot body and cool head, a very enticing combination. His attraction for her grew several notches. “Keep pace with me. Do as I tell you without hesitation. Are we clear?” She nodded. “We go.” He did not take her hand to lead her, to keep her close. Instead he opted to keep his and her hands free. Just in case. With ease, they moved into the cover of the jungle. He made sure not to keep to the tiny trail he and Jarod had allowed themselves to the tree house.
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In the years since coming here to hide, they’d grown lax. Their error showed in the weave of trails they’d created. His heart sank. They would have to part with their tree house and move deeper into the Outer Limits. They’d enjoyed their freedom here. Had worked hard to create the shelters in the trees. He caught the scent of smoke as he neared the area of their tree shelter. It had grown dark, but his eyes had become accustomed to the dim light. But he was still too far from their shelter and could not tell if Jarod and Piper were alone, if they had company or if—Goddess of Freedom forbid—they might have been captured. He dared not bring Kayla any closer, just in case. Urging her behind a boulder, he slid the knife from the scabbard he’d woven out of leaves and held it up to her. Her eyes widened in the gloomy darkness. “In case I do not return,” he said as she accepted the weapon. “Stay here and do not show yourself under any circumstances. Only I will return for you. If I don’t, leave. Follow the river. Stay in it so you leave no tracks. Go down river for a day. You will see a meadow. It is the second one to your right. At the far end of that meadow you will find a shelter that Jarod and I built. It will be hard to find, so look closely. Stay there until the storms are over.” “How will I know when they are over?” “You’ll know. Near the shelter you will find a swamp. There will be a boat. It is well-hidden, so you will have to search hard. On the morning of the second day without storms, follow the sun through the swamps. Continue until the very end where you will see a river. Stay at the mouth of the river until your brothers find you.” He hoped the Heroes had not grown lax in their posting of a lookout near the tiny village they had created. For if they did, Kayla would most likely perish. But he could not think of that possibility. Dared not consider it or his heart would break. “If I do not return for you soon, run and do not look back.” She was about to protest. He could see it in the defiant tilt of her chin and the flare of anger in her eyes, but he cut her off by fusing his mouth over hers. She moaned and melted into his arms, obviously enjoying the kiss. Her body was hot and her breathing rough as he kissed her lush mouth hard and fast. His cock pulsed and swelled as he thought about removing his loincloth, pulling down her garment and plunging into her warm, tight sweetness. She would welcome his cock inside her. Soft whimpers arose deep in her throat as he firmly pressed his erection against her lower belly. She parted her lips and pressed her tongue boldly into his mouth. When their tongues clashed, his knees just about melted as arousal exploded through him. Before he lost himself in the intoxicating sexual insanity, he forced himself to break the kiss. They were both breathing hard in the darkness and he hoped to the Goddess of Freedom no one was nearby, for they would surely hear.
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In the darkness, she took a breath as if to speak. Instead she smiled and touched a finger to a scar that ran along his upper chest. He had no idea how she could see it. Or perhaps she was going merely by the line of the raised welt, but her finger ignited an arrow of fire. He needed to explore this sensation if he returned. “Be safe,” she whispered and dropped her finger. The loss of her touch left him oddly cold and so alone as he stepped away and jogged off into the nearby jungle.
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Chapter Seven The knife Taylor gave her was heavy and cold in Kayla’s hand. Could she use it if she had to? Sure, she’d been taught self-defense before coming on this mission, but it had all been simulated. This was the real deal and it scared the shit out of her. Just like watching Taylor disappear into the darkness. She hadn’t really been too frightened when he’d been with her, but the instant he’d gone fear wrapped around her like a smothering blanket. She should have insisted she go with him, as backup. She gripped the handle of the knife tighter and peered into blackness. No sights. No sounds. He’d vanished like a ghost. Like he’d never been here. Like he didn’t even exist. The thought of slipping into the night and just leaving him entered her mind. Not because she thought he might hurt her, but because of the way she reacted around him. Dependant. She’d never liked that word. Never liked being dependant on anyone. At an early age she’d struck out on her own, much to her parents’ disappointment. They’d liked having their kids around. A big, happy family. Everyone living in the same town. Everyone within walking distance for visits. Man! How were her parents holding together with all their kids in space? Knowing their kids may not return yet having to follow her brothers’ private instructions and keep this mission a secret from friends and even NASA, so NASA wouldn’t send out search parties. She would kill her brothers when she found them. The idiots. Why keep Paradise a secret? Why pretend they were dead? Why not let their parents contact NASA and have them send a search party to let the inhabitants of Paradise know they were not alone in the universe? And pick up her stupid brothers while they were at it? She blew out a slow, agonizing breath of concern. What was taking Taylor so long? Shouldn’t he be back by now? She hadn’t even thought to ask how far this shelter of his might be. Everything had happened so fast. One minute he’d been showing her the pretty golden sunset and the next she’d been touching a scar on his chest, telling him to be safe and kissing the guy goodbye. Frustration swept through her and she almost cried out. What if he never came back? What if she never saw him again? If he didn’t, she knew what to do. She would go where he’d said. But what about him? What if something terrible happened to him?
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God, why did men have to be such idiots and go off on their own without realizing their women might be worried about them? Sweet mercy! She was not his woman! She’d just met the guy for crying out loud. Okay, focus, Kayla. Stop being an idiot and get a grip. Panicking now is not an option. She forced herself to concentrate on the night sounds. A light breeze made a clicking as it whispered through the dense foliage. Far away in the distance came the distinct murmur of thunder. Okay, he’d mentioned storms. She could handle a storm. What she couldn’t handle was getting recaptured by those women or those creepy Death Valley Boys. A soft sob escaped her mouth. Another thing she couldn’t handle was losing Taylor. Terror for his safety once again lashed at her and she shifted the knife into her other hand. And waited for him to return.
***** He was risking his life being so close to the intruders who sat huddled in front of a blazing fire beneath the tree shelters, but at least he could see them. There were two males and two females. No sign of the third male, nor any sign of Jarod and Piper. Either they had left before this party arrived, escaping into the woods, or they were being held in the tree house by the third male. He recognized their faces. They came from Death Valley. Perhaps this was a hunting party. Or maybe word had gotten out that a male and female had escaped the trip to Death Valley and this party was tracking him and Kayla. The males spoke in hushed voices to each other—virtually ignoring the females— bringing back memories of his life with the Death Valley Boys and the Slave Uprising. He shuddered as he remembered the day it had all started. The terrorized screams of naked women being hauled out of their dwellings and forced onto the dusty ground. Laughing males, throwing themselves upon crying females, uncaring of their terror or pleas for mercy. He’d never taken part in the rapes. He’d tried to stop some of them by yelling and fighting with the males, reminding them this was not the intention of their leader at the time—his friend Jarod. They’d merely laughed at him. Subsequently, he and Jarod had been recaptured by the female Cath. She had been one of the females who’d been gang raped…for days. She’d been changed by her experience. Upon her escape, she had turned bitter and evil. She’d begun sending out search parties to hunt down as many males as possible. He and Jarod had been caught, both of them tortured, forced to have sex with Cath.
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Jarod had lost his eye, a small payback from Cath. And Taylor’s leg had been broken in several places when Cath had taken a long metal pole to his bound body. But the two of them—along with a friend, Blackie—managed to escape and had taken refuge with the Death Valley Boys. Taylor came back to the present when a twig snapped lightly behind him. His hand went for the knife in his scabbard and he remembered he’d given it to Kayla. He hoped she was long gone as these males wouldn’t think twice about raping her. He sensed movement nearby and prepared to crouch lower into the ferns, but the kiss of a knife pressed against his throat. Shit. The curse came naturally, although he didn’t like the word. He’d heard it repeated on several occasions, usually when a Hero brother had been angry. “Not a sound, male. Move to the campfire,” a voice hissed in his ear. Taylor recognized him. He was a brute who called himself King, but Taylor had never known the male’s true name or from which hub he’d escaped. Taylor swallowed against the unease clamping around him. He did not worry for his safety, but for Kayla’s. If these males knew he was the one who escaped the breeders with Kayla, they would fan out and catch her. He made a stab at diplomacy. “I am unarmed.” “And I am armed. Do as I say.” So much for diplomacy. Slowly he stepped through the ferns, treading carefully so as not to startle the party around the campfire. The instant he drew into the firelight, he braced himself as the two males immediately dove for their weapons. The females, on the other hand, did nothing. They both looked at him with blank stares, as if totally uncaring for their safety. Many of the females ended up that way in captivity. Their loss of freedom and denial of any tenderness toward them by the males turned them into listless beings. Taylor tried hard not to care one way or another about the lost souls, but he could not stem the guilt, the raw pain or remorse for having been a part of the Slave Uprising— which had not gone according to Jarod’s well-laid plan. A plan where no woman was supposed to have been injured in any way. “Look what the Goddess of Freedom has sent to us.” King chuckled as he shoved Taylor closer to the fire. Recognition flared in one of the male’s eyes. Samson, if Taylor remembered correctly. “Taylor! Thought you were dead. And what of your friend, Jarod?” he asked. He seemed genuinely pleased to see Taylor, but these males would easily kill if they chose, no matter how friendly they appeared. The fact he was inquiring after Jarod brought Taylor great relief. This meant his friend and the female had left and were most likely safe.
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Most of the males who’d escaped during the Uprising held anger inside their hearts toward the females, but Taylor had been away from Death Valley and the rage for so long now, he’d almost forgotten how easily they did, in fact, hide their anger. “We parted a long time ago,” he lied. “Come and sit by the fire. We have females to tend to you.” The one called King gave him another hard shove, making his weak leg almost collapse as he stumbled to the fire and sat where Samson patted the dusty ground beside him. “Get this male some food and drink,” Sampson ordered the female closest to him. Immediately she stood. She had been very young when the males had taken her in the Valley. A queen-in-training. A virgin. Her blue eyes looked haunted now. Her body thin, as if she hadn’t eaten properly. But these males didn’t care. They ate until their bellies were full and left scraps for their females. Nausea rolled in his stomach as he noticed the thin lines woven through areas of the woman’s body. Knife scars in intricate designs around her breasts, her lower belly and thighs. She disappeared into the darkness without a word. “Tend to this male’s cock while he waits for his meal,” King ordered the other female. It was Death Valley tradition for a slave to give service. The females would tend to a guest anytime he pleased or anytime his host wished. Taylor stiffened as the petite brunette scrambled over to sit beside him. She fared little better than the other female. Her short dark hair was tangled and matted. Her eyes glassed-over as she obediently reached for the strip of his breechclout. He pushed her hands away. The males grumbled angrily. ”I would prefer after the meal,” Taylor quipped, trying to keep his voice lighthearted. Truth was, he didn’t want this female touching him—or any female except Kayla. At the thought of her, frightened in the dark and unfamiliar surroundings, waiting for him to return, a jolt of unease gripped him. He hoped she did not come looking for him. Hoped she obeyed his instructions and began to follow the river. If she remembered how to get to it. Stop it! She is a strong female and she will do what needs to be done to survive. “Ah, here is the food,” the third male, whom Taylor didn’t recall, muttered impatiently. The female served all of them with an abundance of fruits, nuts and dried meat on wooden plates. Plates Taylor recognized as the ones Jarod had fashioned when they had first come to this place. It irritated him, having these nasty males using their dishes, but he maintained a cool outer calm. The Boys would soon ask him questions. Questions he preferred to avoid, but could not. 87
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He ate quickly and quietly, hoping the female hadn’t been instructed to put some sort of drug into his food. They could all be acting, knowing that Taylor was one of the escaped slaves. But he dare not refuse the food as per tradition. Denying food from the Boys was considered ruder than denying the female. The last thing he wanted to do was piss them off. They looked tense enough already. Three to one, not the best of odds. Then he had to consider the two females, who may have been trained to protect their captors. They were halfway through the meal when the questions began. “The Boys were very upset when you and Jarod decided to leave the way you did,” Samson said coolly. “No one leaves the Boys,” the nameless one muttered angrily. “You said that right, Dirk,” replied King, his gaze pinned to Taylor. Yes, this one was still very angry. Dangerous. It would be best if he escaped as quickly as possible, but he needed to give Kayla a bit of a head start. That is, if she’d decided to leave already. “Once a Boy always a Boy. You knew that when we took you, Jarod and Blackie in after Cath and her women had their way with you.” Taylor said nothing, opting to nod slowly in agreement and pretend he was enjoying the food too much to answer. But the Boys wouldn’t let up. “Jarod was in Death Valley many days ago,” King let the sentence hang and Taylor tried not to react as a cold chill ripped through him. Were they telling the truth? Had Jarod gone to Death Valley? And what of the female Piper? No, Jarod would not go there willingly. Not with her. He must have been captured. “I’m glad to hear he has found his way back home,” Taylor said, choosing his words very carefully as the three males watched him. Their faces were partially hidden by the shadows of the night, but the rest of their bodies were illuminated by the fire. Taylor did not like the way they tensed or the flare of hatred in one of the male’s eyes. An eerie shiver slithered through him like a snake, warning him of impending danger. “He left again,” King replied coolly. “Escaped in the night with a petite female. A female we had eagerly wished to fuck. We would have too had he not had inside help in escaping.” Relief poured through him. Jarod and Piper had escaped. With luck they would be safely with the Heroes by now, tucked away in a secure shelter in anticipation of the oncoming stormy season. As if nature had tapped into his thoughts, a low rumble of thunder growled a warning far in the distance. The Boys shifted uneasily at the ominous grumble. “Why have you strayed so far from the Valley? Do you not know the storms will be upon us soon?” Taylor questioned and bit into a juicy, sweet melon. 88
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“We would ask the same question of you,” King sneered as he grabbed some blackberries and shoved them into his mouth. Taylor had anticipated this question and was fully prepared. “Have you not heard? A female and a male escaped the Breeders. I’m on my way to the area near the Acid Zone where they were last spotted.” “And you heard this how?” “The Breeders and I have communication. They have asked me to help track down the escaped slaves.” Two of the males chuckled. “They are now desperate for male assistance?” King laughed and slapped his knee. Samson, on the other hand, frowned with a darkness Taylor did not like. “He lies. Free females want nothing to do with males.” “They wish nothing to do with Death Valley males,” Taylor corrected, injecting a confidence he did not truly feel although he was actually speaking the truth. “Free males are beginning to establish connections with free females.” Yes, three females had taken up with the three Hero brothers, but he knew of no other couplings, except, of course, Jarod and Piper and Kayla and himself. That is, if he could get away from here. What he had said captured the two females’ attention. They studied him with interest. “They fear us Death Valley Boys?” King laughed. “We’re all well-hung. We know how to pleasure a female. This is all a female is interested in. Am I right, females?” He turned to the two females who nodded obediently. But in their eyes hope was flaring. It brought Taylor immense satisfaction. “A female also wishes to be treated tenderly and with respect.” “Respect!” Dirk stood and glared at the two females who hunched beside each other in sudden fear. “Females do not respect us! They lead us around on penis leashes. They beat us. Punish us like babies. They do not wish us to be educated. They treat us as animals. We are not animals.” “Best act like males then,” Taylor couldn’t help but snap. “Treat your female tenderly and she will accept you in ways you never dreamed.” The three foes glared at him. Confusion twinkled in their angry eyes. “You speak treason,” King snarled. “Boys do not treat females tenderly. It is against the rules.” “Rules can be changed,” Taylor said softly. They glowered, possibly not understanding why he was behaving in this way. Defying the traditions of the Boys meant certain death.
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“Rules cannot be changed by an outsider. Of which you surely are in the way you speak,” Samson said, coldness in his voice. “You will allow both females to pleasure you right here and now as per our traditions.” Tension rippled through Taylor as he braced himself for a fight. “I am no longer a Boy. I am a free man and will remain free for the rest of my days.” “Which you will not see another of if you continue this line of speaking.” Dirk stood and withdrew a knife from his scabbard. Taylor swallowed the last piece of sweet fruit—which almost became lodged in his throat at the threat. He had expected this reaction from the brutes. Anger had been bred into them over the years. It would not take one conversation to change things. It would take years of reeducation. Taylor stood quickly and faced his aggressor, primed and ready for a fight. Keeping himself loose and limber in case the other two males decided to jump into the fight, he kept his hands close to his body in a defensive stance. “No fighting, Boys,” Samson interjected smoothly from his perch on a nearby stone. “Taylor says he is a free male. Who are we to tell him different, lads? But I’m sure he will not object to the attentions of our two slaves. No male can resist such tempting females.” He nodded to the two women. “Attend to him while we watch.” Well at least they wouldn’t kill him…yet. “First I must relieve myself. I will return in a moment.” Excitement slammed into him when no one objected. He moved quickly, but the instant he entered the limits of the firelight, a set of footsteps echoed behind him. His hopes plummeted. They wouldn’t let him escape with ease, would they? “No need to go any farther, male.” It was Samson and he stood very close. Taylor untied the strings to his loincloth and proceeded to relieve himself while Samson stood nearby. Here in the darkness, outside the light of fire, Taylor would have a chance in escaping. That is, if he moved fast and took out Samson quietly and quickly. “What you said about treating the females with tenderness. Is this true? Have you experienced this?” Samson asked softly. Great, now the male wished to discuss a lesson in fucking? “It is true,” Taylor answered. “And you have experienced this? Witnessed this?” The hope in Samson’s lowered voice made Taylor realize his words had made a profound impact on the young man. He just wished Samson hadn’t followed him. “It is true. Yes, with some females they will respond. Give them time.” “How much time?” Samson prodded. “Each female is different. It depends on their previous experiences with males.” Taylor completed his mission and fiddled in the darkness with his loincloth strings. He really needed to make a run for it, but Samson seemed genuinely interested. If he
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could persuade the young male to treat females better, then perhaps other males would notice a difference in their females’ behavior. “You will demonstrate this tenderness with the two females as you fuck them. We go back to the camp. I am eager to learn.” Taylor frowned and his gut twisted in a frustration. “It isn’t that easy, male. You need to seek their permission before you fuck them.” Silence. “Nothing good came from the way the females treated males in captivity, correct?” Taylor prodded. Still silence. At least the male was listening. He hoped. “Nothing good comes from the way the males currently treat their captive females.” “They do as they are told,” Samson growled. “What else is there?” Taylor smiled inwardly at the male’s curiosity. “Perhaps you should explore other options. Bring flowers to a female you are interested in. Show her you enjoy her company by asking about her past. Her life before she was enslaved.” “Her past?” “This shows her you care to know more about her and she will be more friendly rather than scared.” “Friendly,” Samson repeated with a softness that indicated he may like the idea. “And she will be more receptive in the bed,” Taylor urged. “I see.” “Now I trust you will excuse me…I must alleviate myself further before I return.” He hoped the male would get the message that he still needed to go. “You will return and show us?” Taylor hated the hope in the male’s voice. “I will return.” Not. Samson left, but when Taylor turned, he froze as a figure stood bathed in the moonlight and a metallic glint sparkled off something in the male’s hand. King…and he meant business with his knife. “You are no longer one of us for speaking such treason to a young Death Valley male. You will die for your insolence.” As he swept the knife sideways, Taylor tried to move out of the way, but the darkness was deceiving. He gasped as red-hot pain slashed across the right side of his waist. His knees buckled from the ferocity, but he could not let himself fall. Grabbing a nearby branch from the ground, he turned and swung it at King with all his might. He grimaced at the distinct sound of bone cracking as the thick, heavy branch crushed King’s skull. The male went down to the ground. He lay motionless.
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The other males called out in confusion. Obviously they heard something amiss. Taylor wasted no time and slipped quietly into the dark forest.
***** From past experience with females brought to Death Valley, women always warmed up to Blackie. Eventually. He never forced himself on an unwilling female. However he had participated in forced seductions with a female who showed signs of interest in group sex. He had, on occasion, participated in what the Boys referred to as conditioning. Conditioning a woman to a male’s touch. As he planned to do with this female named Kinley. The women he knew were different from this one. Kinley did not possess their air of superiority. She behaved differently. She did not force herself to be in charge of him as the other females tended to try. She did not argue or fight overly. She had accepted he was her captor and she wore his chains. Although outwardly she did not show reception of her chains, collar and clamps, she had accepted his touch. His instincts told him that she could be a natural sexual submissive. A female sexual submissive was virtually unheard of on this planet, yet it had always been a fantasy of his to have a female who would submit to him. The females he came into contact with resisted a male being in a dominant role, but he craved it nonetheless. Just as he craved Kinley. Perhaps in Kinley his fantasy could come true? He had been awake for hours, since daylight had crept into the cave, illuminating the sleeping figure of the female. Her curvy body was pressed against his entire front as he spooned her. He wanted her so badly, he ached as never before. His cock and balls throbbed as never before. She was his prisoner. Beautiful, alluring. Attractive. Reluctantly he moved his gaze from her and eyed the dying embers of the fire. Throughout the stormy night he had left her side, tossing wood into the pit, keeping them warm. Then he had rejoined her. Each time he settled back next to her, she’d snuggled close to him in her sleep, her lush curves igniting fires within him. Just watching her, smelling her, touching her warmed him like no other female had ever done. He had never known this attraction toward a female. This need to comfort, to protect. To make her only his. During the storm he had worried for her safety. Had been rough with her in his fear, unintentionally rough. Arrows of regret and guilt rammed through him as he surveyed the several red blisters marking her arms and legs as well as the few burn holes in her garments. Areas around her wrist were red from the cuffs he’d kept on for too long. He wanted to soothe all those injured areas of her flesh. To smooth ointment over her
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nipples again. To massage her clit and have it engorge with arousal beneath his fingers. Her mouth parting as her sexy whimpers escaped while he touched her. For a brief moment, he considered leaving her. Running from these odd—yet heartening as well as frightening—thoughts that raced through him like last night’s storm. They had been lucky in escaping with mere burns. They would be lucky too if they could make it back to Death Valley without another storm. But he was relatively confident they could get out of the Acid Zone in one piece. He doubted he could keep this female out of his head or his thoughts, for he had discovered since meeting this one that all he could do was think about her. Think about how to bring a smile to her face. There was more to this female. She wanted more from him. But what? Oh why did females have to be such beautiful, mysterious, complicated creatures?
***** They were on the move again. Kinley bound in her silver chains, nipple and labia clamps, much like yesterday. Yet something had changed. Him. He awoke on the wrong side of the floor this morning, acted grumpy and distant. After supplying her with a breakfast similar to last night’s meal, he’d gone through the same ministrations as yesterday. Collaring, cuffing her, chaining, clamping her and touching her until she was just as aroused as yesterday…if not more. Falling asleep while his hand cupped her breast hadn’t been as hard as she’d thought it would be. Nor had the electrifying contact of his hard body pressing intimately against her back prevented her from falling asleep. She literally had been exhausted. Weary from all that running and climbing and tired from her arousal and the fear and excitement from that acid storm. She’d slept as never before. Deep and soothing with frequent dreams of him. His lithe, strong body coming over her. Massive muscles in his tanned, whip-marked shoulders flexing as he held himself above her. His face hard yet tender at the same time as he lowered his naked body onto her. His cock, long and thick, swollen and purple with arousal, entering her in one fierce thrust, overpowering her with such domination she’d literally ached with need for him. She woke that way. Aching, needing him, wanting him, secretly begging for him to fuck her. Maybe she should just ask him politely if he wouldn’t mind putting out the fires claiming her body? He had, after all, created these exquisite urges.
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He wanted to have sex. She wanted him too. Yet there was that invisible barrier she just couldn’t seem to break through. A barrier that prevented her from making the request. Okay, so her pride prevented her from begging. But he certainly did look yummy this morning. Yummier than yesterday, if that were possible. Nice, tanned body. Magnificent muscles in his legs. Sensually shaped ass. Oh yes, a very hot bod. She wondered what he would do if she dropped to her knees behind him, grabbed him by his hips and licked the curves of his rock-hard ass. Well, she couldn’t do it, not with her wrists cuffed to her waist…compliments of him. Son of a bitch! Or she could simply stop. He held her by the hand so he wouldn’t have a choice but to turn around, and she would look into his eyes and beg. Just beg. Fuck me! Hard! Fast! Gentle! Slow! Oh she didn’t know how she wanted him. She just wanted him. Deep in thought, she crashed right into a solid backpack. He didn’t so much as flinch when she hit him yet his entire body was tense and alert. Alarm raged through her. “What is it?” she asked as she came to stand beside him. “Something is out there. Someone.” She followed his gaze as he surveyed an area to their right. There was nothing but dense green foliage and dark trees. “Where?” she whispered. He said nothing. Instead he cocked his head slightly, as if he’d heard something. His nostrils flared. His eyes narrowed. Kinley swallowed, bit back the panic threading through her like a deadly snake. Suddenly a whispering whipped past her ears, and then Blackie cursed. “Run!” he hissed. She was about to do just that when he dropped to his knees. “Go!” he managed to say before his eyes rolled white and he fell into a limp mass on the ground. Oh my God! What happened? “Blackie!” she cried out, suddenly more concerned about him than her own safety. Terror ripped through her when he didn’t move. Before she could blink, they were there. Surrounding her. Women…or make that teenage girls. Maybe around eighteen or nineteen. About ten of them. Blondes, all of them. They wore bone necklaces, straw skirts and no tops, revealing variously sized breasts. And they had very sharp-looking spears. All of them aimed at her. Oh not good! “What have we here?” The tallest blonde chuckled as she looked down at motionless Blackie, then back at Kinley. 94
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“A female being collared and led by a male? Highly illegal. I’m quite glad we were able to fill him with Passion Poison and come to your rescue.” “Passion Poison?” Kinley gasped. She did not like the sound of that. “Oh he’ll be out until we require his services. We’re on our male hunt and he looks to be our perfect first. Don’t you agree, women-to-be?” The young women shouted, “Yes!” in a united voice. Kinley blinked as shock rolled through her in one dark wave. Their first? Women-to-be? Oh my God, what in the world was going on here? “Who are you, female? To which hub do you belong?” Hub? What the hell was a hub? “Is the male from Brothel Town?” another asked with excitement. “He belongs to me,” Kinley said quickly, not liking the inquisitive way these women were bending over Blackie’s prone figure and undoing his breechclout. They all looked at her, shock splashed on their faces. “You? He is your male? And you let him demean you in this way?” The tall blonde—whom Kinley surmised to be the leader—looked her up and down, her focus lingering on the collar, leash, chains and other BDSM paraphernalia latched onto Kinley’s body. “Yes…I was…fantasizing. I ordered him to place all these items on me.” “Well, I’m afraid he no longer belongs to you. We captured him, he is ours. Those are the rules when commoners venture into Yellow Hair Territory. We thank you for bringing us tonight’s dinner.” Tonight’s dinner? Kinley’s tummy heaved. Cannibals? Oh my God! What kind of twisted, freaked-out, Alice in Wonderland fantasy was she dreaming? She was dreaming? Right? One of the Yellow Hairs who’d been bending over Blackie lifted his loincloth, revealing his engorged cock. Obviously he’d been fantasizing about Kinley while he led her around by a leash. Gasps and cries of delight reverberated as the blondes huddled around Blackie to get a closer look at his cock. “He’s so big!” one of the girls cried out with glee, her small fingers not able to circle the width of his shaft. “He will supply much sacred drink for us. The elders will be pleased at our catch,” another giggled. Elders. Okay, they must be older women with common sense. “I need to speak to your elders,” Kinley instructed, trying hard to squash the nasty tremors slithering through her at having so many women ogling her man.
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Correct that. He wasn’t her man. She had to pretend he was or he would be their dinner tonight. Hope roared through her. Maybe she could talk her way out of this crazy situation yet. “Outsiders are not allowed to speak to the elders. That is strictly forbidden,” the leader said, shaking her head. Kinley’s gut clenched and desperation snapped through her like a live wire. She had to do something. The leader nodded to one of the nearest women. “Proceed to place on the traditional cock ring.” Fuck you! “Well I’m sorry. I must insist,” Kinley replied. “He is my male and I will not let you have him!” They ignored her and one of the women removed something from a bag she carried. Yup, definitely a cock ring from the looks of it. Maybe a little show of force would get their attention. Kinley grabbed a spear from the nearest blonde who was busy touching Blackie’s testicles and brandished the spear at their leader. The Yellow Hairs stiffened, all their attention focused back on the leader who lifted her brows in surprise at Kinley’s outburst. Spears came up again, aimed at Kinley. Oh shit! She was so outnumbered. “Now that I have your full attention, I will reiterate. This male belongs to me. Either you all get the hell out of here or your leader dies.” To her surprise, her voice sounded decently strong despite her insides shaking like a leaf. Kinley tensed as one of the Yellow Hairs leaned closer to their leader and whispered in her left ear. Talk the chick into leaving us alone, please. The leader frowned, her eyes narrowed with curiosity and she looked at Kinley. Well, actually not at her, but at the bracelet Kinley wore on her wrist. The bracelet that was just peeking out below the leather cuff. “That is the mark,” the leader whispered, her eyes widening with unmistakable awe. “It is the square. It has the white and red stripes and the blue with white stars.” “Yes, it is the mark,” another blonde chick replied and, to Kinley’s shock, she dropped her spear, got down on her knees and bowed, her arms stretched full out in front of her. Okay, what the hell is going on now? Suddenly all the other women dropped their spears. Kinley stiffened as they moved in around her, fingering her medical alert bracelet. They were quite intrigued with the US flag. But why? Why the big deal?
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She held her breath as one by one the rest of the women did as the first. They got down on their knees and bowed to her. “Your wish is our command, Goddess of Freedom.” Oh my God. They thought she was a goddess because she had a flag on her medical alert bracelet? Boy, these chicks were out to lunch. Big-time!
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Chapter Eight Blackie couldn’t move a muscle and that really pissed him off. He had no problem enjoying the women’s hands sensually sliding along his flesh, stroking his cock, handling his balls. They knew exactly how to arouse him with their touches. They knew he was aware of everything too. Just before he’d gone down, he’d seen the Yellow Hairs. The bitches would want him for their roast. That’s what they did—ate males. And he’d walked right into their territory. All because he’d been fixated on his captive, fantasizing about taking her up against the nearest tree or bending her over the nearest log and thrusting his cock into her pussy. How had he been so careless? How had he allowed himself to become so preoccupied he didn’t even see the danger until he’d been hit in the thigh with a dart filled with Passion Poison? Already his body was heating up. Arousal screamed through his veins. His shaft tightened unnaturally. His breaths came faster and harder. He wanted to scream. Wanted sex. Sex would be able to extinguish these carnal urges. That’s what the Passion Poison was designed to do. To bring down even the biggest of males and turn his blood so hot he couldn’t think past fucking because he was suspended in a world of pleasure. That is, until the blonde virgins had satisfied themselves upon him and the elders gave the signal to carry out the death blow. Kinley spoke from somewhere above him and to his right. Pride whipped through him when she called him her male. She didn’t have to do that. She could have turned him over to them and simply walked away. She could be free of him. No longer a captive. He smiled. Perhaps he had been right. She could be a natural submissive. Or maybe she simply enjoyed his touches? He grinned inwardly at that last thought. Suddenly darkness enveloped him and he had no trouble slipping into it.
***** Kayla froze as a stick snapped somewhere behind her on the nearby shoreline of the river. She dared not look into the gloomy gray mist or gaze into the forest at every creepy crack or snap. If she looked anywhere but in front of her, she swore the goose bumps she’d been fighting all night would certainly grab hold of her and send her screaming into the dark. She’d waited too long for Taylor to return. He hadn’t.
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Guilt crawled through her, as it had off and on ever since she’d left. Guilt that had taken turns with anger, and then concern for his well-being. Overhead the sky was beginning to lighten. Thank God, she would soon be able to see the shoreline. Not seeing it in the dark had been another concern as she hoped she hadn’t passed the first meadow, let alone the second one where Taylor had said there would be a shelter. Getting closer and closer was the rumbling of thunder. The ominous booms were menacing and threatening, urging her to pick up speed in the water. She’d been lucky with her footing. The bottom of the river was mostly sand and the water knee-high. But the water seemed to be getting cooler and so were her feet. The wind blowing against her was cooler too. She thought about stopping along the shoreline and making a fire. She knew the technique of rubbing two sticks together, but that took time. And with the growling thunder, time was not on her side. With her luck she’d start the fire and it would pour. No, it was best to just keep moving. But she wasn’t exactly sure what Taylor meant when he’d said it would take a day to get there. Had he meant twelve hours or twentyfour? A soft splash in the river from somewhere behind her had her stopping again. She dared not look back. In front of her the gray mist spiraled upward like smoke and she found herself thinking about that gut-wrenching scene in the old classic movie The Ten Commandments, when Moses’ stepbrother had ordered all first-born males be killed. Screams of mothers as their babies were butchered rang through the air and so had that eerie fog, crawling along the ground just as it was doing over the river and around her. Creepy thoughts like that she could do without. Kayla shivered at another splash. This one closer. Crocodiles and alligators? Oh my! Stop it! There are no such things on Paradise. If there were, surely you would have seen one by now. She ignored the sound and kept moving forward. Goose bumps froze her arms and legs. Some animal was following her. Maybe one of those anaconda snakes? Oh shit! Kayla moved faster. The splashing increased, drew closer. Oh God! Oh God! Oh God! Thunder rumbled overhead, silver lightning flashed. She was so screwed. Harsh breathing closed in. No, that was her breathing. Right? Something hot clamped over her right shoulder, squeezing. She screamed, thought about fighting it off. She tried to run, but whatever had grabbed her wasn’t letting her go. “Get off me!” she yelled and tried to wrench free only to be pulled against a rockhard pile of muscle. 99
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“Kayla, it’s me.” His voice. His scent. Him! Taylor. Sweet mercy, the guy was alive. She’d never been so happy in her life! He dropped his hand from her shoulder, allowing her to swing around. He wore an amused grin and, well, she just couldn’t stop herself. She slapped his face. Hard. Surprise flashed through his eyes. Good. How dare he sneak up and scare her like that? She made a move to slap him again and he easily caught her wrist, stopping her cold. “That is not the welcome I’m looking for.” His gaze had grown serious and reality sobered her. He really was here. He was okay. “Oh my God! I’m so glad to see you!” she cried and began laughing as relief poured through her entire body. She was safe again. “A slap to my face indicates pleasure?” He looked confused and tired and pale. He was also breathing way too hard. Alarm snapped through her. He was clutching his right side. Blood oozed from between his fingertips. More blood streaked down the outside of his right thigh. “It’s nothing,” he muttered as she caught his gaze. His eyes shone with pain. Reaching out, she grabbed his hand and forced it away from his side. She gasped as a wave of shock slammed into her. He had a six-inch-long gash across his side. The wound appeared an angry red and the flesh swollen. Fuck! Shit! Damn! “What happened?” “No time to explain. The storms are upon us. We must hurry,” he said gruffly and pressed his hand once again to his side, wincing as he did so. He grabbed her hand, his fingers intertwining tightly with hers. Without another word, he began hauling her along beside him in the river. By the grim expression on his face and the increasing blaze of lightning and crackling thunder overhead, Kayla knew better than to oppose him.
***** It had been good to see her. Too good. The instant Taylor had spied her rounding the river bend ahead of him, something warm and welcome had shifted through him. Although pain sliced into his side with every step, he’d pushed himself to travel faster. It had seemed like forever before he could clearly see her. Her tall, curvy figure had been a beacon to him. And her silky tresses, even without sunshine, had shimmered in the gray dawn. As he had watched her generous hips sway
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with her every step through the water, anticipation at holding her again made him smile as he’d never smiled before. This female made an unforgettable picture to him. Even now, as fever heated his body and pain speared his side and blackness hovered at the edges of his sight, happiness poured through him at finding her. When he pointed out the first clearing to the right, the rain began, the wind also. It howled until the trees on the nearby shores crashed in a dark dance of ecstasy, some limbs cracking while others snapped off and fell to the ground with deep thuds. With each crash, Kayla gripped his hand tighter. The rain pelted them, running over his heated body in rivulets, soaking his breechclout. It grew hard to see as rain fell into his eyes. Her nervous expression showed she too was worried about the weather, yet she said nothing and kept them at a good pace. If he hadn’t caught up to her, if she hadn’t been here with him, he would have given up, curling beneath a tree to wait out this storm. He most likely would have drowned in the rain or died of the fever. What kept him going was his need to get her to safety, and then to her brothers so they could search for the missing woman. When they finally came to the second clearing, he could barely lift his legs. In the haze of excruciating pain claiming his senses, he was barely aware she’d swept an arm around the good side of his waist, keeping him from falling flat on his face into the water. He stopped at the river’s shore, swaying, trying to blink away the rain and the blueness claiming his eyesight. His arms were too heavy to lift. “Footprints…need to…clear…no trail,” he managed to gasp. “The rain will take care of it,” she shouted above the wind. Yes, the rain. It was good for something. It would erase their footprints. Why had he not remembered that? “Where is the shelter?” she screamed. He tried to orient himself once again, blinking away the rain spilling into his eyes. It was cold but did little to cool his fever. “It is well hidden,” he replied. It took a great effort to lift his arm, but he managed, pointing straight ahead, hoping it was the right direction. “Three hundred…paces inward…then four hundred…paces…right,” he said. He struggled to keep his thoughts straight and hoped he had remembered correctly. The rain came down harder and the wind brutally pummeled them as they left the river and stumbled into the clearing. Here, without the shelter of the nearby trees, the storm increased in violence and he prayed none of the forks of lightning would strike them before they found the shelter. Finally, through the haze of pain and past the sheets of silver rain and flailing white birch trees, he saw it. He hadn’t realized he’d sunk to his knees until Kayla wiped the rain from his eyes and hunched down in the tall wavy grass beside him. 101
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She looked so beautiful with her wet, tangled hair straggled around her face. Her cheeks were red from the cold, her eyebrows thin and perfectly arched over a set of sparkling blue eyes. Eyes full of concern. For him? “We have to keep going. We have to find the shelter. You can’t rest here.” She was yelling at him and tugging his arm. Lightning flashed and thunder rocked the ground. She cringed then looked around the meadow uneasily. “We’re here,” he mumbled. “Here? There’s nothing here, Taylor. Just grass!” she cried, throwing her hands up in the air with obvious frustration. Did she not see it? Perhaps the fever raging through him was causing him to see things that he wished? Had he imagined the cluster of white birch trees? Was the shelter even still standing? Perhaps previous windstorms had blown it over? He and Jarod had built it as solid as possible, but they hadn’t been this way for quite some time. She wiped more rain from his eyes, allowing him to see again. “Come on. Get up! We have to keep looking.” She pulled on his arm harder, but he shook his head. “Look,” he muttered, hoping she would hear him. With great effort, he lifted his arm and pointed again toward the shelter. “What is it?” she asked as she gazed around. “Home,” he replied. The sweetest word the Hero brothers had ever taught him. “It is home, sweet home.”
***** The guy had to be delusional. Home, sweet home? Out here? In the middle of nowhere? There was nothing but an empty field of swaying green grass and silver forks of lightning zip-zapping through the rain around them. There was no home. In the area where he pointed were so many trees. Huge, towering, white birch trees. Their green leaves literally shimmered in the violent wind, waving at her and Taylor to hurry on over. Then she spied an odd shadow. Wiping at the wetness blurring her eyesight, she squinted and shielded her eyes from the rain with her hands. The shadow looked like a silhouette. It blended so perfectly with the trees she doubted she would have seen it on her own. The cabin had been placed behind an alcove in the clearing, unseen from the river if anyone should pass. She led Taylor closer. Small, maybe twelve feet by twelve feet with a gently sloping roof, the cabin had been made from birch bark. All of it. The sides, the roof, even the large awnings 102
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covering the two tiny glassless windows at the front of the building. She’d never seen anything like it. From this angle she could see no door—perhaps it was on the other side of the building. Gazing at Taylor, she swallowed back a shard of fear at his glassy eyes, his pale face and the fact he was shaking pretty hard. In the back of her mind, she’d been trying to figure out how she’d get his fever under control without the use of antibiotics, and how to stitch that gash in his side without a sterile needle and thread before he bled to death. First though, she needed to get him the rest of the way to the cabin and out of this downpour. He was a big guy and leaned heavily on her as she guided him over the tangled, tall grass. But they made it and, as she shoved open the door, surprise washed through her at the coziness of the dwelling. The entire far wall consisted of wooden shelves made from birch saplings. On the shelves were several shoebox-sized containers with lids. They had been made from strips of dry, bright-yellow grass and were decorated with braids of pale-yellow grass, porcupine quills and small blue jay feathers. There were two cots, one against each side wall. The cots were also made of birch bark trees and the mattresses—if she could call them that—were woven straw. Just inside the door, on each side of the two windows, were several spears with very sharp, rock-like heads pounded into the tops. A stone fireplace had been built into one corner by the shelf. Over the black, dead coals hung a single, heavy-looking metal pail, probably cast iron. And there was lots of wood piled nearby—dry birch bark, kindling and large branches, all broken and stacked nicely. They had taken great pride and thought of every basic essential—except, unfortunately, matches. The lack of what she needed was quickly forgotten when Taylor leaned more heavily against her, almost making her lose her balance. “Whoa, big guy,” she soothed and they stumbled to one of the cots. “Hold on while I test if it’s strong enough.” With her free hand she reached down and found the straw on the bed amazingly secure. Taylor half fell, half stumbled onto it, his heavy weight making the straw crackle beneath his shivering body. Gosh, he really was a huge man. She visually inspected the rest of him for any other injuries. Thankfully she didn’t see any. At least not on his front. She winced as her gaze strayed to the raw, gaping slice in his side. Crimson oozed slowly from the clean cut. He winced as she poked and prodded around the wound. It wasn’t hard. That was a good sign. During her veterinarian studies, she’d seen lots of pictures of injuries—broken bones, bites and burns. She’d worked on wounded animals as a volunteer at a clinic on weekends, so wounds in general didn’t freak her out. But seeing a wide gash like this
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on a human made her a bit uneasy. If she didn’t get the bleeding to stop, she might have to cauterize, but she didn’t want to think about that yet. Okay, first she needed to clean the wound and with that came boiling water. She looked at the bucket, listened to the rain pelting the roof. Good. Water angle is covered. Grabbing the pail, she opened the door and let it sit beneath the rain for a few moments. After swirling the water in the pail, she dumped it out then left the container outside to collect the rain. Fire. She needed to start a fire. “God, please let there be matches,” she muttered as she crossed the room and began searching the boxes on the shelf. One contained a porcupine quill and what appeared to be thread, but she doubted it was. Other boxes contained herbs, probably for tea. There were boxes of dried fruit, seemingly preserved very well. She shivered as a blast of cool wind wound its way through the two open windows and breathed against her flesh. Fire. Heat. Where the fuck are the matches? Man, what she wouldn’t give to be in a five-star hotel right about now. Nice marble floors—heated, of course—so her bare feet would be nice and toasty instead of bloody well cold and aching. A soft moan erupted from Taylor and another round of anxiety ripped through her. “Oh and a massage,” she mumbled, hoping her voice would soothe him. “A nice rubdown of our sore muscles, right Taylor?” He was shivering, his teeth chattering. His eyes remained closed, but he was hugging his body as if searching for warmth. “You wouldn’t happen to remember if there are any workable matches so I can start a friggin’ fire, would you, Taylor?” Yeah right, like he would know. “Over…door.” She looked above the door frame and located a small box on yet another single shelf. Bingo…hopefully. “Of course. Silly old me. Why wouldn’t they be by the door?” she joked and headed back to the fireplace. God, they were so damned lucky. Matches on Paradise. Was this some sort of parallel universe or something? Or had her brothers’ presence somehow already changed how the natives did things around here? Urgency to help Taylor made her get her ass in gear and, within a couple of minutes, orange flames greedily licked the birch bark and kindling she’d set in the hearth.
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Moments later, she knelt down beside Taylor, who now had his eyes open and gazed at her with a glazed look of pain. Sadness tangled within her as she tried to offer him an encouraging smile. “Spiders,” he mumbled, and then tight lines of pain appeared at the sides of his mouth. Already delirious. God, she wanted him to smile at her. Just once. Before he… No, he couldn’t die. She wouldn’t let him. She touched his forehead…clammy. Shit! “Spiders,” he whispered again as her shaky fingers fiddled with the string on his loincloth. She needed to get it off as the woven ferns looked wet and uncomfortable. His eyes were aimed at the ceiling. She glanced up at several fat, black creatures hanging in their god-awful webs. She shivered with revulsion. She hated spiders. Yuck! She’d have to find some way of cleaning them out…later. First, she needed to get off his… Her eyes widened as she lifted away the covering. Wow. He was big. She’d forgotten how big. Elevated scars and a web of veins lashed the length of his shaft. She blew out a breath. Tried to ignore the flashes of memory. Arousal, fevered heat, need. Her bending over in the river. Taylor grabbing her by the hips, his hot fingers clenching her flesh as he thrust into her vagina, filling her with his huge cock. Have mercy! It was getting warm in here. She grabbed blankets off the shelf. They’d been knitted out of…hair? Pulling the loincloth free from Taylor’s body, she tucked the warm blankets around him as best she could, leaving his wound fully exposed. Hair falling into a wound was not a good thing. Wiping wet, stray strands out of her eyes, she piled more wood onto the flickering fire. It crackled, smoked a bit, then caught. Blessed heat swept against her. Hope flooded her. Things were going to be okay now. She opened the door to get the pot, only to have the howling wind blow her hair back into her face again. “Friggin’ wind,” she snapped angrily. Thankfully though, the pot was already overflowing. A moment later she had it anchored over the roaring fire. Hot air filled the cabin and she thought of stripping off her wet clothes and wrapping herself in that second blanket she’d laid on Taylor. “Cobwebs,” he muttered again. Oh God. “I can’t clean out the place right now, Taylor. The cobwebs will have to stay a bit longer,” she called over her shoulder as she warmed her hands by the fire. “Cobwebs…prevent…infection…”
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Cobwebs prevented infection? She squatted beside the bed, eyeing him. He looked feverish, delirious. “Are you serious?” He nodded. “So what? Scrape the webs together and…” “Press into wound…pack…” Kayla closed her eyes as a wave of revulsion crashed into her. She hated webs just as much as the creepy creatures that created them. “Spiders…soup…” Oh God, he was definitely delirious. His voice was growing weaker. “Black…white cross…juiciest…” Oh my God! She expected him to start laughing, to tell her he really was just trying to lighten this dire situation. She willed those luscious lips of his to lift into a grin. Nothing happened. “Did I mention I hate spiders?” she replied meekly. He did not answer. Just kept staring at her. Like he was accusing her of being a wimp. “How about you smiling for me, huh? Just once.” It would make her day a whole hell of a lot better. He didn’t. Her gaze flew back to the ugly wound. God, what she wouldn’t do to have the internet handy now. “Okay, I’ll do it. Then I want a big smile from you for all my hard work. Okay?” He nodded, but barely. “And this spider soup… If I make you some, you are going to owe me something big. You got it, big guy?” Again, another nod. The fact he understood what she was saying meant only two things. The guy was definitely not delirious and she was in one big heap of trouble. Spiders. Ew!
***** Despite being the weakest he’d ever been in his entire life, Blackie’s blood boiled with lust and his body burned with need. He wanted to fuck these females in order to get release. It was unbearable. He needed them so badly he could hardly stand it. He could barely keep his knees from buckling as he stood in front of a giant, crackling fire with many Yellow Hair females staring at him.
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He’d passed out for a while and discovered he’d been taken to a camp in a meadow consisting of several hide shelters. They’d tied his wrists and lifted his arms by a rope until he was almost on tiptoe. And then they began to massage his cock until he had no choice but to react. Anger burned through him. Kinley must have deserted him because she was nowhere in sight. “It will be a shame to eat him,” one of the Yellow Hairs said, a petite youngling with wide hips and a grin much too wide for his liking. She stroked his erection so sensually he almost came. “I want to be the first one who eats him the other way,” one of them giggled, her cheeks flushing pink as she dropped to her knees before him and licked her lips in obvious delight. “Touch me and you die!” he shouted. Relief slammed into him when surprise washed over their faces and they stopped touching him. “He…he…speaks?” a female gasped. “I…have heard some can now speak.” “All the more reason he needs to be killed. Talking males are not to be kept alive. It is the Law,” another of them muttered and she reached out to touch a whip scar that ran along the length of his lower belly. Her fingers trailed a sultry line of fire. The Passion Poison once again began to scream through his system. He would die from the poison unless administered the antidote—a twenty-fourhour sex marathon with these females. But the Yellow Hair virgins would most likely kill him before then now that they’d heard him talk. Even trying to escape would have him dead if he did not take one of these females with him to supply the antidote. But the thought of fucking anyone besides Kinley didn’t turn his mind to fire as it did when he thought about taking her. “He must have been a difficult male for the Goddess of Freedom to leave him with such scars,” replied the female whose fingers caressed his scars. “Where is the goddess? She will be angry at all of you for laying a hand on me without her permission,” Blackie growled, bucking his hips, trying to get a female’s hands off his balls. The one stroking him so sensually he literally hurt glared angrily at him. “She is the Goddess of Freedom. She knows our ways. She will understand.” Despite her anger, she continued massaging his cock and no matter how hard he tried not to, he just kept responding. He wanted these females riding him, fucking him. He moaned as pleasure ripped through his entire being. She held a mug beneath his cock as he shot his release. Virgin Yellow Hairs took semen from their captured males and mixed it with their own blood, thus bonding him to those virgin females. Then they would seduce him. And he would have no desire to stop them from mounting him. “What is the meaning of this? What are you doing to my slave?”
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Relief sizzled through Blackie at the shrill voice belonging to Kinley. Thank the Goddess of Freedom. He wished he could gaze upon her, but she was somewhere behind him. The other females, however, frowned with disappointment. Nonetheless they stopped caressing him and all the females grew quiet as they bowed to the ground. Blackie blinked in shock. Perhaps she was the Goddess of Freedom. “He is being prepared to give us the sacred drink,” the tallest of the females replied. She had been standing in the background, watching the other females. She spoke coolly and confidently as she and the others stood. “I fully understand,” Kinley replied and hopelessness swept Blackie literally off his feet. The ropes around his wrists burned as his knees buckled. “Since I am the Goddess of Freedom, I wish to have a night with him first.” Gasps echoed through the virgins and Blackie instantly realized her mistake. It was said the real Goddess of Freedom owned no male slaves and never had sex with them. The tallest Yellow Hair paled. “The Goddess of Freedom mates with males? ’Tis not allowed!” “Are you questioning the Goddess?” Kinley’s voice turned cold as ice. “I do as I wish. I am the one who set all these rules, remember? Am I not entitled to change them? Especially for myself?” Well done, Kinley. Well done. “As I told you earlier, I hit my head. I forgot who I was. In order to blend in with the others and avoid questions, I colored my hair brown. Thankfully you were able to supply me with a color that is close to my original. Soon it will grow out and you will see that I am a Yellow Hair as you all,” she spoke so confidently Blackie swore he would come just from the strength she exuded. “I know how to enjoy a male’s body. It brings me pleasure, but I do not allow it to curtail my decisions. I have decided you may have the male for your virgin dance and fucking ceremonies.” Cold hatred shattered Blackie’s heart. He glared at her as she strolled into his view. Her brown hair had been colored pure yellow and braided into hundreds of small braids. They had dressed her in a filmy, white dress that accented her generous breasts and illuminated her curvy hips. He swallowed as carnal desire overwhelmed him. He wanted her. Wanted her more than anything. She would be his. He needed to escape. Needed to be with her. She moved in front of him. To his surprise, she reached out and took his engorged cock in her hand. She squeezed gently, tenderly. The intimate touch scorched flames of desire though him to the point where he moaned. Satisfaction flashed in her eyes and he suddenly understood. She had been his captive and now he was to be hers.
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“Bring him to my shelter. Tend to his wound and prepare him for me. Bind him with the cock ring as per our traditions. I will be there shortly.” Kinley spoke with an authority he had not yet seen in her. Three women leapt to do her bidding. She let go of his cock, a smug smile on her pretty face as she maintained eye contact with him. “I will give him to you in the morning. Until then, I will bless him with my sacred channel and you virgins will be special when you become women.” You bitch. He wanted to shout it at her, but the words would only make her smile much more smugly. The excited chatter of the young females made Blackie uneasy. He hoped Kinley knew what she was doing. He had to believe she had a plan for them to escape, because if she didn’t, he was a very dead male.
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Chapter Nine Kinley’s heart pounded a mile a minute as she stood ready to enter the shelter the leader of the Yellow Hairs had assigned her. The building was a cone-shaped wigwam covered by a patchwork of hides, woven grass mats and evergreen boughs. She’d wanted to get to Blackie as soon as possible after finding him tied to a tree limb—those blond bitches’ hands trailing over his body—but the women had insisted she attend a feast they had waiting for her. How the hell could she refuse? After all, she’d somehow convinced them she was the Goddess of Freedom—whoever the heck that was. They’d served her all kinds of food. Charbroiled steaks and other meats, the flavors exploding so wonderfully against her taste buds she didn’t dare ask what they were. For all she knew the meal could’ve been human. She didn’t want to offend them or tip them off that she wasn’t who they thought, so she ate the food and kept her mouth shut. But her ears did the work. She listened intently to their free and easy conversations regarding the male they intended to fuck, kill and eat. In exactly that order. The Yellow Hairs were an interesting bunch to say the least, but she still couldn’t wait to get back to Blackie. “I will post two guards at this door tonight. If you require assistance in any way, let them know. They are at your disposal,” the leader of the Yellow Hairs said as Kinley readied to go inside her designated shelter. Shit! The last thing she needed was guards. “That won’t be necessary,” Kinley insisted and opened the flap to the hide house— as the women referred to their shelters. “Nonetheless, they will be here,” the tall one replied with a firmness that irritated Kinley. The leader annoyed her, hovering around like a starstruck fan. “Then that would be greatly appreciated.” Not! She entered the structure and found it quite dark. In the middle of the hide house orange coals glowed, heating the interior. For a moment, she allowed her eyes to grow used to the dimness and finally found Blackie. Hot blood rushed through her as she spied white and realized a cloth bandage had been wrapped around Blackie’s arm. Odd that they would listen to her and tend to his wound even when they were about to kill him. Crazy, stupid bitches!
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He was tied to a post standing near the glowing coals. He was naked. And fully aroused. Outfitted with nipple clamps, a ball gag, cock ring and a ball spreader. She creamed. Oh my God! He looked so damn hot and pissed off. If the glare he threw her way was any indication, if his eyes could speak, he would rip her a new asshole. “Looks like the shoe is on the other foot now,” she whispered smoothly and smirked…then shivered as his glare darkened. She creamed harder. “It looks like you’ve gotten yourself into a pickle.” She dropped her gaze to his engorged cock, trapped by the cock ring. “A nice big pickle I’d love to get a taste of.” She trembled as erotic ideas scampered through her mind. Ideas she shouldn’t be thinking about at a time like this. His eyes widened and he groaned as she traced a finger around the tight cock ring. “I wonder if this hurts. Or maybe this cock ring is giving you so much pleasure, you simply can’t stand it.” His mouth tightened around the ball gag, completely giving him away. “I’ve done my research on what Passion Poison does once a male is infected, my nice big male,” she teased. She stroked her fingers in feather-like brushes up and down the length of his heated shaft until he was writhing and moaning. “Pain turns to pleasure and pleasure is merely doubled at a female’s touch,” she whispered. She moved closer to him, allowing her entire body to run erotically against his nakedness. He was hot, his flesh wet with perspiration and creating heat waves against her as she rubbed her nipples against the tips of his nipple clamps. He glared harder and moaned. His tortured voice seeped into her bloodstream, making her even hotter for him. Oh yeah, she wanted to hear him speak. Wanted his anger to burn through her. She liked it when he was pissed off at her. Reaching up, she undid the ball gag and let it drop away. “A plan. What is it?” he muttered gutturally as she continued to stroke his swollen shaft. “We’ll figure one out, I’m sure.” His breathing intensified as she whispered her fingers over his scrotum. “Feels good doesn’t it, my male slave? To have pleasure build through your body and being unable to attain the release you crave so desperately.” Her voice was strangled, aroused as she spoke. Her breaths came faster and raspier as she pushed her lower abdomen against his solid erection. She smelled her arousal, a scent heavy with spice and anticipation as she creamed harder. Oh damn, she needed him so freaking bad it hurt. Why did seeing him tied up like this, with his cock swollen so badly from the cock ring, turn her on so bad? His lips tightened as she feathered her fingers up his naked waist, clasped his flesh and held him there. Swaying her hips, she brushed herself against his thick cock, giving him 111
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light, teasing touches as she danced. She had until morning to figure out what to do. A little bit of action to alleviate this need for him would help. His eyes blazed with a fierce lust, something she was fairly sure she’d never seen before in a man’s eyes. He licked his lips and leaned nearer to her. She moved toward him and whimpered as his lips touched hers. His mouth was warm and firm yet yielding as he kissed her. He tugged at the ropes as if trying to kiss her harder. Boldly, she stroked his lips with her tongue and every muscle in his body tensed and shivered. Her own blistering need brought her to the edge of control. “Hmmm… You like this don’t you, Blackie?” she whispered after breaking the kiss. He remained silent yet his eyes glowed in agreement. She leaned closer again, this time dropping her hands, pulling up the sheer dress she wore and moving between his thighs, spreading her legs. Oh man, she hoped she didn’t regret this impulsive act in the morning. Her mind grew hot with anticipation, her clit throbbed with need as she pushed herself against him, taking his mouth in another kiss. She gyrated her hips in a circular motion, using his swollen cock head to massage her throbbing clit. Rubbing her breasts against him, she moaned at the electrifying tingles shimmering through her nipples. Oh yes. This is what she needed to help clear her mind, not to mention give the guards outside a sound show they wouldn’t forget. Hopefully their sex noises would prevent the guards from thinking that she might not be their Goddess of Freedom after all. Scorching heat fluttered through her pussy and whipped into the rest of her body. She shuddered, wanting to tease Blackie as he had teased her when he’d placed that collar and the other bondage items on her. But she was way past ready to have him take her. She broke the kiss as something flickered at the back of her mind, something sinister and dangerous. It had nothing to do with Blackie, she was sure of that. She whimpered as distress raged though her body and mind. The flashback lasted only a split second and then it disintegrated, shattering into a million disjointed pieces, thrusting her back to the present. Back into the heat, the arousal, the intoxicating need for this male. Gosh, she should be figuring a way out of here, not wanting to fuck her brains out with him. “I want you,” she murmured and shuddered as he suddenly thrust his hips forward, his large cock-ringed erection sliding into her vagina. Oh wow! Exquisite! Every thick, solid inch of him stretched her, impaled her to perfection. He withdrew and quickly drove into her again. She gasped and begged for more as arousal engulfed her and she instantly tumbled into an orgasm so strong and explosive her vision darkened and she saw stars. Pleasure
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lashed her like electrical whips. She tightened, cried out, fought to keep herself standing. His heavy cock continued driving into her, stroking every nerve ending, wrapping her in emotions she never knew she possessed. Extreme happiness. Wicked giddiness. Succulent surrender. Release. Perspiration blossomed over her skin as she met every delicious, powerful thrust. She moaned and whimpered, her senses dazed, her mind numb with white-hot ecstasy. He’d somehow broken his restraints while he continued to fuck her, his large hands moving between their naked bodies and cupping her breasts. He tweaked and pulled her nipples, shocking more desire into her. A cry bubbled inside her, escaped her parted lips. His hard mouth melted over hers, sending her reeling as another orgasm tore through her like a seductive tornado. She could barely think as—without breaking the kiss—he lowered her to a soft fur mat and came down on top of her. His stiff cock entered her, slowly this time. Torturously slow. He was thick. So beautifully hard. His breaths were harsh, his groans desperate as he began an erotic thrust. Smooth, seductive strokes as he came in and out, massaging her clit with the ball spreader as he entered her again. She was helpless beneath him. Vulnerable. At his mercy. He broke the kiss and panted heavily. “I can go like this all night, goddess,” his hoarse voice caressed her, pushing her toward yet another climax. “I can make you come over and over until you feel as if you’ll go mad from the pleasure.” Bastard. This was too good. She bucked, accepted another seductive thrust. Accepted his words. “But we don’t have all night, do we, goddess?” She couldn’t answer. Her body was tightening. He plunged into her. “Once we are free, I will make you go mad for me, goddess. That is a promise.” Oh God, she was his captive again. His desperate lips clamped over hers and she melted into his succulent kiss. Allowed herself to scream her release into his mouth. He thrust harder. Once, twice, three times and his hot seed spurted powerfully into her and all Kinley could do was chant his name over and over, loving the idea of being his captive once again.
*****
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In veterinary school she’d had to euthanize animals, but they were sick and in extreme distress. Being out here, stuck in the throes of a violent storm, she had no one to do the dastardly deed to these perfectly healthy creatures. Guilt sliced through Kayla as she dropped the dozens of spiders she’d collected into a woven basket with a tight lid. Tears burned her eyes when, after she’d gathered enough, she dumped the contents of the basket into the boiling water she’d hung over the fire. “God, please forgive me,” she whispered. Her tummy tied into horrific knots as she turned away and wiped the tears spilling down her cheeks. Earlier, as she’d cleansed Taylor’s raw gash with some boiled water and then packed his wound with cobwebs, it had grown dark outside. Thankfully the firelight cast a friendly glow into the one-room cabin. The cheerful yellow flickers danced off the birch bark walls and created a welcome heat. Her clothing dried on her body and the room was warm as toast. Now all she needed to do was sit and wait for the spiders to boil and for this storm to be over so she could get some help for Taylor. Fear shot into her heart as she gazed at his wound. She must have checked it a hundred times in the hours since coming here. Even after packing it with cobwebs, the gash still appeared raw and puffy. If it looked any worse by morning, she would cauterize it with the knife. Her gaze shifted to the rest of his magnificent body. Despite his being seriously ill, she couldn’t help but notice, yet again, how wellbuilt the man appeared. Broad shoulders, a wide chest, lean hips and a long, thick cock that had brought her extreme pleasure. Her gaze swept to his face and heat warmed her cheeks to discover his eyes were open and he was studying her. Talk about embarrassing, getting caught ogling him. “I…um…you have a fever,” she said quickly. “I thought you would be too hot for those hair blankets.” She moved to gather the blankets at the foot of his bed. “Leave…them,” he instructed in a gentle voice. “Okay.” She was about to stand, but he shook his head. “Stay.” “I don’t know how to handle the fever, aside from cooling you down with rainwater. If I had antibiotics I could deal with this, but I don’t and—” He laid a hand on her thigh. “Fever tea…top shelf…basket.” Kayla’s gaze flew to the shelf, where she spied the lone basket. Relief poured through her. “What do you have in the other baskets?” She may as well find out before he slipped into unconsciousness again. He proceeded to tell her and she had to admit she was impressed. He had teas for headaches, fever, infections and stomachaches. When he finished naming them, a realization occurred to her.
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“So this is your place?” she asked, but when she looked back down at him, he’d fallen asleep. Thankfully she had everything she needed now. Her earlier helpless frustration disintegrated, replaced by strength. She would save this sexy stud with all these herbs and spiders if it was the last thing she did. Ignoring the crackling thunder and flashes of silver lightning that continued to blaze past the windows, Kayla set to work.
***** Taylor awoke to the sweetest sound he’d ever heard in his life. A woman singing. Instinctively he knew it was Kayla. Although not the sweetest voice, it was on the top of his list with her moans and whimpers of sexual arousal when he fucked her. The fever that had seared through him had disappeared and he could think clearly. He was weak, tired, but that would go away with nourishment. Turning his head, he found her sitting cross-legged in front of the fireplace. Her back was to the fire and she looked absolutely beautiful, smudges of gray dirt smeared over her cheeks. Her hair appeared damp and tangled, as if she’d been out in the storm—which was still going strong. A grimace marred her pretty face and it was in direct contrast to her singing. His gaze dropped to where she held something in her hands. The crack of a fish neck split the air. “Let…me…guess. Not spiders?” His voice was raspy but, to his surprise, strong. Her head snapped up and relief swept away her marred frown. She’d been worried about him and, as she smiled, warmth splashed through his entire being. It was good to have this female smiling at him. “Adding fish to that spider broth. You’re looking better. How are we feeling?” We? As in the two of them somehow united? A sudden sadness shot through him. He could not be united with a female. It wasn’t permitted by any law. He struggled to fight the hope and warmth of having her all for himself, but it curled around him nonetheless. He was a coward, giving in to it. Weak. A stupid male. But he enjoyed looking at this beautiful female. His cock swelled. “I’m hungry…but not for spiders and fish heads.” A sweet pink blush swept across her cheekbones. Suddenly he could not wait until he was well enough to scoop her into his arms and press his mouth against hers. His cock hardened so violently he couldn’t stop himself from moaning. She wrinkled her forehead with concern. “Are you in pain?” Yes, pain for you, he wanted to say, but did not. Instead he dropped his gaze to examine his wound. It appeared red and puffy and…something else.
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“You stitched the wound?” When had she done that? Surely he would have experienced some pain. But then images flashed. Intense heat. Soothing, cool touches upon his burning flesh. Pain ravishing his side, tormenting him, keeping him weak and confused. He remembered struggling from the darkness holding him captive. Remembered slipping into a red haze and Kayla hovering over him, her face contorted with worry as she helped him with the intimate duty of relieving himself. “How long?” “Two nights and two days. We’re going into the third night.” And the storms still raged outside. He wasn’t surprised. The storms would stay several more days. It was the season. Then the storms would subside for a few days. Then they would return. She turned around and stood. Bending over the fire, she ladled some soup into a large wooden bowl. A bowl he had carved out of a nearby tree. His friend Jarod had made the cups and eating utensils. He gazed upon her buttocks and had an irresistible urge to smooth his hands over her curvy ass cheeks, to push them apart, spreading her open for him. Blood raced through his veins with an urgent need. He couldn’t wait to have her cool fingers on his body again. Wanted the hot rush of pleasure slamming through his cock and balls when he took her in the ass. Had she ever been taken like that before? He would need to prepare her. Just thinking of taking her in that intimate way made his cock writhe and harden like a serpent ready to strike. “Here you are,” she said cheerfully as she sat down on the side of his cot with the bowl. She grimaced at the gray liquid and he laughed. She threw him a wry smirk as she scooped some liquid onto the spoon and guided it toward his mouth. “Bon appetit,” she whispered. “I would not dream of eating before a woman has first satisfied herself.” Pink swept across her cheeks again. She had understood his double meaning. “Sorry, but there is not enough to go around,” she answered after a moment. Taylor frowned. He’d been trained to let a woman eat before he was allowed anything. It was a hard habit to break. “When did you last eat?” he questioned, ignoring the spoon she held close to his lips. “I cooked up some fish last night, over the fire. There was a short break in the storm, so I took one of those funny-looking spears you have by the door and speared several big fish in the river. I also helped myself to some of those dried berries you have on the shelf.” Pride hugged her face and he could not help but smile inwardly.
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“I would have caught more,” she said, “but the storms came back so quickly. And the lightning is so intense it was too dangerous to stay out there.” “You are a wise female. Everybody knows to stay indoors during the time of the storms. The forks of silver come out of the sky and kill without warning. You were very lucky.” She shivered visibly and he was glad she feared the storms. She would not venture out again. The thought of losing her did not bode well. Not well indeed. “Open your mouth. The sooner I get this into you, the sooner you can get stronger.” Her eyes flashed and the pink in her cheeks deepened. Oh yes, he was going to enjoy preparing her. He’d rarely seen a female blush. When they came to him, most were already well-versed in sex. On occasion he had the opportunity to bed a virgin, but those occasions had been rare. Females in the hubs tended to initiate sex with the virgins before allowing them access to males. “Come on, open,” she prodded. He did as instructed and let the hot liquid melt over his tongue. He fought back a grimace at the earthy flavor. “It doesn’t taste good, does it?” She chuckled. “Doesn’t taste too bad,” he admitted after swallowing. “Really?” “You sound surprised.” She frowned and wiped a stray strand of fluffy hair from her face. “I’m not much for culinary skills.” “You were never taught?” Her eyes brightened. Yes, she had fond memories of something to do with cooking. “Oh I was taught. I just make a mess of things. I’m all thumbs. Open.” Taylor accepted the broth, trying hard to ignore a straggly spider as it slipped down his throat. Usually the spiders were squashed before adding them to the soup. It was why he and Jarod tolerated so many of them in this shelter. They were very nourishing. “You do not look all thumbs to me,” he whispered. Reaching up, he softly held her chin between his thumb and forefinger. She smiled nervously. “You are female. All curves. Soft and delicate. I apologize for everything I have put you through. I did not wish for you to be concerned for me.” To his surprise, tears welled in her eyes. She had been deeply traumatized at what had happened to him. Some unnamed emotion, thick and raw, clogged his throat. He cleared it and opened his mouth as she brought another spoonful to his lips. But he didn’t let go of her chin. Instead, he moved his thumb over the softness of her lips. Oh how sweet she would taste when he took her mouth with his.
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In his training, he was not permitted to kiss without being told. He hadn’t been permitted to do anything unless instructed by a female. For the longest time this had been the norm—only acceptable to do whatever a female instructed him to do. The times he was taken to Brothel Town and his leg chained so he could not leave, it was normal to spend days servicing the females who came to the room. Because he was never allowed a dominant sexual position upon a female, he never dared. The dark fantasies were there though. Deep in the back of his mind, he dreamed of taking a female from behind while she bent over. When he had seen her standing in the river days ago, her back to him, her body tight with tension and arousal due to being affected by the swamp water, his selfcontrol had disintegrated. There were other fantasies too. Ones he wished to experience with her. His cock and balls grew harder beneath the blankets. Very hard. “Do you think we’ll be safe here?” she whispered, breaking his gaze and pulling away. She’d given him the entire contents of the bowl and he was very sleepy. “The rain will wash away any tracks,” he muttered. His eyelids grew heavier as she opened the door and placed the dish and spoon outside. The rain was coming down in silvery sheets and confidence poured through him as he remembered how he and Jarod had spent days collecting rocks as a solid base for this shelter. The building would stay dry even if they received a month of steady rain. “I mean, does anyone else know about this place besides you?” “Only Jarod. He is a good friend. Trustworthy.” She nodded, but something still troubled her. “What is it?” “Never mind, it’s nothing.” The sleepiness clawed at him, begging him to succumb. He fought it, but his efforts did not work. “Do not worry, my female…I will protect…you…with my…life.” His eyes fluttered shut and before he drifted into peaceful black, she whispered she would protect him with her life also. Do not be silly, Taylor. Females do not care enough about slaves to put their lives on the line for them. Despite that fact, Taylor couldn’t stop the warm giddiness seeping through him as he envisioned his luscious, curvy Kayla battling an army of women who wanted to kill him.
*****
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There were signs of restlessness in Taylor as they remained cooped up in the oneroom cabin. He was potent. Dangerous. Sexy. Male. Those were the words she would use. He would lie awake in his cot, following her every move. She liked the way his eyes were full of desire. Those scorching looks made her all hot and tingly. Despite all that bullshit about her drinking the Fever Swamp water, she really was attracted to him. Since holding her chin and seductively running his thumb over her mouth the other day, he hadn’t so much as touched her. But his gaze teased her every nerve, keeping her senses alive and alert. At night—like now—when he slept deeply, she watched him. He was a very sensual man. His eyes showed desire freely when he was awake, but when he slept his cock would twitch and grow beneath the blankets. Sometimes during his dreams he would toss until the blankets fell low over his hips, giving her shadowy glimpses of his assets. She would fan herself and lie awake in bed, hot and bothered, her skin sensitive and needing his touch. She wished the storms would stop so she could steal away and masturbate through the powerful arousal tormenting her. Oh God, but he was big and handsome and sexy. Every time she looked at him, blood pounded into her clit and she ached to have him touching her there. Oh yes, the nights were torture, but the days were worse. During the days he would follow her with that knowing gaze. She ached between her thighs. Ached for him to fill her. Her breasts were swollen and surely he must have noticed how hard and pebbled her nipples were beneath her gauzy top, because she had a hard time keeping those nipples from poking against the material. She wanted him to take her. Her body was primed and ready, but he didn’t do anything. Perhaps she should initiate the first move? But she didn’t dare. Maybe he didn’t want her despite his need for sex. Maybe he dreamed of other women at night when he tossed and turned. Or maybe he just wasn’t ready. Maybe it was too early. He might rip open the sutures. Kayla stared up at the spiders—what few she’d left on the ceiling. They barely moved. Just clung to their webs, waiting for a fly to get caught. Isn’t that what Taylor was doing to her? Just lying in his cot, waiting for her to get so hot and bothered she would entangle herself in the web his fiery looks created? God, she ached for him. Normally she didn’t see the spiders up there during the night, except when a flash of lightning lit up the interior. But outside it wasn’t lightning anymore and rain didn’t crash on the roof. Moonlight shone through the windows and then the room darkened again. Everything was quiet. Even the thunder had stopped.
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She sat up on a soft whimper, ready for some sexual release. Masturbating would help get her relaxed and put her to sleep. Padding quietly to the fireplace, she tossed a couple of pieces of wood onto the coals. Despite the nights being warm, she kept a fire going in order to get rid of the dampness the rain had created. And boy was she ever damp between her thighs. Now that the latest storm seemed to have slipped into an interlude, her need for release drove her quickly outdoors. Warm air breathed against her and wet grass wrapped around her legs. Closing the door quietly, she allowed her eyes to become accustomed to the night. The moon appeared from behind some gray clouds and stars twinkled brightly like diamonds on a black, velvet blanket. The air smelled sweet and fresh and, moments later, she waded into the river. The current was rough due to the rain, spilling and splashing against her legs as she stepped into the cool depths. Slowly and with great anticipation for what she would be doing next, she removed her skirt and blouse, tossing the garments onto the dark riverbank, and then turned and waded deeper. When the water wrapped around her thighs, Kayla sighed. Lifting her hands, she moaned as she cupped her breasts. They were swollen and tender and the moonlight illuminated her creamy curves. They looked so beautiful and erotic, her areolas and nipples dark against her light flesh. With her thumbs, she brushed the tips of her nipples with feather-like touches and moaned out loud at the intense, sexual heat searing into her breasts. She pushed her mounds together and bent her head, licking her hot nipples before pulling away and tweaking them. Her entire body hummed, pulsed with heat and a longing she doubted she’d ever had before. She wished for Taylor. Wanted him here with her, like the last time she’d been in the river and he’d taken her. Letting go of her breasts, she spread her legs and ran her hands up along the insides of her thighs. Perspiration blossomed over her skin as she slowly slid her fingers toward her swollen, aching clit. She bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out as she swept a finger between her puffy labia and rubbed herself. The need to climax grew and impatience zipped through her. She rubbed harder, occasionally dipping into her wet vagina for lube and then moving back over her clitoris, rubbing faster and faster. Her body grew tighter, tenser. Her thighs shuddered and Kayla massaged faster, fighting to reach the release she so desperately needed. It drew nearer, something strong and powerful. Thrusting her fingers inside her pussy, she cried out as the orgasm pierced through her like an explosion. Her hips jerked, her body shivered and the sensual need unraveled deep inside her core. 120
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***** Taylor was glad she didn’t see him. She was a fantastic sight. Her curvy, naked body bathed in the moonlight. Wide hips, thin waist, curvy ass and the water splashing like silver jewels between her legs as she pleasured herself. Her creamy breasts bounced and her hips gyrated in a wild rhythm. His breath erupted in rough gasps. Spasms licked his swollen cock as he stroked himself. The intensity of his erection gripped him instantly and, while she masturbated, he groaned. He stroked himself harder, faster, the shudders overwhelming him, sweeping him toward the satisfaction he’d been craving for days. He squeezed and pulled at his tender scrotum, stroked and massaged his cock, fantasizing about when he’d taken her from behind in the river. He massaged harder, imagining himself pushing his engorged cock into her tight pussy, listening to her gasps as she climaxed. Her erotic moans made him convulse. Tension increased, spearing through him like erotic swords, snapping along his cock until he ejaculated harshly upon the sandy ground, spurting and hissing as the orgasm took him and swept him into the dark lust he enjoyed so much. He breathed harshly as he stumbled though the tall grass and let himself back into the cabin. Tossing one of the hair blankets over his torso, he feigned sleep, his cock hardening already as he waited for her return. In another day, maybe two, he would be ready. He fought to control his breathing. It looked as if the stormy season had run into a lull. When she returned and fell asleep, he would venture outdoors to get what he needed. Then he would begin to put the plan of one of his darkest fantasies in motion. Taylor smiled and closed his eyes.
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Chapter Ten The Statue of Liberty? Shock at seeing the Lady coursed through Kinley and she couldn’t help but sink to her knees in front of the statue. Okay, things were happening way too quickly. First she’d fucked Blackie up against a pole in that wigwam shelter those blonde bitches had escorted her to. Then he’d managed to undo his bindings and they’d continued their frenzied fucking on those furs until they were both spent. She would have continued, but he’d obviously had other plans. While she lay there on the fur bed, languishing in the after-sex pleasure, he’d quickly outfitted her with a ball gag. After allowing her to dress, he’d bound her wrists with some leather rope he’d found in the shelter and, upon digging up a sharp stone from the dirt floor, he’d sliced the back of the shelter, fastened another piece of rope between her tied wrists and dragged her through the opening. And then they had run. They ran the entire night, with brief respites where Blackie would bind her to a tree and fuck her so sensually she came several times each session. Then while leaving her secured to the tree, he would double back and cover their trail before returning to lead her through the jungle once again. Early this morning they were greeted by the ominous rumble of thunder. Actually it had been echoing somewhere far off for several days, but now the thunder had drawn closer. It moaned nonstop, hence the urgency to find shelter to wait out the storm. The early morning skies were gunmetal gray and brief flashes of lightning zipped along the billowing clouds. The lightning made her uneasy. Reminded her of the flashes of light she’d started getting over the last couple of hours, following a vague recall of those two women she’d been with in the swamp. She remembered blazing fire on water and black smoke and swimming. Always the same stuff. Something else made her uneasy, and déjà vu splashed through her as she gazed upon the derelict Statue of Liberty Blackie had brought her to. He’d said they would need shelter and there was a place nearby to stay. As she stared up at the Lady, she knew she’d been to the Statue of Liberty before, visiting on several occasions. This monument looked the same in silhouette, yet very different in age. This figure looked so old. Deteriorated. God, what had happened? Where the hell was she? Had the Earth gone through some catastrophic transformation? Is that why she’d lost her memory?
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“Come. The shelter is on the other side of the Goddess of Freedom,” Blackie instructed as he waved to a black opening that appeared to be the door inside the base of the structure. She wasn’t sure she wanted to go inside, because this was just not possible. This Statue of Liberty was not the one she’d visited before. Kinley had to be somewhere else. That idea did seem familiar. Yes, she had to be somewhere else. Blackie had called this statue the Goddess of Freedom, for crying out loud. Maybe she was in another country? Maybe she should run away from here? For the first time since escaping the Yellow Hairs, he’d left her untethered. She remained on her knees, her wrists still bound, her heart thundering in her ears as Blackie stepped into the dark opening and disappeared. Obviously he expected her to follow. A moment later he reappeared, a frown marring his face, a lit torch in his hand. “Come.” He waved her over. Yep, she had definitely been dumped down an Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole. Reluctantly she got to her feet and followed him. Not because he ordered it, but because she needed to find out what was going on. More flashes of memory slammed into her as she stepped inside the empty base of the statue. This time the flashbacks didn’t frighten her. They made her feel safe and happy. She’d been here with people she loved. But who? The flashes turned into faces in front of her eyes. Fragments. Like a puzzle. Two other women. Young women. Teenagers. One tall. One petite, like herself. They were the women she’d been with in that swamp, only younger. Who were they? They had names. Names she needed to remember. One was Piper and the other? Anxiety gripped her as she tried to remember, but she winced as a slow, dull throb built behind her eyes. The pain increased the farther they walked inside the base. Cold, damp air slapped against her and she couldn’t help but shiver. What she wouldn’t give to be back in that cave beside the warm fire, Blackie’s hands massaging her flesh with that ointment. Abruptly he stopped and Kinley crashed into him. She would have fallen had he not grabbed her elbows and steadied her. In the yellow glow of torchlight, he studied her. His black eyes caressed her face, lingering on her mouth. Her teeth chattered from the cold. “I can take you right here, up against this wall. It will warm you.” Oh my gosh! She almost came back with, “No thanks, I’ve got a headache,” but thought better of it. He’d probably suggest fucking her would be the cure. Yes, she’d love for him to fuck her right here, right now. Relive the frenzied coupling of last night and the times he’d frantically fucked her up against the trees. But the sex would just be sex, because he’d been infected with Passion Poison. He couldn’t help himself. He’d already entered Phase Two.
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Renewed energy. Pale glow to his skin. Sweating, panting. Soon he’d be hungry. Then, according to those virgins, he would enter Phase Three where a man acted out his secret sexual fantasies. What would his be? “I’m fine. Let’s just find a place where it’s warmer.” To her surprise, he nodded. “This way,” he said gruffly and guided her through a partially open, rusted metal door that brought them out the back of the Lady. Above them, the skies were even darker with the threat of rain and he urged her to walk faster. Tangled weeds wrapped around her feet and frustration gripped her as she stumbled several times. Ahead of them lay a sandy beach off in the distance and a shimmering blue ocean where seagulls swooped downward. He ushered her down a steep hill into a lush green valley filled with tall, black, gnarled trees that towered sixty feet or more into the air. Forget the Alice in Wonderland scenario. You’ve definitely landed in Oz. She’d landed in an Oz world where the Statue of Liberty had totally aged. Maybe she was dreaming? Or in a coma due to her head injury and she was fantasizing all of this? Kinley rolled her eyes. Yeah right. And she’d dreamed up this hot, dangerous hunk who liked to tie her up because she had a bondage fetish? She shook her head and suppressed a laugh. Wouldn’t that go over well with the family? Anxiety swept through her. Family? She had a family? Her heart picked up speed and she tried to think, but frustration once again hit her as her mind went blank where family was concerned. One moment she was following Blackie like a dutiful sex slave, the next she was standing beside him, staring at a spaceship wrapped in a tangle of trees and weeds. Brown moss clung to its rusty metal parts and trees grew out from between several broken pieces. It had been here for quite some time. From the debris spread here and there, the impact had been brutal enough to shatter the ship like a cracked egg, but not too bad as the crash had left most of it intact. Get out of here. This is so not happening. She shook her head and her gut hollowed out in a really not-so-nice way as she blinked at the spaceship. A busted spaceship? Near the Statue of Liberty? Near the ocean? Sure thing, dude. She couldn’t think of a thing to say to Blackie as he peered at it, so she kept her mouth closed as her mind threatened to shut down. “We will take shelter in here,” he said softly and pointed to the largest part of the ship. It lay at an awkward angle against a small cliff. Kinley swallowed as another bout of unease slashed against her. Instead of flashes, screams screeched inside her head. Acrid smoke billowed and then, just like that, the screams and smoke vanished, leaving her weak and disoriented. 124
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Jesus! What in the world was happening to her? A flash of lightning sizzled along the treetops overhead, shocking her into following Blackie, who had disappeared inside the object through a three-foot rip in the hull. Perhaps being in a metal structure wasn’t such a great idea with lightning bolts forking all around, but it didn’t look as if they had much of a choice. But just before she entered, something red hidden beneath some nearby foliage caught her attention. Reaching out, she ripped away a piece of wet moss with her bound hands and uncovered a four-foot-sized piece of curved silver…red…blue…stripes. Oh great! Grabbing more of the wet moss, she ripped off another good-sized piece and stared at the markings. Fuck! A US flag emblazoned the metal of the ship. Stars and stripes. Blackie suddenly reappeared. He glanced at the flag, then grabbed her wrist, touching her bracelet. “It is the same sign as this. You must come from here.” Here? Here? Was she an astronaut? But why did this spaceship look like it had been here for many, many years? How long had she been walking around in the jungle? Years? Oh she was so going to freak out. She couldn’t stop herself from trembling. Too many questions suddenly raced through her brain and her world tilted. Everything went black.
***** Confusion and unease raged through Blackie as he wiped a wet cloth over Kinley’s forehead. She remained asleep. He’d caught her as she’d crumpled right in front of him. What had happened? Had he hurt her in some way during their travels? Had the lightning hit her and he hadn’t seen it? When he’d carried her into the wreck, he’d shouted her name over and over, wanting her to awaken. She’d stirred in his arms and relief poured through him. Yet she remained asleep. He’d placed her upon the one bed and untied her hands, grimacing at the rope burns around her wrists. Capturing water in a bucket in the sudden downpour, he’d cooled her warm body. But she had no fever. And he did not know what to do except to let her sleep. While she slept, he prepared food for himself. He was so hungry. Famished. He was entering the end of Phase Two of the Passion Poison. Blackie shivered as he thought of Phase Three. Of his darkest fantasies. Of what he wished to do with Kinley…sexually.
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Despite the overwhelming urges to touch her, to have sex with her, he dared not. He needed her to awaken. Needed to find out what was wrong with her. There had been a drastic change in her when he’d brought her to the statue of the Goddess of Freedom. The distant look in her pretty eyes. It was as if she were not there. As if he’d lost her for a little while. But then she had come back. Now he had lost her again to this mysterious sleep. Instincts told him to lift her into his arms and leave this place. That it was not good for her here, but the storms were upon them and he had no choice but to stay in this building—which was warmer than it would have been inside the statue of the Goddess of Freedom. He doubted anyone knew of this place. He had come upon it shortly after the Slave Uprising. In his newfound freedom, after escaping life with the dominating females, he hadn’t been able to stay in Death Valley for too long at a time without becoming restless. So he took many exploration trips, especially into the Outer Limits, the forbidden areas. He’d enjoyed exploring the Goddess of Freedom as well as this metallic building. Now, as he gazed upon Kinley’s motionless body, he wished he had never brought her here. He dribbled some water upon her dry mouth, willing her to part her lips and drink. Willing her to awaken. The liquid merely ran down the side of her mouth. She slept. Panic began to grow inside of him again. Blowing out a frustrated breath, he headed outside into the stormy downpour. Rain beat onto his flesh. Thunder cracked in his ears and silver streaks of lightning blazed forks across the darkening skies, but he ignored the danger. He screamed his frustrations into the rain and pounded his fists onto the hard metal until his knuckles bled and his perspiration mixed with hot blood and cool rain. This was his fault. He’d been too rough with her. She was, after all, a female. Not as strong as males, but curvy and fragile and beautiful. His gut clenched at the thought of her not awakening. What if she did not? A long time ago he had hit a male on the head during a gladiator fight. The male had crumpled. Had never awoken. Days later, he had stopped breathing and died. Anger raged through Blackie. He could not let the same fate happen to this female. His female. No, he could not let it happen. Blinking aside the torrents of raindrops that threatened to drown him, he gazed around the overgrown area and tried to think of something to do to bring her out of her unconscious state. But nothing came to mind. Just despair. Raw, painful despair.
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***** Blackie’s voice startled Kinley from the comfortable, snug cocoon she’d been languishing in. She hadn’t been thinking of anything…just existing, just being. Not worrying about who she was, where she was, or why she was even here. Best of all, she didn’t have any pain. No headache, no memory flashes, no visions. Nothing but blessed peace. It had been so wonderful for a while. Suddenly, though, she’d been thrust out of the warm world her mind had created. Thrust into noise, into cold, into discomfort. She didn’t know how long she fought to stay inside the darkness, but she did fight. Someone was pulling away the layers of comfort. One by one. And with each layer that was stripped away, she came closer and closer to the surface. Every once in a while, things tickled areas of her body. Then prickles of pain here and there. Touches of cold, touches of warmth. And scents of the earth. Of dew, worms, dampness, ozone. Then there was slashing rain and crackling thunder. A storm? A man’s voice. Strong, powerful, sensual. Relief poured through her as she heard Blackie. Low, soothing, tender. Oh God, so tender and so desperate it ripped apart her heart and she let him in. “Can you not open your eyes for me, my goddess?” he whispered, his soft voice drowning out the background of thunder and pounding rain. Yet she didn’t feel the rain. Just misty droplets and something else brushing erotically against the inside of her thighs. A feather? Was that intimate touch a feather? Warm strokes tickled slowly up the inside of one arm, across her neck and down the inside of her other arm. Were they his hot fingertips? Curiosity grabbed hold and she opened her eyes. Blackie hovered over her, a worried expression marring his tightly drawn face. A wave of lightheadedness washed over her as she moved her head to check the source of tickling. Indeed he was using a feather and his fingertips. “What…are you doing?” He jerked at her voice. Looked startled as he gazed upon her. “You awaken, thank the Goddess of Freedom!” Relief seemed to pour through him and the tightness shadowing his face shattered, revealing a brightness in his gaze. Huh. The man seemed genuinely relieved she was okay. At least she thought she was okay. Even her headache was gone. “What happened?” she asked and looked around the room. Correct that—the interior of the spaceship.
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To her surprise, it was relatively light due to a small smokeless torch burning just inside the entrance. The flames flickered and danced as bursts of wind swept past. “When you fell, I thought—” He frowned. “You thought I had died?” He smiled, but it was a sad smile and warmth as well as concern washed through her. “I think I just passed out. Too much excitement, I guess. I should have eaten something today. Low blood sugar,” she lied. Truth was she didn’t know what had happened. She’d just suddenly been overwhelmed with everything and lightheaded. She couldn’t have been out for too long as he was still alive. They would need to… Heat zipped through her as she thought about how she’d pumped those virgin, Yellow Hair chicks for information about the cure for the otherwise fatal Passion Poison. When their answer came as a twenty-four-hour sex marathon, her mouth had dropped open in shock. She hadn’t cared for how the leader of the virgins had commented that Kinley—Goddess of Freedom extraordinaire—should know such things. She was, after all, the woman who had created the rituals the so-called Yellow Hairs followed. Of course Kinley had a snappy comeback, letting the girls know she was just testing them to make sure they were up to speed on their education. But the leader hadn’t been fooled and so Kinley had revealed the truth. She’d been hit on the head and lost her memory. Thankfully they had bought her story. Those innocent young women had been easily duped, allowing Blackie and her to escape. “Why do you smile so?” Blackie asked with a harsh gruffness in his voice. Uh oh, the guy is back to pissed-off mode again. Kinley struggled to sitting. The lightheadedness she’d been experiencing had vanished. Gazing around the room, she was overcome with a sense of familiarity. For instance, she knew what the sliding partition on a nearby console would be used for. But would it work after all this time being dormant? A sense of adrenaline gushed through her and she swung her legs over the padded bed. “You should not get up. It is too soon,” Blackie urged. His iron-strong arm swept gently across her midriff, preventing her from standing. “I’m okay. I need to move. Need circulation to get my brain working.” He glared at her, shaking his head, a deep frown marring his handsome features. Gosh, he really did look sexy-hot. Long, black bangs swept over his forehead and the black shadow of a beard and moustache hugged his tanned face. And that sensually shaped mouth of his…her pussy tingled at the thought of having his lips kissing between her thighs. “Please…let me get up?” she whispered, her voice husky and aroused.
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Lust splashed into his eyes, pushing aside his command. Reluctantly he removed his arm and backed away. “Have you eaten?” she asked as she made her way to the partition in the wall. Beside it was the intercom, a menu on the wall and a black button. She knew this ship was outfitted with hydrogen cell batteries, a newly developed technology back on Earth. The batteries allowed for endless energy, even under catastrophic conditions. But how in the world was this state-of-the-art spaceship here when this energy source had just been discovered not too long ago on Earth? Back on Earth…endless energy…catastrophic conditions… The words floated through her mind as she pushed the black button. She gasped in surprise and then happiness as the computerized menu screen flickered to life. “What is this?” Blackie said from behind her. “Menus for food. That is, if we could be so lucky.” “Food?” “Yeah, lots of food. If it works,” she answered. Please work. She touched the screen and damned if it didn’t flip the page to the next menu. Oh get out of here! The computer on this ship still worked. NASA should be proud. She tried hard to ignore the butterflies of anxiety rolling through her belly at the depth of her knowledge about this spaceship, as well as the menus she scrolled through. Okay, so she wasn’t on Earth. She got that now. Probably that’s why her brain had shut down and she’d passed out. Maybe she had needed the blackout to force her brain to relax and assemble everything? She was in the company of a hunky, well-hung stud who spoke a little broken English. Not that guys on Earth didn’t speak broken English or weren’t well-hung. They did and they were. But this guy… Kinley shivered as ripples of pleasure shifted through her. This guy had to be some sort of soul mate or something, because she’d never experienced this weird, tingling, caring kind of thing about a man before. Especially about a man she’d practically just met and had sex with so many freaking times. She didn’t know how she’d never cared like this about a guy before, she just did. This spaceship had crashed. Was it hers? Couldn’t be. It looked as if it had been here for years. Especially with all the vines and trees growing so closely around it. It had to have crashed many, many years ago, and yet the technology was current. Weird. Maybe there was a time warp in space that she’d slipped through? “You strike me as a steak-and-potatoes kind of guy,” she mused as she pressed the appropriate numbers from the menu into the keyboard. Then she poked the black button, held her breath and hoped to hell it worked. Suddenly the door on the little compartment slid open with a squeak and Blackie gasped from behind her. 129
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A plate of steaming food sat inside. Her mouth watered at the toasty smell of steak. Beside the steak were mashed potatoes, baby carrots and peaches, and creamed corn. Behind the plate, a small flute of red wine. Shit! It worked! But was the food still good after all this time? Something deep inside told her yes. All the food in the replicator was freeze-dried and stored in tamper-proof, non-deteriorating plastic containers that would last up to fifty years. Again NASA should be proud and, heck, she was proud she could remember these important things too. Grabbing the hot plate and cold flute of wine, Kinley placed them on a nearby table. She gazed at Blackie and ignored his pale, shocked face. “Come and eat. I’ll whip up something for myself.” No use explaining to him what this was all about. Besides, NASA protocol forbade it. Kinley smiled. Okay, so some of her memories had made an appearance while she’d been unconscious. “We must go,” Blackie said coolly and made his way to the door. When she didn’t follow, an angry shade of red quickly returned to his face. He was mad. “Oh you don’t want to leave just yet, Blackie. I need to get some ointment on that knife wound of yours. It’s the least I can do for putting it there,” she said softly. Quickly she entered some more numbers into the computer. He wouldn’t want to miss her next project. The door slid open and Kinley immediately grabbed the items inside. First-aid ointment, bandages and something else. The cool metal kissed her palm, giving her confidence and power. When she swung around and faced him, his angry gaze lowered to her weapon of choice. A gun. He frowned, understandably so. “Now I’d suggest you sit down. I’ll tend to your injury while you eat what I put on the table or I’ll shoot your balls off one at a time.” His eyes widened in disbelief at her coolly spoken remark. He probably thought she’d lost her mind. Good, that would make it easier to get him to do what she wanted. She dropped her aim to parts south. A warm smugness brewed inside her as his Adam’s apple bobbed wildly in his throat. Clearly he understood what a gun was used for. “And if you don’t finish all your vegetables, I’ll shoot your cock off. And shooting off your cock will make me very angry, because then we won’t be able to have more of the wild sex we had earlier in those virgins’ teepee. And I, for one, do not wish to act like a virgin tonight. So do as I say…sit!” His eyes blazed with intense anger and he remained still. Obviously he did not enjoy being commanded at gunpoint. Or having his jewels threatened in such a manner.
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“Please,” she muttered and pointed the gun to the plastic chair he should sit in. Hell, she may as well be mannerly. “And let me know how the wine tastes. It must be perfectly aged after all this time.” Without waiting for him to sit, she kept the gun leveled at him and did a further scan of the menu. Touching the forward button, she flipped through several menus until she arrived at the area she was searching for. Excitement shot through her as she read the variety of items available to her. Her nipples grew hard, her breasts swelled and her pussy creamed, but she didn’t program in what she wanted. At least not yet. She’d have to wait until Blackie entered Phase Three. And then the fun would begin. Until then, she needed to get as much nourishment as she could, because twentyfour hours was a long time to have sex with a man in the throes of Passion Poison. A long time indeed.
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Chapter Eleven Masturbating had been exactly what Kayla needed to take the edge off, and she slept well the rest of the night and late into the next morning. Upon awakening, she was surprised to discover Taylor sitting in the open doorway, and even more surprised at the splashes of sunshine casting misty, white rays across the glistening, rain-specked grass outside. Immense relief and excitement made her literally hop out of bed and jump up and down with joy. Taylor turned toward her, his smile so wide it led her to believe he must be much better. He actually had a sexy little dimple bursting out of the left side of his mouth. Gosh, he looked so good when he smiled. So huggable. She couldn’t help but perch down on the door stoop beside him and throw her arms around his big shoulders in a warm hug. Nice muscles flexed beneath her hands, zipping a tingling warmth into her. The tingle quickly turned hot and moved through her like a fever. “It’s stopped, hasn’t it? Or am I just dreaming?” she asked, trying hard not to show him how hot he made her just by merely touching him. She let go of him and stared out the doorway, telling herself it was the change in the weather that made happiness burst inside her. She had to admit the sight was picturesque. She could see why Taylor and Jarod had faced the doorway the direction they did, in order to catch the late-morning blast of sunshine as it burst over the treetops of the white birch bark trees. Everything looked so fresh and clean out there. Gone was the cool dampness, replaced by a toasty warmth that seeped right into her flesh, making her so glad the rain was finally gone. “The storms will return in several days,” he replied. “We will leave here in the morning and find our way through the swamps to your brothers.” Immense relief whipped through her. Heck, a few days without rain was better than just one day without it. She expected him to sound happier than he did at their leaving, but his intense concentration on a piece of shaped wood he held in one hand drew her attention. The item looked to be about ten inches long, with one tapered end and a flat, extended base at the other end. At the largest part, near the middle and toward the thin base, it appeared a little over two inches thick. The wood looked very smooth and had been fashioned in the shape of an hourglass. If she didn’t know any better, she would think he’d whittled it in the form of a… Kayla swallowed. Her ass clenched and her pussy creamed.
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The air grew sensually charged between them. “Um, what are you making?” she asked, suddenly kind of shy. “It is finished. It is for you,” he whispered gently. When he looked at her, his eyes told the rest of the story. Lust and arousal burned there and Kayla literally blazed with a need for him so powerful, she actually hurt everywhere. She couldn’t help but wonder what to say or to how to ask him if it was indeed what she thought it was…a butt plug. “A present? For me? I like presents.” He grinned. “You will like this one then.” He held it up for her to see. “It’s…um…very smooth.” “It is as silky smooth and almost as wide and long as my cock.” Oh. My. He studied her as he spoke. “The wood is as hard as my cock and no chance of slivers.” Okay. Slivers are not good. His grin widened at her apparent discomfort on the subject. “Have you ever worn one? Do you know what it is?” “Yes… I mean, I know what it is, but…um…no, I haven’t worn one.” Appreciation and excitement glittered in his eyes. “Then you are a virgin there?” Hopefulness whipped across his face. Her cheeks flamed. Oh man, what a time to blush. “You look very pretty with your face red.” Oh sweet cabin, please cave in on me. He winced as he shifted and turned to face her. She’d have to check the wound in his side, but not yet. Right now thoughts of morning sex floated in the air. How could they not be when he was making her a butt plug? He placed the plug and his knife into a small woven basket and, to her surprise, he lifted his hands to her face. His calloused fingers were rough against her flesh as he caressed her burning cheeks. His touch so gentle and featherlight, she was amazed a man as big as he could possess such tenderness. “You are a very beautiful woman. You have nothing to be bashful about.” Shy? Me? Like she hadn’t just been traveling and having sex with a stranger? How could he consider her shy? His breathing had gotten heavier. Hers had too. His head was moving closer to hers and hers moved closer to his. Gosh, were they ever on the same wavelength. “I watched you masturbating in the river last night,” he whispered a split second before his mouth brushed gently against her lips.
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She shuddered beneath his kiss. Her blood sang with arousal at his confession of watching her orgasm in the river. Oh great. What was it with this guy? Did he want her face to be even redder? Because it was getting way too hot in here. “I want to watch you now.” Kayla blinked. Had she heard right? His hands slipped from her cheeks to settle on her shoulders as he kissed her harder, his mouth moving firm against her lips. She twined her arms around his neck, falling headlong into the magnificent shivers of delight he easily invoked in her. Abruptly, he broke the kiss. “On the bed. I wish to watch.” She creamed at his instruction. She nodded numbly and stood. On trembling legs, she padded barefoot to the bed. “Remove your skirt,” he said thickly. She blew out a deep breath and did as he said, removing her skirt slowly, letting it brush down her thighs before dropping it to the floor. She climbed onto the bed and sat on the edge. He approached her with the basket containing the plug, his limp distinct. She’d forgotten about his limp in all the panic of getting him to this cabin. Maybe she should inquire more about what had happened to him. But the curiosity melted and her heart began thumping way too wildly as he settled the basket on the nearby window ledge. She held her breath as he opened the lid. He grabbed the plug and carried it to the pot of clean water she’d set over the fire last night. “I will clean this while you masturbate. While I watch,” he said matter-of-factly as he dipped the big plug into the water. Oh sure, no problem. Like she masturbated in front of him all the time! But his casualness about the situation intrigued her. She wished she could be that way. Her sister Kinley was comfortable in her own skin and Kayla had always wanted to be less shy regarding sex. She made a move to lie down on the bed, but his words stopped her. “Right there. Stay. Spread your legs.” Kayla couldn’t believe she was doing this. Couldn’t believe she wanted to do this in front of a man. She’d never masturbated in front of a guy before. It looked like today was going to be a day of firsts, didn’t it? His eyes blazed with excitement as she spread her legs and angled her hips in such a way he would have a perfect view. Thankfully her face wasn’t so hot anymore and she really wasn’t embarrassed either. Because now he was doing the same. Undressing. Not that wearing a breechclout was clothes. He untied the strings and let the garment drop to the floor. She couldn’t take her gaze from his cock. It was big and so thick. Engorged with blood, the shaft a bruised purple, the cock head bulging. 134
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“Why…why didn’t you join me last night?” she asked, her eyes widening as his cock continue to swell and lengthen. It jerked magnificently as it grew and rose, and all because he was looking at her. Perhaps this wasn’t matter-of-fact for him, after all. Her gaze stayed glued to that body of his. Nice curvy muscles, and those scars looked mighty impressive mingled with the abundance of elevated veins. Exactly what had he done to piss off the women on this planet? And why would they take a whip to him and mar his tanned skin? “I wished not to disturb you in the river. You seemed very intent.” Intent. That was an understatement. “And I realized I was neglectful of you the past few days while I was injured. I understood why you needed to get relief. You are a very sensual female.” Oh dear. That must be a compliment. He returned to the pot to wash the butt plug. Yes, he appeared very confident in his nakedness, standing with his cock engorged and erect the way it was, with her watching. Gosh, she’d best get comfortable with her nakedness too. Easier said than done. She slipped a trembling hand between her thighs, dipping a finger into her vagina and finding herself already creamy-wet. She slid out with the lube and began a quick rub on her clit, gasping at how quickly and intensely the tremors of need shimmered to life inside her. It was kind of weird doing this, touching herself in front of him, but hey, she wanted to please him. And if he could be confident in his nudity then, heck, so could she. She looked down and lifted her top, bunching it to expose her breasts. Her nipples were already engorged and tight, her breasts big and tense, and as she lifted her gaze to look at him, his cock jerked and swelled even bigger. Have mercy. She wanted him to start fucking her instead of masturbating. But he wanted another show like last night and she would give him one. She began a slow rub over her nipples and between her thighs at the same time. Oh yeah, this is good. Intense pleasure slipped into her body and, from the quick way his erection continued to grow with a web of veins, he was mighty pleased too. He continued washing the plug, glancing at her every now and then, his erection twitching and the muscles in his jaw jumping. Obviously he had self-control. More than she did, that’s for sure, because if he were playing with himself in front of her she’d want to fuck. As her arousal grew, it gripped her, pulsed through her. She gyrated her hips, closed her eyes and opened her mouth. She panted as heat whipped into her body with a frenzy, making her tighten with awareness and pleasure. Taylor moved about the
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room. He fiddled with something on the windowsill, and then he came to stand in front of her. She forced herself to open her eyes. Yep, he stood right here and lust flushed his face, probably just as red as hers had been earlier. He palmed his huge scrotum with one hand, squeezing and twisting his swollen flesh. With his other hand, he stroked and squeezed the length of his engorged cock. Need slammed through her. She rubbed her nipples harder, massaged her clit with a desperate firmness. She wanted him buried deep inside her. When he let go of his cock, he held out his hands to her. She grabbed his fingers and he pulled her up so she stood in front of him. Letting go of his hands, she wrapped her fingers around his massive cock, loving the erotic way his solid, scorching heat twitched against her palms. She moved closer to him, arching her hips, gasping as she brought his swollen length into her creamed vagina. Oh so big. Yummy big. Letting go of his shaft, she grabbed his shoulders and held tight as he thrust and impaled her quickly and firmly, making her gasp at the wicked impact of his cock buried inside her and the erotic force of his hips crashing into hers. “Last night I thought I was not ready. I was wrong,” he murmured as he grabbed her hips and held tight. She moaned at the sultry shivers as he bucked in and out of her pussy in long, deep strokes. He held her hips firmly and they both looked down to watch as their bodies joined and convulsed in the tense pleasure. He moved his hips, withdrawing from her, and then slid into her again, the pressure of his swollen length pushing and spreading her vaginal muscles. His slow strokes had her yearning for a faster rhythm but he needed to be careful due to his wound. She cried out in surprise as his hands slipped off her hips to cup her ass, lifting her while she was impaled on him. She hopped up and wrapped her legs around his waist, instinctively knowing he wanted to carry her. He did, to a far wall near the fireplace where he pushed her back against the rough wood. She dropped her legs and stood, her thighs quivering as he withdrew and, using the wall to brace her, slammed into her again. He took her mouth, hard and fast, his kiss intent, his tongue dashing past her lips and zipping into her. Their tongues met, dueled and embraced in an erotic dance of exploration. God, he had a nice hot, firm tongue that really made her heady. He kept driving into her, longer strokes now. Plunges that created an awesome suctioning and a sweet, spasming tightness within her. His deep thrusts sent more quivering tremors searing into her pussy and her vagina clenched lovingly around his cock. The stirrings of an orgasm snapped into her like a battering ram, tearing a cry from her lips and ripping an animalistic groan from him. He drove harder and she gasped at the intensity as he seemed to go deeper and deeper with every plunge. 136
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She bucked against him, her mind wild with anticipation of the oncoming climax. And then suddenly she was there, the orgasm exploding through her like a rocket. He fucked her with increasing power, bringing her deeper into the erotic convulsive shudders tugging her apart—body, mind and soul. She moved faster and harder, crashing against him with his every deep thrust, and was quickly carried away in a current of exquisite pleasure. Somewhere far away, she heard him cry out his own release and hot jets of sperm spurted deep inside her. This time she didn’t care if he would make her pregnant or give her some disease. This time, she trusted him…and trusting him made all the difference.
***** Pleasure still burst in Kayla’s eyes as Taylor withdrew from her following her third orgasm. Her face was flushed pink, her hair tangled with a wildness he really liked and her body looked so beautiful. Her breasts heaved with every tortured breath and her inner thighs continued to shiver as he placed her on the bed. She reached out to him but he shook his head. Frustration snapped through her eyes and he smiled at her, liking that she wanted him to take her again. “The plug,” he whispered. “I will insert the plug now.” A sliver of fear sliced into her eyes and then it disappeared, as if her increasing trust of him moved it aside. She was a virgin there and he would be gentle. He would need to wait to take her there, but he would wait until her muscles grew accustomed to the plug. He wasn’t sure how long he could wait though. He wanted to be with her, over and over again. Just with her. In her. Everywhere. Her mouth, her pussy, her ass. Taylor padded to where he’d placed the plug to dry—on a clean piece of weave upon the windowsill in the sunshine. He would insert it, and then he would fuck her until she fell asleep in his arms. He just could not believe that he, Taylor, wanted only this woman. During his life as a slave he had preferred taking several females during sex. Although he had never enjoyed being commanded by the women, he did find it enjoyable having sex with more than one at the same time. He performed better sexually that way and was given that luxury when he was sent to Brothel Town. But those urges were gone. And they would never return as long as she was with him. As he approached her, her beautiful eyes flashed with a need for more sex. Her hands played with her nipples, her knees were up and her legs were spread, giving him a juicy glimpse of her engorged clit and labia and the wetness from his earlier visits. His body felt unbelievably taut as he looked down at her, splayed out on the bed. His cock screamed at him to climb onto her and plunge himself into her tight, wet
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sheath, to give her more of the pleasure she enjoyed. But he held off. She needed to be readied or he would hurt her. He’d fucked many females in the ass, but never a virgin. Other females took virgin females in the ass themselves first with the help of their abundant sex toys. The women who enjoyed anal sex had come to him well-versed in the art. He looked forward to introducing Kayla to this type of sex, for it was quite different than vaginal. “Turn over and raise your hips,” he instructed as he stood over her. She played with her nipples for a few more seconds, her eyes glazed with lust as she looked up at him. Then finally, as if registering what he commanded from her, she moaned softly and turned over, getting into the position he wished. Reaching into a nearby basket, he lifted a wooden container that held a concoction he’d made early this morning while she’d slept. It was a thick, slippery material, a safe substance from the roots of plants the males in Death Valley made in order to lube their females. Dipping his fingers into the soft salve, he held his breath as he instructed her to pull her ass cheeks apart. She did and Taylor moaned softly at the sight of the tight ring of muscles and the tiny hole in the middle. His cock clenched with need and he shuddered with excitement. She would be tight. So tight. And he would be her first male for anal sex. He slid a lubed finger against her hole and she tensed. A whimper of fear escaped her lips. Understandable. This would be foreign to her. “You have nothing to fear, my beautiful female.” He spoke to her in the softest of whispers, knowing it would soothe her. “It may be uncomfortable a little at first. But then your muscles will stretch to accommodate it. Later I will explain the caring of the plug and how and when you will clean it.” Her breaths were coming faster with excitement. She nodded jerkily, said nothing. “When the plug has stretched you, then I will fuck you there,” he said. “How…how long?” “Perhaps by the eve of tomorrow.” She nodded again and her eyelids fluttered. Ah yes, she was heavy with lust. Lust, fear and anticipation of what was to come. “You will do well to calm your body as I insert the plug. It will be easier on you,” he said, and slowly pressed his lubed finger against her tight muscles. She moaned softly as he pushed. Then he was inside her very sweet ass. He explored her gently, tenderly, moving his finger in slowly. As he explored her tightness, his cock raged with arousal and the eagerness of penetrating her. She would be the tightest female he had ever taken. The idea rocked him to his core. Withdrawing gently, he dipped more lube onto his finger and inserted it into her. He did this several times before entering her with two fingers.
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Her ass muscles responded, clasping his generously lubed fingers. Taylor couldn’t help but grit his teeth and groan at the persistent throbbing in his cock and swollen balls. He needed to hurry and complete his preparation or he would come before he was even finished.
***** The erotic way his fingers explored her back end had Kayla biting her bottom lip. The pressure was immense and the tightness within her body almost unbearable as new tremors shimmered to life and raced through her. She’d never experienced such fullness before. It was mind-boggling, to say the least. Frightening too, but she trusted him. He explored her with such gentleness she once again wondered how a big guy like him, her Tarzan with a limp, could be so tender. Yet here she was, splayed out naked with his fingers dipping in and out of her rear end. If anyone would have told her she would be allowing a guy to do this to her—a guy from another planet and on another planet—she would have said they were freaking crazy. “Easy now. I am to insert the plug,” he said with such softness her trust increased. He truly did seem concerned about her uneasiness in this situation. Despite his earlier advice to stay relaxed, she couldn’t help but remain tense. Her breath halted in her throat as the flared head of the plug pushed against her sphincter. Oh my! Dare she say the plug was too big? And didn’t he say he would be bigger? Her heart began a mad pounding as the lubed plug continued its descent to impale her. “It will only take a short time,” he reassured. To her surprise, she was creaming between her thighs and she couldn’t wait for him to finish so he could turn her over and take her. Wow. She was turning into her sexually adventurous sister Kinley, wasn’t she? Kayla chuckled to herself, but then her thoughts all came crashing back to the one pinpoint of her existence. To what he was doing to her back there. The toy extended her anal muscles, making her moan at the interesting bite of pain stretching into her. The pain quickly mingled with an exquisite arousal that had her gasping. “Almost completed,” he whispered. She whimpered as the pressure merely intensified. He must have been at the middle of the plug and she braced herself for a little while longer. This better be worth it! Quivers cascaded through her bottom, tormenting her and leaving her dazed with awe.
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Finally the insertion stopped, greeting her with an awesome fullness that actually wasn’t half bad. “It is complete,” he replied with pride. “You will be mine.” She exhaled freely, grateful it was indeed over. It was kind of neat that he was thinking she would be his. She wanted to turn herself around, but obviously he had other ideas as his hot hands cradled her ass cheeks. He held her tenderly, the heat of his palms scorching her flesh. He pressed gently against her ass, which made the plug go deeper into her. She blew out a tense breath, wanting him to touch her a little lower. Since the plug was fully lodged and she was starting to get used to the interesting fullness, her pussy needed some tender loving care. The bed dipped down between her legs. What was he up to? “Your ass is the most beautiful of all females I have been with,” he boasted. Kayla frowned as a touch of anger flared through her. “Didn’t anyone teach you it is bad etiquette to speak about other women when you are with one?” Taylor chuckled and smoothed those calloused palms over her cheeks. Hmmm…such a tender caress. “Touching me like that will get you forgiven for pretty much anything,” she murmured. “And how about like this?” A moist butterfly kiss tickled her left ass cheek. “Hmmm…this is nice,” she replied, melting beneath several more such kisses. “Perhaps if you lift your ass up and place your knees beneath your tummy, I will take you from behind while you lie here.” Perhaps? This sudden bout of gentlemanly manners must be the sex slave in him coming out. She did as he suggested, her pussy creaming all the way, the plug nudging and prodding in her ass as she climbed into a crouched position. Keeping her breasts and head down against the mat, she eagerly anticipated his arrival from behind. To her surprise, instead of him impaling her, his hot breath breezed against her clit. Oh wow, he was going to go down on her! Her dazed senses snapped to attention as his hot mouth fused over her pussy, his tongue dashing inside her vagina about an inch or so. She moaned as he stroked his tongue against her G-spot. She tightened her thighs against his head, aching for firmer pressure. He nuzzled his upper lip against her clit and pressed up and down very slowly while the tip of his tongue continued to poke her G-spot. The dual touching unleashed an array of exquisite shivers that had her panting and moaning. My, oh my, but the man had a talented mouth.
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Her thighs trembled and her pussy clenched around his tongue as he continued his delicious assault. When she swore she could take no more…when she swore she was going to scream if he didn’t take her, he stopped. The bed moved as he got into position behind her. She gasped as his hot hands slid beneath her shuddering thighs. He lifted her just high enough so he could enter her with his cock. She cried out as he slowly pushed his shaft into her vagina. Due to the fullness of the butt plug, she was ultra-snug for him. She luxuriated in every animalistic, appreciative groan from him and loved every elevated vein in his cock as he stretched into her wet pussy. “Very…nice,” he ground out as he impaled her. Wow, very full. She gasped around the intensity of being double penetrated. She cried out and arched into him as he withdrew and slid into her again. This time he came in a little harder and firmer. He stopped, his breathing heavy and raspy. “Easy,” he whispered after a moment. She wasn’t sure if he was talking to himself or her, but she instinctively struggled to relax. Although how could she loosen up with such a huge plug and shaft inside her? When she forced herself to calm down a little and accept his intrusion, he began moving in and out, building to a fast pistoning rhythm that created a magnetic friction against her already sensitive clit and G-spot. Naughty fire erupted and sizzled through her. She clutched the mat beneath her and held on tight as the bed moved back and forth while he thrust and fucked her. His hard, driving rhythm quickly had her body tightening and in a few seconds pleasure rocked her. She careened easily into an explosive orgasm, her entire body torn by shudders and convulsions. She scrunched her eyes tighter and sharp, hot tingles sparkled and embraced her body as he continued thrusting into her. His erotic moans intoxicated her and the hot slide of his cock in and out of her was a perfect possession. Gosh, this guy was so good. Lust tightened her thighs even more and she fell headlong into another climax. It gripped her, held her, and then Taylor cried out into his own release, the sensual groan so intense it rocked straight into her core. Afterward, as their shudders slowed and their breathing relaxed, he kept his cock buried deep inside her. Rolling them over onto their sides, his strong, warm arms embraced her and he nuzzled his face erotically against her neck. They slept.
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Chapter Twelve Blackie stared wide-eyed at the items he’d created from the computer menus Kinley had taught him how to use. Astonishment, excitement and a tinge of fear zipped through him. Exactly how was the spaceship “replicator”, as Kinley called it, able to create such furniture by merely pressing buttons? It was truly amazing. A crack of thunder shook the metal floor beneath his feet, but Blackie ignored it. The hammering of his heart was way louder and more intense than the mere bad weather raging outside. The agonizing pleasure slicing painfully into his skin—into his entire body for that matter—was fiercer than any storm. He was in the middle of his own violent squall of sexual need, and with every passing minute he struggled to keep himself focused on the task. His darkest fantasy now stood in front of him. Its metal parts gleamed magnificently amid the flickering flames thrown off by the array of slender pink and black candles he’d positioned in glass candleholders on various shelves in the room. Beneath his creation, he’d placed a white plush floor mat that would be soft and warm beneath her feet. From where she would sit on the machine, she could view the beautiful flickering candles. As she looked up to the ceiling, she would see the giant glass reflector he had placed there and be able to watch everything he did to her. Blackie inhaled a deep, steadying breath and nodded his satisfaction. The room was actually a part of the broken-apart spaceship. A sheltered nook behind some smooth, white walls, which—according to Kinley—housed the computers that had once made this ship fly in the sky, and where the energy came from that created these items for his fantasy. How ships could fly, he did not have the time to question her about. He’d had more important things to do. Now that his tender wound was taken care of with salve and bandages, he was more than ready to take her here. “Oh I like,” Kinley said from behind him as she stepped into the room. Her voice was sultry and sensual, igniting his needs to newer heights. He clenched his fists to keep from grabbing her, pushing her up against the nearest wall and fucking himself senseless with her. He was holding on to his last thread of self-control. Thoughts of taking her had been a constant companion while she’d pointed that gun at him and forced him to eat the food she’d created. Food that had been quite tasty. Even while she’d ordered him to place salve and bandages around his wound, and then after when she had shown him how to use the replicator menus, he’d struggled with ripping the gun from her hand
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and taking her. With the pleasure they’d shared, she would not harm him with the weapon. He had no doubts at all. He’d been able to hold himself together and play along with her. Until now. Even the white-hot lust raging through him as he surveyed the equipment he had produced couldn’t stop him from turning around. Gun or no gun, he wished to take her. But he halted momentarily as he gazed upon her. She had untied her newly colored hair from all those braids and it fell in erratic waves all around her shoulders. She looked like a sun-kissed, bronze goddess. A succulent female. His female. “You like?” she asked softly, almost shyly, as she stood in front of him. She had no gun. Good. This meant she was ready for him. She’d put on enticing clothing that made his shaft grow even harder—if that were possible. His breathing increased and perspiration dripped from his forehead. She also wore a black collar, several colorful, clear jewels sparkling around it. A ring dangled from the middle-front. From the ring trailed a black rope leash. She held the end of it in her hand. The seductive smile she gave him almost unraveled him. “What is it?” he asked as he stepped forward and stood directly in front of her. She was shorter than him by more than two heads and her petite size only enflamed him. He wished to dominate her. To make his darkest fantasies come true. She twirled around, showing him every succulent curve the erotic clothing hugged. Hiding her naked body from his eyes only increased his temptations and his sensual needs. He moaned inwardly as his cock and balls swelled even more. She faced him and looked down at herself. Pride flushed her pretty features. “It’s a sequined dress. I picked it for you. It has a plunging cowl neckline and—” He reached out and touched the glittering, round items lying on the cloth, bundled at the valley of her breasts. Yes, this clothing looked enticing. Yet it was the warmth of her skin drifting through the interesting dress that captured his entire attention. He lifted his other hand and, without warning, grabbed the material. She cried out as he ripped the cloth directly in half, all the way from the top right down to the bottom. Her curvy breasts tightened his loins. She wore glistening chains, similar to the ones he had lost to the virgin Yellow Hairs. Obviously she’d been busy with the replicator menus as well. “What are you doing?” she gasped, her eyes flaring with anger and lust as she tried to gather the ripped ends of the dress back together. As if that gesture would keep him away from her. “You ruined it.” She pouted. She looked beautiful when she did that with her mouth. The expression was too erotic for him to ignore. Angry impatience flashed through his lust. “What I require is not a dress,” he growled. “What I require is my female.” 143
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Her eyes widened. Yes, she would be his female through this next phase of the Passion Poison, and she would continue to be his female if he survived it. He grabbed her by the arm, none too gently, and led her to his prized creation. To what the menu had called a sex machine. It was something he had always wished to make, but he had never had the perfect female. Until Kinley. He craved for her to be penetrated by a machine such as the ones he had heard were in the female prisons. The type of machines that impregnated the female convicts. This one, though, would not impregnate. This one would cause her exquisite pleasure. “I cannot hold myself back any longer,” he said as he pulled her to his chest. He hoped she understood. “This is your darkest fantasy?” she whispered as she gazed at the big machine, wide eyes full of curiosity. “You sound surprised.” “I thought…well…something more dramatic. Maybe along the lines of a whipping or ass paddling. But this…this is very nice.” More dramatic? Very nice? Blackie inhaled as she moved out of his embrace and walked toward the machine. His gaze zeroed in on the curvy cheeks of her ass and the crack. His cock throbbed as he envisioned what would soon come for her. “This is where I sit?” she asked as she straddled the plush seat and grinned playfully up at him. The shreds of her dress dangled provocatively off her body and the erotic sight powered more heat through his already overexcited system. He nodded. Did she even realize how sexy she looked or how intensely he wanted her? From the way her pretty eyes glittered with excitement as she surveyed the metal structure, she might be in for a surprise where this machine was concerned. His insides were bursting as he held back the lust running through his veins, as if he were standing on a dam that was ready to explode. He would fall into the furious rapids, unable to control himself as he was swept away in the wild torrents of sexual need. This fear of losing self-control frightened him, yet it also exhilarated him. It was the Passion Poison raging through him. He should warn her she may be in trouble. But if he did, she would run. And he needed her like crazy. Needed to drown himself in the pleasure of her body. Of her. She gazed with wonder at the poles that extended from the base of the machine. All of them had areas that would bend in order for him to move them into the required positions. There was a headrest, arm rests and foot rests, all with restraints. There were also several other poles that had vacuum suctions, probes and dildos. He was surprised she wasn’t frightened. He had thought she would be afraid of the monstrous machine and its various metal rods and erotic attachments, but she seemed eager to experience what he wanted to do to her.
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A growl tore out of him as she squirmed on the seat. She was an exquisitely sensual creature. Adventurous in the ways of sex. He liked that about her. Liked it a lot. “Well, we may as well begin, Blackie,” she whispered. The eroticism in her voice urged him to move. In moments he would have her totally at his mercy. He could hardly wait.
***** Kinley couldn’t stop trembling as Blackie crouched in front of her legs and the sex machine he’d fashioned. She’d tried really hard not to be overly frightened of this huge contraption the moment she’d seen it. The metal arms had intimidated her, but when she’d seen those succulent-looking attachments a naughty fire flared inside her. Truth was she was a bit frightened and, crazily enough, she was eager too. She’d never seen anything like this before or if she had, well, she sure couldn’t recall. He certainly did have one heck of a fantasy if this machine was any indication. Who knew something like this would turn him on? Or her, for that matter? But he was very turned-on. The lusty way he gazed at her when he’d ripped her dress right down the middle. What a barbarian! His aggressiveness had turned her on even more yet angered her at the same time. She’d carefully chosen that dress after sifting through the replicator menu for a long time. She thought he might like to slowly peel it off her body and be surprised and aroused as her chains were revealed beneath. But no, he’d gotten straight to the point. Now he was getting straight to it with this naughty machine of his. She couldn’t help but moan softly as his hot fingers wrapped around her right ankle. He lifted her bare foot off the plush rug and placed it into a foot stirrup. She creamed when he fastened her ankle in place with a restraint. He did the same to her other foot, securing it. To her surprise, he leaned forward, his hot breath caressing the sole of her left foot. The touch of his stubbly cheek tickled her flesh in an erotic way. She caught her breath at the unexpected sultry tingles that shimmered through her as he opened his mouth and sucked her big toe between his warm, moist lips. His lips tightened and she inhaled sharply as he lashed the bottom of her toe with his bristly tongue. She panted at the sweet touches as he leisurely sucked, slowly bobbing his head, the same way she would if she were taking his cock into her mouth. Toe fetish? She grinned and lay against the back and headrests, quickly getting comfortable as he continue sucking. One by one, his warm, firm lips made love to each of her other toes. The firm pressure of his sweet lips and gentle laps of his tongue as it wrapped around and between had her gasping in no time flat. By the time he’d finished with her
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second foot, excitement snapped through her like live wires and each of her toes tingled with exquisite tension. Who knew that having her toes sucked so intimately could get her so aroused? Or him, for that matter? For he was quite excited. He lifted his head and stared at her with heavy-lidded eyes. His lips were slightly parted and he was panting hard. He seemed to be in a sensual daze and, as he stood, his taut muscles flexed in his shoulders and chest and the bandages on his wound shone a brilliant white in the soft glow of the candles flickering on the walls. She had to admit, the man did have taste in décor. It was cozy in here with all these candles. It made her forget about the storm lashing the ship. She fixated on his erection and her breath hitched in appreciation at the immense size pressing provocatively against his breechclout. She wanted to reach out and take it off him, but he was too far away and obviously had other ideas. He grabbed the metal poles where her legs and feet were attached and moved them outward, spreading her legs oh so wide. Oh my! She hadn’t realized her legs could widen so much and it didn’t even hurt. “Females have dominated me most of my life,” he said, his eyes flaring with heat. His scarred chest expanded with obvious pride and his voice became guttural, primal. “And for much of that time, I have wanted to take a female in the ways I wished to take her, not in the ways she wished me to take her. But it was against their rules. Even when I was with the Death Valley Boys, I could forcefully seduce females, but I wished a willing slave. Now I have my darkest fantasy. You, my submissive, are my willing slave. You and this machine are my fantasy.” Submissive. He certainly had that right. Despite being afraid of him at the beginning, her insides had melted into some semblance of surrender when he’d placed the collar and chains on her. Yeah sure, the Yellow Hairs had freed her, but she hadn’t hesitated in having herself collared again inside that teepee. And he certainly was masterful in the way he treated her. In taking care of her, feeding her, fucking her. Just as she hoped he would fuck her now. That he would move between her spread thighs and start fucking her. But disappointment rocked her as he stalked around her. First to her side and then behind her. She held her breath as a band draped over her forehead. He tightened it slightly so she couldn’t move her head. Then he tilted her entire upper half until she sat at a forty-five-degree angle. Reflected in the mirrored ceiling was the head restraint he’d placed over her forehead. A band that would keep her well in place. Her heart pounded as he moved to her right side. He grabbed her wrist, his scorching fingers like a handcuff, and guided her arm onto another metal extension. Placing her wrist into a rest, he secured it with binding. He moved the extension, bringing her arm out to her side, then strolled to her other side and did the same to her other arm.
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She lay trapped, her arms and legs spread-eagle. She was totally at his mercy. She should be frightened, shouldn’t she? He was, after all, in the throes of Passion Poison. He stalked back to the foot of the machine and moved between her spread legs. He smiled dangerously and Kinley swallowed as a sudden bout of nervousness shifted through her. “Another fantasy of mine is to hear a female beg me to fuck her. I haven’t heard you beg, warrior woman.” Oh no. The son of a bitch. He hadn’t used that nickname since he’d captured her. He’d suggested she beg him shortly after he’d caught her. She’d sworn to herself she would never beg him for sex. Back then she had been serious. Now that she’d experienced his sexual skills, she wasn’t sure how long she would be able to hold out against him. She wanted to cry out for him to let her go. She wasn’t sure she wanted this. He could keep her like this forever, teasing her and driving her mad with need for wanting him. A sudden bout of rebelliousness snapped through her. “Give it your best shot,” she whispered. In the erotic way his eyes flared with lust and excitement, she immediately regretted giving him the challenge. Perhaps her big mouth had just gotten her into a heap of sensual trouble. “Your voice is drenched with defiance. I will fuck that defiance out of you. Wait and see.” Her breath caught at his words. Oh great. Was she absolutely nuts playing around with a guy who was drugged? Yep, she certainly did have some sort of sexual death wish because that’s exactly what she was doing. “No ball gag for you this time. This time I want to hear you scream.” “Make me scream, Blackie,” she taunted. Perhaps he wouldn’t be able to hold out long against the Passion Poison raging through his system. And all his boasting was just talk. But what if it wasn’t talk? His hands moved to the strings on each of side of his breechclout. She followed his movements and her excitement pushed away all the fear. He wouldn’t hurt her. He couldn’t. It wasn’t in him. The poison was merely making him act out his darkest fantasies and she would be able to handle them. Or at least she hoped she would. She licked her dry lips as he untied the cloth that hid his bold erection. She gasped, her senses snapping to attention, her pussy creaming and clenching as his shaft was revealed. Oh my! He was huge! And so long. Thick. She couldn’t remember his cock so swollen before either. And such an intricate weave of blue, pulsing veins that laced his purpleflushed shaft.
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“I can see the way your eyes widen. You appreciate a well-hung male.” “I do,” she whispered. Oh I do. I do. I do. Damned if she wasn’t ready to start begging already just by looking at him. That naughty, dangerous grin of his grew. Oh crud. He was so onto her. She couldn’t stop an erotic moan from escaping her lips as he dropped to his knees between her spread thighs. Oh man, he was going to go down on her. Fiery heat shifted through her as she remembered how good he’d been with his mouth when she awoke after he’d found her in that swamp. How eagerly she’d nodded when he’d asked her if she wanted him to make her come. Oh yeah, she wanted to come now. His hot breath tickled her pussy. Anticipation roared through her. Electric sensations zapped into her as his tongue swiped between her folds and licked right up along her clit and off. He did it again, this time with a firmer pressure. Her hips jerked in response. She creamed. He chuckled and drew his head away. Damn him! She trembled as he reached up and grabbed one of the several metal appendages. He brought one down toward her pussy. She tensed when she saw the clear cone on the end. “This suction cup will be placed over here,” he whispered in a thick, lusty voice. He brought the arm closer and arrowed it between her legs. To her surprise, a sweet, anticipating heaviness erupted deep inside her. She tensed yet again as the edges of the cone firmly covered her entire pussy. “This knob here locks the extension in place, and when the suction turns on the fit will be even tighter. This way, you will be able to move and gyrate your hips as you wish, enjoying the pleasure without loosening the cone.” Oh sweet mercy. And she’d thought this machine fantasy of his wasn’t going to be too intense. How wrong she’d been. She was already panting after a couple of licks from him. How would she be able to endure twenty-four hours of this? Her trembling increased as the machine whirred. She gasped as the cone slipped even tighter against her skin and swirling warm air brushed seductively against her clit. It swiftly turned into some sort of electrical pulse that had her clenching her fists at the intoxicating reaction zipping through her pussy. Oh no! She pushed her feet against the stirrups as her thighs quickly tensed with arousal.
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He studied her reaction and she couldn’t help but close her eyes and melt into the pleasure the suction cup caused. He chuckled in a raw and tormented way. She opened her eyes and he reached for another metal arm. He brought it down and she couldn’t help but moan again at the small dildo strapped to the end. “This dildo will be inserted in your ass.” Oh my goodness! “It’s already lubed internally and all I have to do is…” She stiffened as the warm head of the dildo nestled against her sphincter. He turned a switch and a whirring followed. A second later the dildo began moving slowly back and forth, about half an inch at a time. Wonderful heat and lube smeared against her hole, and a moment later it slipped inside about an inch. She writhed at the tender invasion. “The machine will register when your ass is ready to accept a deeper penetration.” She really should tell him he was crazy having her hooked up to these gadgets but, have mercy, she didn’t want to be released. She moaned softly as the dildo began a quicker, slightly deeper thrust. Her ass clenched eagerly around the sweet little intrusion. Oh yes. Very nice! He suddenly stood and stared down at her. His eyelids were dropping, compliments of what the dildo and suction cups were doing. He looked intense and possessed a very sensual smile as he finally lifted his gaze to study her. Her insides shimmered as he spoke, his voice so lust-drenched, she swore it sifted right into her bloodstream and turned her on even more. “How do you feel, warrior woman?” he asked. The suction cup picked that particular moment to pulse more forcefully and she couldn’t help but shudder and arch her hips as her muscles tightened, making her cry out at the pleasure spasms that raced through her pussy and ass. He grinned. “I will accept that as your answer.” Her excitement increased as he strolled over to her left side. She licked her lips as her gaze dropped to where he stroked his heavy, swollen shaft. The thick veins weaving through his cock appeared even larger as his blood raged. Precum glistened on the slit of his cock head. He twisted his sac with his other hand and a need for him to fuck her lashed her body. When he stopped touching himself and reached for yet another mechanical arm—this one with a smaller suction cone similar to the one pulsing over her pussy— her breath stopped in her throat. He said nothing as he brought the cone over her left nipple and pressed the button. The machine whirred and she moaned at the powerful pressure as the grip tightened. Several tiny air fingers were suddenly wrapping around her tender nipple. She gasped as they pinched and twisted and lapped. 149
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Heavenly. He moved yet another mechanical arm, this one with the same suction cup as the first, and within seconds had it attached to her right nipple. Fingers twisted and tweaked and brushed, the erotic sensations making her whimper and curse him at the same time sensual bolts shimmered through her entire body. The air fingers licked and sucked until her nipples became quite erect and red beneath the cones. Tremors sizzled through her entire body like lightning, and she couldn’t help but writhe and buck as the toys between her thighs and attached to her breasts made pleasure rush through her. “The machine is designed to keep you perched on the edge of climax. All you have to do is beg me, warrior woman, and I can take you and make you come. If I wish to, that is.” Oh no! Her entire body suddenly begged for a quick, fantastic release. But she couldn’t bring her mind to surrender to him. Not yet anyway. She was tougher than this. She could hold out against this pristine enjoyment. And even if she did beg him, he may not bring her release. She would have to hold out as long as possible. Her curiosity about what he would do next won out. “Give it your best shot,” she whispered between clenched teeth, then bucked as the dildo dipped into her ass just a little more, stretching her taut muscles with an abundance of lube. The cone over her pussy began to simulate a man’s tongue descending into her vagina. It slid against her G-spot, making her gasp as it massaged her sensitive area in tight circles. Within seconds she was fighting to keep herself from panting. Oh my! She was nicely hot and needy. He chuckled knowingly and stepped to her head. “I’m going to move you now, but don’t worry. The mechanisms will follow along with us so you will continue to be pleasured. She swallowed and blew out an edgy breath as he moved the headrest along with her upper body down toward the floor. Her chest and shoulders were much lower than her hips and legs and he was able to step over her and position his pelvic area right above her neck. His face was flushed and his eyes glittered black with lust as he gazed at her. “Make love to me, warrior woman. Make love to my cock. Make me beg you.” Shock showered her senses and brutal hunger raged within her. Make him beg? How? She was stuck here. Her body splayed out to him like some sensual offering, toys making love to her erogenous zones. She could barely keep her mind from shutting down, let alone make him beg.
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He clamped one hand around the base of his engorged shaft and groaned as he pressed his cock against her mouth. She eagerly opened wide, accepting him. He slipped in a few inches. Oh! Hot, steel-hard, swollen flesh. “That’s right. Fuck my cock with your sweet, tight mouth,” he groaned and began a gentle thrust. She tightened her lips around his cock and his face changed from one of torture to exquisite bliss. Using her tongue as her weapon of choice, she grinned inwardly as she caressed and stroked the under part of his shaft every time he withdrew and entered. Appreciation shone on his face. Yes, she could make him beg this way. She would make him beg even though her entire body was now poised on the edge of climax. Only her plan seemed to be backfiring as she twirled her tongue along his shaft and scraped her sharp teeth against the elevated scars that were woven within the web of veins. Every time he moaned, the animal growl was an aphrodisiac slipping into her bloodstream, raging through her system. It seemed as if that damned machine knew Blackie’s erotic moans were turning her on, because the cups on her nipples went crazy, licking and tweaking and stroking. The suction over her pussy increased and the air tongue caressing her G-spot increased its pressure. Not to mention the dildo in her ass was pulsing and lubing and diving deeper and deeper with every thrust. Ripples of desire shifted low in her belly and zipped a line into her ass. Her nipples were an erotic mess as bristly air tongues lapped her tender flesh. Sweet mercy! Was she infected with Passion Poison too? He groaned hoarsely and she tightened her mouth around his quickening thrusts. He moved faster, his thick and swollen cock plunging with fiery speed. She could barely see him through the sensual haze but, from the ecstasy raging across his face and the erratic way his cock jerked in her mouth, he was close to orgasm. She moaned, indicating her need for release, but he was lost in his enjoyment. Her body was wrapped in his erotic groans. Captured by the pleasure of those toys. But there was one way to get his attention. And she wasn’t going to beg. She stopped sucking. He snarled and opened his dazed eyes. He looked down at her, his mouth twisted in a frown. She grinned around his cock. Now they were equal. He licked his lips…and then he smiled. Passion Poison or no Passion Poison, she’d won. “I beg you, female. Make me come.” For a split second, she almost nodded. Almost. But then she shook her head. 151
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“Warrior woman, you do not wish to play this with me at this time,” he growled. He withdrew his cock from her mouth. “Fuck me, my warrior man. Or we both suffer,” she whispered in a voice laced with arousal and defiance. Wow, she’d never been like this before. The need for release was driving her nuts. He growled again, this time a louder, wilder moan that sent her blood boiling with greater need. She gasped as he brought the headrest upward slowly, to where it had been earlier, and whimpered her thanks as he stalked around her to stand between her thighs. His engorged cock looked so thick and swollen. He wouldn’t last and she was grateful she could bring a man such as Blackie to do her bidding in the end. In a matter of seconds he had the succulent, air suction cup off her pussy and they both cried out as his thick cock head plunged into her slick, trembling vagina. Victory! He didn’t waste time. He pumped into her like a demon. And she loved it. The combination of the nipple suction, the anal probe and Blackie’s desperate thrusts was exactly what she needed to send her over the edge. Into heaven. They fucked like wild animals for many hours, taking turns with the machine, making each other beg until they were both so spent they ended spooned together in one of the narrow beds in the spaceship. His hot body kept her backside nice and toasty and a peace she’d never experienced before hugged her. She wanted to stay here forever. She probably could too. They had the replicator for food and other supplies. They had the spaceship for shelter and she had Blackie. That was all she needed. More than twenty-four hours had passed and Blackie was still alive, still breathing, so what she’d learned from those Yellow Hair virgins had been true. A twenty-fourhour sex marathon was the cure for Passion Poison. Too funny. Behind her, Blackie stirred and then his face nuzzled against her neck. The stubble of his beard sparked some heavy-duty friction against her tender flesh. “You’re a fantastic lover, Blackie. But you need a shave. You’ve even given me pussy burn from all those times you took me with that magical mouth of yours.” He chuckled against her neck, the laughter rich and musical. Without warning, he moved his arm around her waist, pulling her until she rolled onto her back. He took her mouth in such a wickedly erotic kiss, she was gasping for air by the time they were finished. “Wow, you kiss great too,” she whispered, trying to find her voice. “Compliments will get you everywhere, warrior woman,” he said as his arm around her waist squeezed gently. “Are the storms still here?” he asked. “It is slowing down a little.” “Then we must talk.” 152
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A sliver of panic shifted through her at the determination in his voice. Suddenly she wasn’t so peaceful anymore. “About?” she asked hesitantly. “How do you know about this replicator? Only the Queens and High Queens know of technologies. Are you one of them? Or are you truly the Goddess of Freedom, the female who knows all?” She? She knew all? She wanted to laugh at his question, but it was time to tell him the truth. Time to tell him she really knew nothing at all. “I can’t remember anything before I woke up, after you found me near those Fever Swamps,” she confessed. His sharp inhalation and the way he tensed reassured her she’d done a pretty good job of keeping her secret. “I do not understand. You say your name is Kinley. How do you know this?” “My bracelet. See?” She held up her arm to show him the metal bracelet on her wrist. “I was never educated to read. What does this say?” He brushed his fingers along the engraved words. He couldn’t read? That seemed odd, but it did seem everything she was experiencing was odd anyway. “It says I am allergic to bee stings and that my name is Kinley Hero.” “Hero? This was the name of the female with Jarod. The female who looks exactly like you. Piper Hero.” She’d forgotten about that other woman who looked like her. Forgotten about everything except saving Blackie. “I fear I will lose you if I take you to her,” he said. “You know where she is?” “I know of where these Hero men and their women live, yes. I suspect Jarod will be bringing this Piper woman to them. I came upon their village a long time ago during my explorations, when they were first there. I did not show myself or they would have left.” “Why would they have left?” She grinned and stroked his shadowed face. “Were they afraid of you? You do look dangerous and deadly cute.” “They have a right to fear anyone who is with the Death Valley Boys. The Boys would kill the males and any babies and take the females for their slaves.” “Would you kill males and babies?” She didn’t think he would. How could he? He was a wild, sexual man who just wanted someone to love him. Or at least that’s what she could see. A man full of hurt at being treated badly by women. A man who wanted his own chance at love.
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“I have killed males. I did so in self-defense. I would not harm a child and would stop any killing of one if I could.” She could tell by the pride in his voice he was bragging. She liked it when he bragged. It just proved that beneath his dangerous, tough exterior lay a cute, gentle teddy bear if given the chance. They lay quietly for a while before he spoke again. “Will I lose you if I take you to them? You were defiant enough with me when I captured you and wished to make you mine. I fear they will take you away from me and you will go with them.” Gosh, he really was being vulnerable and serious here, wasn’t he? Maybe she didn’t even want him to take her to this place. But she needed to find out her true identity. To find out why she didn’t want to know who she really was. Maybe she was a bad person. Maybe she had this memory loss problem because she was a nasty person with an evil personality. Kinley stared at her bracelet. No, she wasn’t evil. She’d been hit on the head and had forgotten her identity. She needed to get it back. At the very least she should go and meet these people. “No one will take me away from you, Blackie. I may not know who I am or why I know all about how this spaceship works, but I do know that I don’t do anything I don’t want to do. You should know me by now. You should know the minute you put that collar around my neck, I belonged to you.” He grinned, his dark eyes glistening with excitement. “Ah, I realized you wished to submit.” “I don’t want to be away from you. Ever.” “Such strong words from such an independent woman.” “I know what I want, Blackie, and I want you.” He leaned closer and his lips brushed erotically against hers, leaving her craving more kisses. “And I wish you, Kinley Hero.” “Then it’s settled. We stay together. No matter what. And I mean that quite literally.” She laughed as she moved out from beneath his heavy arm and climbed on top of him. Inhaling sharply, she guided his heavy, stiff shaft into her pussy and began a slow rocking motion. “Together, forever,” he said and groaned as she began to ride him hard. “Forever,” she agreed. And truly meant it.
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Chapter Thirteen The water appeared like a dark gray mirror as they paddled through the neverending swamp and Kayla didn’t dare take longer than a few seconds of breaks from paddling. It was way too creepy in here to be hanging around. Everything looked the same. One after another almost identical fat, warped tree trunks passed by them. Darkgreen strands of moss dangled from the twisted branches of huge, towering cypress trees, and she wished they had stayed back at the small cabin. But they hadn’t. After making love yesterday morning they’d fallen asleep and upon awakening they’d both been more refreshed than ever before. They’d gone in search of the boat Taylor had mentioned being hidden somewhere nearby and found it. It was a birch bark two-man kayak and blades of excitement had wrapped around her, knowing she would see her brothers and hopefully Piper soon, and then they could set out to look for Kinley. After making sure the boat was water-worthy by taking it out for a short spin along the river, Taylor had caught some more fish, cooked them and they’d eaten the fresh delicacy with the dried fruit from the baskets in the cabin. Night had fallen swiftly and, after another round of hot, fantastic sex, they’d slept soundly in each other’s arms. Morning had come way too quickly, the hot, golden sunshine streaming into the cabin waking them. Their adventure into this horridly endless swamp had started soon after and the eerie scenery was making goose bumps pop up all over her bare arms and legs. “How long before we get there?” she asked for what must have been the hundredth time. She just couldn’t help her curiosity. Not to mention she couldn’t wait to have that butt plug out and Taylor thrusting into her. The erotic plug was playing havoc with her senses and every time she so much as squirmed, it reminded her of what Taylor had in mind for her. From behind her, he chuckled. “We have tonight to ourselves and perhaps another night. We will see.” “And…“ She wanted to ask if he would take her plug out tonight, but just couldn’t bring herself to do it. “And it’s going to keep looking like this?” She grimaced at the monotonous array of stumps and trees. “It is a big area.” “Is the water safe to drink?” “This water is not as the Fever Swamps. You will not crave release if you drink from this water. However, I do not wish you to. That is why we have this bucket full of the river water.”
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Yeah, yeah, she knew that. She just wanted to make sure she wasn’t going to end up like some feral out-of control female who needed to mate with this guy all the time. Not that she didn’t want to have sex with her sexy Tarzan again. She did. Oh boy, did she. Maybe that Fever Swamp water stuff was still humming along in her system because she wanted more hot and fantastic orgasms from the guy. She glared at the creepy scenery. But she wanted out of here more. Dipping the carved wooden oar into the water, she began to paddle harder. She wanted out of this place and she wanted out now.
***** Taylor could not stop smiling as he gazed upon Kayla’s beautiful back. He could tell by the frown in her voice she did not like this place. Truth be told, neither did he. But it was the fastest route to travel to find the Hero brothers. Upon arriving at the shelter, he had been afraid that perhaps Jarod had been through there and taken the only boat. He’d been relieved when they found it. It made him wonder where Jarod and Piper were. The Death Valley Boys had mentioned the couple had been in Death Valley, but someone had aided their escape. Who could it have been? He had his suspicions. There were a handful of Boys who were sympathetic to the plight of the females and they had opted to remain in Death Valley in order to change things from the inside out. At the way the females back at the tree house had been treated, Taylor could see that idea had not worked well at all. He focused his attention back on Kayla. Her dark-yellow hair glistened over her shoulders in the golden rays of the early afternoon sunshine. Luscious, tanned muscles moved in her upper arms as she continued to paddle. She was a strong female given how fast she made the boat speed. Taylor’s grin widened. She would be weary tonight, but he had plans for the female. He could hardly wait.
***** “You’re a very beautiful, enticing woman,” Taylor whispered through the darkness, snapping Kayla out of her worries for her siblings. She and Taylor sat across from each other at the tiny campfire they’d made on a small island in the horrid swamp. Until now, she’d been shivering with unease at how creepy the trees looked in the spooky moonlight, but the erotic tone of his voice turned her shivers into sensual tremors and anticipation raced into her bloodstream. She found herself gazing into his eyes. Eyes that spoke of arousal and excitement. Her? Beautiful? Enticing?
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No man had called her beautiful before. She’d been called pretty, cute and maybe even adorable by the handful of guys she’d dated, but definitely not beautiful. And to tell the truth, she really liked being called beautiful and enticing. “You’re pretty handsome yourself,” she replied, loving the reflection of the fire flickering in his eyes. “I wish to take you now,” he breathed. Oh wow. Take me, Tarzan. She was very aware of him as he stood. He was a tall guy and, as he strode around the fire toward her, his limp returned. But that was forgotten when her gaze dropped to the nice erection pushing boldly against his loincloth. When he reached out his hand to her, her fingers melted into his hot grip. He helped her to her feet and suddenly he was the only thing that existed in the world. Gosh, how did that all work? One minute she was perfectly normal and worrying about her siblings, and the next she just wanted to lose herself in the arousals of sex with her Tarzan hunk. “I want you to take me, Taylor. Take me any way you want,” she whispered. Her voice was husky and guttural. She swore she’d never been so sensual before. Desire flared in his eyes as she gave him her permission. His need to take her in the way no man had ever taken her echoed inside her. An overwhelming need to touch him had her reaching out and caressing those raised scars. He inhaled sharply as she ran her fingers over the crisscrossed welts. She leaned closer, bending her head, kissing the wide expanse of his chest, loving the downy hairs as they tingled against her lips. Her mouth whispered over his flesh and for a moment she was sorry for the pain he had endured beneath the whippings. “This reminds me of the night before I left you to go to the tree shelter to see who was there,” he said softly. “You did this same thing with your fingers. Your sexy touch over my scars. It aroused me. That night I had wished to take you right then and there,” he whispered, his fingers squeezing hers. Kayla shuddered as she remembered that night and lifted her head to gaze into his eyes again. He looked so serious her heart ached for him. “I was so scared for you that night, Taylor. I thought I would never see you again,” she confessed. His eyes twinkled in the moonlight with a wicked fierceness that gave her the indication she was the only woman in the world and her heart did some mighty nice flips. “Seeing you again is what made me keep walking,” he said. “It is what kept me from crawling beneath a tree and just lying there. I have no doubt I would have perished if not for my wanting to see you again. To take you again. You saved my life.”
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Tears pricked her eyes. Just the thought of not having him in her life made her breath catch. He lifted a hand and, with his calloused fingers, tenderly brushed away a stray tear that ran down her left cheek. Gosh, but he was so gentle when he touched her. He smiled and brushed his fingers across her trembling lips. “When the sun comes up again, I will bring you to your clan. I wish for us to remain together after that.” His saying they would be together seemed so right. She nodded. “I think that can be arranged, Taylor. I think we can remain joined every night too.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him and he chuckled, apparently catching her meaning. He let go of her hand and slid his breechclout over his hips. She gasped as his immense erection burst free. Suddenly, she was desperate to have his flesh against hers. She ached to have him inside her. Slipping her skirt over her hips, she dropped the filmy cloth to the ground and stepped out of it. And when she looked back up, he took her in a fierce kiss that sent her senses tumbling into a sensual whirlwind. To steady herself, she clutched his arms and his well-built muscles rippled beneath her fingers. Such strength in those arms. Such power in his kiss. When he broke the succulent kiss, they were both breathing heavily. “Turn around, over there by the large rock. Place your hands on it. I wish to take you from behind.” The raw animalistic command made her heart hammer and Kayla swallowed as nervousness shifted aside her arousal. She walked over to the rock he’d indicated. Small sticks snapped beneath his bare feet and his breaths were heavy in the darkness as he approached from behind. “Hands on the rock. Spread your legs.” She did as instructed, lust bursting inside of her like a dam. This position reminded her of that first time he’d had sex with her. He did seem to enjoy taking her that way, didn’t he? She grinned and waited anxiously. For several tense seconds he remained silent. Just as she was about to turn around, her eyes flew open in surprise and she tensed as hot air blew against her pussy. Taylor chuckled…from beneath her! She gasped as his mouth melted against her labia lips and he pulled her flesh into his hot mouth. Oh wow! This was awesome. His hands smoothed over her thighs and he held her tight, preventing her from moving. His teeth took part in the action too, skimming almost painfully along the length of her pussy lips, and then he let go, leaving behind a trail of exquisite fire. He moved his face ever so slightly, and she jerked as his tongue lapped up along her vaginal opening and settled on a maddeningly erotic lashing against her sensitive clit. She moaned softly as her vagina clenched. Her cream slid down her channel and he 158
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slurped it into his mouth. Then he returned to arousing her clit, whipping against it like a fiery flame. Gosh, she loved the erotic trembles that shimmered then burst to life throughout her body. She curled her hands into fists on the rock, stifling her moans as her pussy strained against his face. She cried out her frustration as he suddenly broke the intimate seduction. “Your taste is the best of any female I have had,” he whispered against her pussy, and then he drove his face against her again. Huh! Any female? Well, at least this time at the mention of other females she didn’t experience jealousy. He belonged to her. No matter what, and that made all the difference. She jerked as he lapped at her clit. Moaned as his face pressed harder into her pussy. Her thighs quivered and her legs went rubbery with delightful weakness as he continued his sensual assault. Within seconds, he had her panting and writhing against his tight hold. With one hand he let go of her thigh and at the same time moved his face away from her pussy. She held her breath as he slowly slid the plug from her. The pressure disappearing from her body left her with an emptiness she ached to have filled by him. A moment later, he dipped his fingers into the little box of lube he’d made. Her heart began to beat faster as he pressed a finger against her sphincter. His finger slid inside her, the cool smoothness of the lube stroking her tense muscles, and she moaned her appreciation at being filled again. While his lubed finger explored her back end, excitement zipped through her as he pressed his face against her pussy, his tongue thrusting against her clit like a miniature cock. The man certainly knew what he was doing because she was moaning and gyrating her hips as more cream flowed down her channel and into his greedy mouth. She gave a strangled cry and bucked against him, wanting more pressure and more pleasure. He withdrew his finger and moved his face away, leaving her gasping and wanting. He inserted two lubed fingers into her ass. The soothing lube was a welcome relief, but when his hot mouth fused over her pussy and his tongue dipped into her vagina, she twisted into the ecstasy. Impatience made her grind her pussy into his face and he began a hard tongue plunge into her vagina. The two fingers in her ass began an accompanying stroke that had her craving a deeper penetration back there. He inserted three lubed fingers and the bite of pleasure-pain stretched into her. This time when his mouth slipped over her pussy his teeth began a torturous nibbling against her clit and the sweet bite rocked her entire being. Without warning, she bucked and jerked, her body trembling as an orgasm snowballed through her in a fierce explosion.
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She gyrated wildly against his face, loving the carnal shudders that ripped through her body, enjoying the spasms rocking deep inside her vagina. As her anal muscles tightly gripped Taylor’s quickly plunging fingers, she gasped in awe at the intoxicating bite. He withdrew his fingers and while she whimpered at the loss, Taylor scrambled from between her legs. His firm hands settled onto her hips and she couldn’t stop the strangled cry of relief and need for him as the tip of his cock head slipped into her ass. She’d gotten used to the plug, but the velvety hot feel of Taylor’s cock stretching her tender muscles and thrusting into her was something she’d never experienced before. The awesome pressure had her gasping with shocked disbelief and need. Exquisite heat from his cock sank deep inside of her and he groaned as her muscles longingly gripped his thick, long shaft. Oh she could get used to this hot invasion. For sure. The shock of his cock sliding into her ass had pushed aside her orgasm, and as he thrust in and out of her, pleasure shifted back through her again, building and building, but her orgasm seemed just out of reach. She moaned in frustration and Taylor chuckled. Before she could curse at him, his hand left her hip, slipped around to her belly and lowered right between her thighs. While he fucked her ass, he began a quick, beautiful, circular massage on her clit and within seconds, she twisted into another magnificent climax. Breathing harshly, she eagerly accepted the sensual rush that raced through her body. Yeah, she needed this loving. Loved it. Craved it. Wanted it. Suddenly she had the idea she’d met her soul mate and Kayla sensed that everything was going to be okay from here on out.
***** The next morning, Kayla awoke to a blazing sun that splashed over her in such a hot fury, she couldn’t help but moan at the stickiness against her skin. To her surprise, she discovered Taylor had thrown the hair blanket over her. Odd gesture, because the humidity had returned thick and heavy and having a blanket on top of her warm body wasn’t something she wanted. What she did want, however, was Taylor. When she reached out from beneath the blanket to grab him for a quick morning fuck, her hand came upon empty air. He must have gone for a swim. She opened her eyes. Suddenly, a shadowy silhouette hovered right in front of her, blocking the sunshine. “Taylor?” she asked as she blinked and tried to clear the sleepiness from her eyes. Whoever was standing over her was not Taylor. This silhouette was different. He was a very tall man. A stranger.
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Clad only in a loincloth, he had long, black hair parted in the middle and wore a black patch like a pirate over one eye, a jagged, half-moon scar coming out from beneath the patch. The other eye was intense blue and he glared down at her with curiosity. Paralyzing fear ripped into her like a knife as she stared up at him. “Kayla.” A familiar voice she immediately recognized as Piper split her momentary terror, and before Kayla knew what was happening, her petite sister was crouching down beside her. Piper was wearing one of their brothers’ t-shirts. The white shirt with NASA blazed in navy blue across the chest reached Piper’s knees, dwarfing her petite body. Her sister’s face and twinkling green eyes sent relief splashing through Kayla. “Oh man, I’m dreaming you, aren’t I?” Kayla breathed as she struggled to keep the blanket on her body as she sat up. Piper almost knocked her right back down as she thrust her arms around Kayla and hugged her so fiercely that, for a moment, Kayla thought surely she had to be dreaming. “No, I’m here. It’s me.” Piper laughed as she drew away from Kayla. Tears rolled down her flushed face and she quickly brushed them aside. Wow, it was really good to see her sister again. Considering the short time they’d been separated, Piper looked quite different. She had a healthy, tanned glow to her skin and her eyes twinkled with something Kayla had never seen there before. Was it love? “Your…um…guy friend…went for medical supplies,” Piper said, breaking into Kayla’s thoughts. “He said he knew where to get some without too much trouble. He was going to raid some village.” Anger rushed through Kayla as she surveyed her surroundings. The swamp still looked creepy and she couldn’t stop the cold shiver of fear for Taylor’s safety. “Medical supplies? You let him go alone? He’s just coming off a serious injury.” “Taylor can take care of himself,” pirate eye patch said. His coolness at the situation made her even more furious. Piper came to the man’s rescue before Kayla could tell him off. “He asked us not to wake you until he had left. He said you wouldn’t have let him go.” “He’s right. I wouldn’t have. How long ago did he leave?” “Half an hour at least.” “You will never catch him. He paddles quickly,” the guy broke in. Gosh, but he was a tall one, wasn’t he? And his body was covered in raised welts and scars just like Taylor’s. Jarod. This guy must be Jarod. The fellow Taylor had mentioned was with Piper. “He got that right. I’m going to kill him when he comes back.”
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If he comes back. Damned asshole! Piper’s voice took on a serious tone. “We need your help, Kayla. Joe’s woman, Dr. Annie, has gone into labor and the baby isn’t coming out.” Kayla’s thoughts went into a confused whirl. Joe’s woman? Dr. Annie? Was giving birth? What in the world? “We’re so glad Jarod saw the fire last night. He was on lookout and we waited until it was daylight before coming to investigate. Come, please hurry. You must know what to do.” Me? She was a veterinarian, for crying out loud. Kayla gazed around the campsite for her clothes as anxiety zipped through her. Some strange woman was in a troubled labor and Piper thought she could help? Oh dear. “Here.” The one-eyed giant thrust her flimsy clothing in front of her face and she suddenly realized she couldn’t change in front of this guy. Nor could she wear seethrough items around her brothers. “Jarod, turn around while she gets dressed,” Piper instructed. He did as she asked and Piper winked at Kayla, a smile on her face. Piper had trained this guy well, hadn’t she? “The blanket should cover everything,” Piper said as she helped Kayla dress. “I’ll get you some proper clothes when we get back to the village. Oh my gosh, everyone is going to be so happy to see you safe.” “Kinley? Is she there?” The happiness on Piper’s face caved and Kayla’s gut hollowed out as if she were on a runaway elevator. “No sign of her.” Oh no. Where the heck was Kinley?
***** Taylor had three men glaring at him as if they wanted to kill him. He suspected they would have too had his friend Jarod not intervened when he entered their camp with medical supplies needed for the woman in troubled labor. “Do you think Miss Annie will be okay?” he asked Jarod as the two of them stood at the outskirts of the small village where the three Hero brothers and their women lived. “I think you arrived just in time, but it took you long enough to bring the missing female named Kayla to her brothers.” Taylor shifted uneasily as his face flamed. “We were sidetracked because of my wound and the storms,” he admitted. 162
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Jarod gazed at him with his one eye, his curious stare dropping to the bandage Kayla had washed and then rewrapped around Taylor’s waist to keep the wound clean. His friend pursed his lips thoughtfully and looked smug. “Hmmm… It does appear as if she did a good job in nursing you back to health.” “What makes you think she cares? Women do not care for males,” Taylor snapped. He did not appreciate the self-satisfied smile on Jarod’s face. It irritated him. “The Hero women are different. At least Piper is.” “As is Kayla,” Taylor admitted, not wanting Jarod to think badly of Kayla. “Did you two enjoy each other?” There was no fooling Jarod, according to the knowing smirk on his face. He knew exactly what had happened between Taylor and the woman. “We did.” Jarod smiled and slapped Taylor on his back, hard enough to make him grimace from the pain. “This is good. We each have found our mates.” “Mates?” Taylor did not understand. “As with the rabbits, the birds and the flies. Joined. Just for each other and no one else.” Taylor smiled as happiness bubbled inside him. “Yes, Kayla and I are mates.” He liked that word. A moment later, the squall of a crying babe ripped through the air and Taylor sighed in relief. Jarod nodded toward the hut where two of the three brothers stood staring at them. “She has delivered,” he said. “Come. Let us go and see if it is a boy or a girl. And then we will celebrate.” Jarod stepped forward then stopped when Taylor didn’t follow. He tracked Taylor’s gaze to the Hero brothers. “Do not let them frighten you. As Piper says, their bark is worse than their bite.” “Another term I do not understand,” Taylor admitted. “They are a protective breed, these men from Earth. They do not wish any harm to come to their sisters or their mated women.” Taylor brightened. “Then we have something in common. I do not wish any harm to come to Kayla.” This time when Jarod began walking toward the brothers, Taylor did not hesitate. He understood now. He would protect Kayla as much as her brothers. And he would fight them fiercely, if need be, to show them she belonged to him.
*****
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Annie’s childbirth had been a difficult one. The baby was a breech and a bit too big to come out. Thankfully Annie was a doctor and, through her gasps and grunts of pain, she instructed Piper and Kayla on what needed to be done. A couple of small incisions in the right area and the baby popped out quite nicely. “Gosh, I’m so glad we found Kayla when we did,” Piper chuckled to Annie as Kayla wrapped up the cleaned baby and gave him to his mother. Perspiration dotted Annie’s forehead and her curly auburn hair dangled with moisture as she accepted her newborn. In the way her soft blue eyes twinkled with love, Kayla suddenly ached to have a child of her own. With Taylor. Their brother Joe grinned happily as he tucked a finger beneath his newborn son’s little chin. The baby’s pouting pink lips turned upward in a smile and his tiny fingers curled into fists. “He acts like his mamma, doesn’t he? Defiant and cute at the same time.” Joe winked at Annie, who smiled warmly back at him. Kayla’s heart burst with a fluttering she found to be really neat. Her brother was in love and never looked happier. Heck, all her brothers had never looked happier. Upon arriving at the village, she’d barely been able to hug them all before being pushed into this hut to tend to the anxious mother-to-be. She’d wanted to remind everyone she was a veterinary student and wasn’t qualified to practice on humans, but she was the only chance that Annie had and so she’d set to work. “Thanks so much, Kayla,” Joe said. He pried himself away from his baby and embraced Kayla in a bear hug that almost had her passing out he squeezed so tightly. “All in a day’s work, big brother,” she replied as he finally let go. He was beaming so brightly she was surprised his ear-to-ear smile didn’t hurt. “Hey! When can we come in and see the baby? Is everything okay?” Ben’s cry came from outside the hut. Other voices echoed his concern. “Everything is fine,” Kayla called back as Joe hugged Piper. “Give us a few more minutes and then only two come in at a time,” Joe said quietly as he let Piper go. “I don’t want the kid to be scared with so many faces coming at him all at once.” “Will do,” Kayla replied. She waved to Piper to follow. When they stepped into the bright sunshine, questions bombarded them. Piper and Kayla answered as best they could. Yes, Annie and the baby were fine. Yes, it was a difficult birth, but there didn’t appear to be any lingering problems. Yes, Joe and Annie were very happy. “And it’s a boy. Another Hero to add to the family,” Kayla gushed. “Speaking of another member of the family, is there someone new in the picture for you, Kayla?” Jacey, the woman Kayla’s brother Ben had hooked up with, asked as she pointed into the crowd.
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Suddenly, everyone grew silent and the crowd parted to where Taylor stood, studying Kayla intensely. “Taylor,” she whispered as he threw her a sheepish smile. He didn’t come any closer and Kayla suspected he was hanging back because he was intimidated by her overprotective brothers. They certainly had scared away a couple of guys who had been interested in dating her through high school. But they hadn’t scared this one totally away it appeared. She ignored everyone’s surprised gasps and strolled toward Taylor, took him by the hand and pulled him away from the crowd toward the area where the boats had been pulled up along the riverbank. “Kayla, where the hell are you going?” Buck called out, a chuckle of amusement in his voice. “I’m going on my honeymoon!” Kayla shouted back. “It’s dangerous out there!” Ben snarled. “There’s another storm coming. Don’t stray too far!” Jarod hollered. More concerns were voiced, but she ignored all their warnings as she continued to lead Taylor into the woods toward the river. “Honeymoon?” Taylor questioned as, moments later, they found a quiet, sandy spot to sit near the river, out of sight from the occupants of the village. “It’s when we spend time getting to know one another. Intimately.” He moaned softly as she palmed his clothed, thick member. Holding his heavy erection in her hands, she leaned against him and took his mouth hard and fast, her lips melting over his in a desperate need to show him how much she’d missed him. When she’d woken up after that wild night of sex to discover he’d left, she’d been furiously angry. She’d also been angry at him for leaving without saying goodbye. Despite Jarod’s reassurances that Taylor knew what he was doing and wouldn’t get caught, fear had crawled inside her, pushing away her anger. She’d kept voicing her concerns as Jarod and Piper had paddled her through the creepy swamp and up along the river toward the village where they said her brothers lived. She swore if Taylor hadn’t taken their boat, she would have paddled right after him. But now that his arms were sliding around her waist, all her fears, anxieties and anger slipped away. He kissed her, nice and hungry, giving just as hard as she gave. When they both became breathless, he pulled away. “I like this honeymoon. I wish more.” Taylor chuckled, but then he tensed. His eyes narrowed as he looked down the river. Kayla followed his gaze, but nothing was there. The intent way he stared unnerved her. “What is it?” “Someone comes,” he whispered. “What? I don’t see anyone.” “It looks as if our honeymoon is over before it began.” 165
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He was deadly serious. He pointed to where the river disappeared around a bend about a half mile away. “There, coming around the bend. Two figures.” From that distance, a man and a woman’s silhouettes caught her eye. The man appeared to be naked from the waist up and as heavily muscled as Taylor. Although she couldn’t make out the woman’s face, there was familiarity in her petite profile. “Go, warn Jarod and your brothers there may be trouble. Tell him Blackie is coming.” “Blackie?” “Go. Now!” Taylor snapped as he hauled her to her feet. His sudden burst of anger had Kayla spinning around and running back up the embankment. Everyone had already disappeared. Laughter came from Joe and Annie’s hut and Kayla figured another couple had gone in to visit. “What are you doing back so soon?” Buck chuckled as he came out of a nearby hut. “Where’s Jarod? Taylor says there’s trouble. Someone named Blackie is arriving.” Concern flooded Buck’s face. “Blackie? Isn’t he one of the Death Valley Boys?” Oh sweet mercy! The Death Valley Boys had followed them here? How could that be possible? “Where is he?” a woman named Virgin asked as she suddenly appeared from behind a nearby shelter. “In a canoe. With a woman. Heading this way.” “Okay, we need to sound the alarm,” Buck said. He started toward some wooden structure in the middle of the square that housed what looked like a bunch of wind chimes when the chimes began clanging. Jarod had appeared out of nowhere and was beating a stick against the chimes. He must have already seen the intruders approaching. Within seconds everyone appeared in their doorways, carrying makeshift weapons such as spears, and a couple of her brothers had guns. “This is not a drill. Take your places,” Jarod called. “Kayla! Come with me!” Piper ran up to Kayla and tried to grab her hand, but Kayla pulled away and began heading back to the river and Taylor. She would not leave him alone down there without a weapon. “Taylor needs protection!” she shouted and, within seconds, a gun was thrust in her face. Jarod followed her. “Get this gun to him and then get him back here. Now! He doesn’t know the drill and he could be a liability.” Kayla nodded, accepting the heavy weapon. Her heart thundered as she jogged down toward the river. Whoever this man Blackie was she would not be afraid of him. Especially if he was a member of the Death Valley Boys. He should be ashamed of 166
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himself, treating women the way he did. And if this Blackie fellow had arrived with whom she thought he was with, then she needed to be there. Fear raced through her as she ran. Curses followed her from the village. She assumed they were from her brothers and were directed at her for leaving, but hey, she had a mind of her own. As she picked her way through the trees and the sudden overwhelming silence in front of her, she wondered why the others were so afraid of only one man. That is, unless he was a scout? And there were tons more coming in canoes behind him? Shit. Up ahead near the river came the voices of two men and a woman. Kayla’s heart slammed against her chest as she recognized the woman’s voice. She ran faster then burst through the tree line and stopped abruptly as she almost crashed into the tall, hard body of a man. “Kinley?” she asked. The woman who stood beside the black-haired man appeared to be her sister, yet she didn’t. She seemed different. She was quite nicely tanned. She wore her hair differently than usual, all wavy and with a bad blonde color job. She looked wild yet very sexy, wearing sandals, a pair of tan shorts and a dark blue shirt that had a NASA emblem emblazoned on it. But there was something about her eyes when she gazed at Kayla. There was no recognition or happiness to see that Kayla was alive. Kayla’s gut knotted in anxiety. Kinley was staring at her as if she were some stranger. “Kinley? Where have you been?” she said as softly as she could. She sensed she should tiptoe around Kinley as if she were on eggshells, but then suddenly she didn’t care. She threw her arms around her sister and to her horror, Kinley stiffened against her. She loosened her hold, gave Kinley a gentle squeeze and forced herself to move a bit away, but she held tight to Kinley’s hands, holding her at arm’s length. “What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you happy to see me?” “I’m sorry, but what’s your name?”
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Chapter Fourteen Kinley was very uncomfortable over the whole bunch of eyes studying her every move as she helped Blackie set up a tent the Hero brothers had given them. The Hero brothers? They said she was their sister, but she didn’t remember them. In the way they’d looked at her with such concern, it almost broke her heart. That she was hurting them because of her memory loss was almost killing her. “Are you all right? You are very quiet,” Blackie said as he pounded a tent peg into the soft ground. Worry laced his dark eyes as he studied her. Oh great, now he was concerned too. She hated that everybody was fussing like this. “I feel like I want to get out of here,” she admitted as anxiety raced through her like a bullet. “I want to run away and keep running and not remember who I am.” His brows furrowed into a frown. “If another storm weren’t coming, then I would whisk you away without hesitation and we could return to the spaceship, rebuild the fucking machine and you could replicate more of this sexy clothing you currently wear. But it is dangerous. As you could see by the flickering white lights in the sky last night, we will need shelter tonight and perhaps for the next several days.” He pounded another steel peg into the ground and pulled the tent straighter and tighter. The muscles in his arms bunched so perfectly she had to inhale a breath at how much power he had over her. Holding her down. Stripping off her shorts. Impaling her. She blew out a tense breath and swept her gaze toward the other huts. Most of the people continued watching them. Watching her. Worry creased their faces and, once again, she didn’t like the fact that everybody was making such a big deal over her memory loss. The instant she’d stepped off the canoe and onto land, the woman named Kayla had practically knocked her off her feet with a fierce hug. She’d been so excited to see Kinley that Kinley had been frightened by the happiness and relief on the woman’s face. Devastation had flooded Kayla’s eyes and guilt had slammed into Kinley like a sledgehammer. She wished she could remember Kayla but she didn’t. Even the man named Taylor had looked at her funny, as if he’d seen or knew her. Taylor had appeared extremely tense until Blackie reassured him they had come alone and in peace. Blackie said he was here to return Kinley and he would stay with her. Taylor had led them into their tiny village of hide houses and told the others that Blackie would wait out the storms with them. The fact he was remaining didn’t sit well with the others. They’d brandished weapons at Blackie, making Kinley very uneasy.
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Unfortunately her unease had only skyrocketed when several people she did not know seemed to know her quite well. Yet she couldn’t fathom one name or place their faces. These people knew her. They wanted her to remember them and she had read the disappointment in their gazes when she admitted she had amnesia. Even the woman who was supposed to be her twin…what was her name? Piper? Yeah, Piper…especially her. She’d been quite upset at Kinley for traveling with Blackie, saying Blackie treated woman badly. She’d seen the intense signals passing between Blackie, Piper and this man who wore a black patch over one eye. They’d shared something, but she hadn’t had a chance yet to ask what. “This hide house appears to be very sturdy and waterproof. It will serve us well,” Blackie said as he pounded another peg. “I wish they would stop looking at me,” she blurted. “You are beautiful. What’s not to look at?” Blackie whispered, a sensual smile tilting his lips, but the smile dropped away when she didn’t return one. “Perhaps you should speak with them? Or with Dr. Annie as they suggested earlier?” Dr. Annie. She hadn’t met that woman yet. They’d told her she was Joe’s bride or mate or whatever these women were calling themselves. She had to admit the village of small huts did look quaint. The houses were well-hidden beneath the lush foliage of tall trees. The same type of creepy trees with those long spooky strands of brown moss that dangled from thick branches. She hadn’t liked the trek through the swamp because of those trees. At least being surrounded with cute, little houses gave those trees a less ominous look. The shelters were strewn just behind the tree line and a meadow was everyone’s front yard. In the middle of the meadow was a wooden structure with wind chimes that apparently was the alarm bell for intruders. Beside that stood one large, stone fireplace with an iron pot hanging over a smokeless fire. The people all looked healthy and happy. The children were all young. Four in total. There were toddlers, maybe two years of age. One was older, perhaps four. But Kinley wasn’t good at guessing ages. The children looked to be almost euphoric in the way they wobbled on their chubby legs and tried to chase each other in tag games and hide and seek. Every once in a while someone would admonish a child, telling him or her to keep it down with the noise and not to stray from the meadow. For the most part, the children listened. But hey, kids were kids and sometimes they forgot the rules. Forgot the rules… Those words echoed in her mind, giving her a sense of uneasiness. Another flash of her whimpering and slaps of flesh against flesh. Panic and terror ripped through her and she automatically blocked out the moans and grunts. No, she didn’t want to go there. Didn’t want to remember what it meant. “Kinley?” 169
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She blinked and snapped back to reality to find Blackie suddenly missing and a woman with a newborn cradled in her arms. “I’m Annie. Your brother Joe’s mate. I heard you were injured during the crash. Your sisters mentioned you’d been knocked unconscious. Blackie said you had suffered a blow to your head and you are experiencing memory loss. I’d like to examine you.” Kinley frowned at the chick’s forward attitude. “Sorry, but I don’t need an examination. I’m fine.” She grabbed the final tent peg, cursing Blackie for leaving her here alone with this woman, and started to pound the peg into the ground. Kinley would ignore her. Hopefully the chick would get the message and leave. Where the hell was Blackie anyway? A quick scan of her surroundings and she couldn’t see him. The slice of panic she’d just experienced with that flashback rocked through her again. Had he left her here? Abandoned her? “Blackie is speaking with the males. Something about a replicator and reproducing parts for the spaceship that crashed into the Fever Swamps.” How did this chick know she was looking for him anyway? Was she that transparent? That needy? “Blackie said you had a blackout. That you tune out briefly sometimes. Like you did now. What were you thinking just now?” Annie asked in a soft voice that almost unraveled Kinley. Emotions, thick, raw and hurtful, swelled in Kinley’s chest. “I don’t want to talk about it. Please leave me alone.” “You don’t wish to remember? Is that it? I saw a look of horror flash on your face. There’s something holding you back from remembering.” “I said leave me alone.” God, what was with this woman? Her insistence really annoyed Kinley. “Maybe you’re hungry. People always get into a bad mood when they’re hungry.” Anger slammed through her and Kinley looked up with full intentions of telling the woman to get lost once and for all, but Annie’s sweet smile warmed her insides. The chick understood her problem and she was giving Kinley an “out” with eating. She didn’t seem as persistent as Kinley had first thought. Good. That’s what she needed. Space. And time. “Would you like me to bring over some food? Or maybe you’d prefer to join us at the tables beneath the trees?” Annie pointed to a long line of picnic tables at the far end of the meadow. Food was being brought there by the women. The men were seating themselves, Blackie right along with them. He seemed to be making himself at home quite nicely, didn’t he?
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At the sight of their happy faces and the sounds of their cheerful chatter, something shifted inside Kinley’s heart. It only lasted a split second, but for that brief period of time, a tingle of unbelievable happiness and sense of belonging and security had chased away her unease. It was instantly dashed, leaving her more jittery than ever. Shit. She wanted that sense of belonging back. But the other stuff, the darkness she’d been fighting, the shit she’d been suppressing would come too. She had no doubt about it. The baby in Annie’s arms gurgled and out from the blankets popped the tiniest, cutest arms Kinley had ever seen. “Little Joe is hungry too.” Annie laughed. “Would it be okay if maybe I got us some food and we could eat here together? I can nurse him. We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. And you could hold Little Joe for me for a couple of minutes. I would so love for someone to babysit him even for such a short time. I could pretend I’m on vacation.” Annie laughed again. “Amazing I can even think something like that when he was just born this morning.” This morning? Kinley blinked in stunned disbelief. And the woman was out of bed and wandering around already? The baby’s fists curled together in defiance and the kid let out an annoyed cry. Annie swayed him gently back and forth in her arms. “Little Joe is my nephew?” Annie nodded. Jeez. She was an aunt. Hell, she was an aunt many times over from the looks of those toddlers running around the meadow. Standing, Kinley accepted the blanket-wrapped baby into her arms and the warmth from his cuddly body sifted against her. When she met Little Joe’s soft blue gaze, all the breath escaped her lungs and brought along a wave of lightheadedness unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. “Are you all right?” Annie’s concerned voice echoed from somewhere far off and Kinley was suddenly in some long tunnel. The baby was being taken from her arms and an immense loss shifted through her. An emptiness. Shame. You forgot the rules, Kinley. A man’s voice. Far away. Dizziness assaulted her. Her limbs grew heavy. “Never leave your drink unattended, baby.” Something black and horrible slithered though those words. Then there were faces. Several men. A couple she recognized from university. The others…she had no idea who they were. “If you forget the rules, then you pay the consequences, Kin.”
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She was on a bed. How had she gotten onto a bed? She couldn’t remember. Panic sliced into her, deep and hard. She wanted to move but everything was so heavy. A man at the side of the bed was chuckling as he gazed down at her. “You’re a nice piece of ass, Hero. Just like the boys said.” “What?” she tried to speak. No words formed. Only a pathetic moan. She tried to cover herself. Oh my God, she was naked. She couldn’t move! Drugged? Helpless, she lay there. The door opened and the man who’d just been there exited. Men’s laughter echoed from behind the door, and then two of them came into the room. The door closed. Oh God. “She won’t remember much of anything. She’ll think she’s hungover from all that drinking,” one man said. “The beauty of the date rape drug, huh?” Another chuckled. “Keeps them off balance. You don’t have anything to worry about. Just use the condoms on the table. That way there’s no evidence. Enjoy. Oh and put the money in the jar over there.” Money? What? Did they think she was a hooker? The man stuffed some bills into the glass jar then left. The other one turned to her and began to undress. His leering smile made her stomach clench with a horrible sickness. “No need for condoms, heh, sweets? I like my young women skin-to-skin.” She cringed as he palmed her breast and squeezed until pain made her moan. She began crying as he climbed on top of her. He was too heavy. Get off! Get off! The man grinned as she gasped. “Forgot the rules, eh sweetie? Lots of you young ones do that. Lucky for me, heh?” She cried out as he sank into her. “Get off me! Get off me!” she screamed. Hands were on her. Holding her arms. They wouldn’t get off her! “Get off!” Panic spiraled. Fear sawed through her so deep it hurt. They kept holding her arms. “Let me go! Don’t touch me!” Oh God. Help me. “Kinley! Kinley! It’s me! It’s Blackie. You’re safe! You’re safe!” Something painful slapped her right cheek. It snapped the terror from her body and suddenly the men were gone. The darkness and the horrible betrayal and the awful
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shame shifted to the back of her mind. But it stayed there, hovering, threatening to return if she wasn’t careful. Blackie was in front of her. He was the one holding her arms. Anguish raged in his eyes. “You are safe,” he said softly. He smiled and Kinley blew out a tense breath. She was shaking. She couldn’t stop shaking. “I forgot the rules,” she whispered as she stared at him. “I forgot the rules.” Puzzlement creased his face, but then she was in his arms. He embraced her and held her tightly as she began sobbing into his broad shoulder. The men. They were gone. But so was her baby.
***** “Oh my God, Kinley. Why didn’t you tell us? You should have told us,” Kayla quietly said as the three of them—Piper, Kayla and Kinley—lay in the hide shelter beneath their blankets. “I was ashamed,” she admitted. Despite sobbing in Blackie’s arms for, like, forever, being here, lying beside her two sisters made her feel the safest she’d been in a long time. It was dark now. Late. The village was silent. Everyone had gone to bed. “We wouldn’t think badly of you because of what happened. It wasn’t your fault. It was theirs. What they did was criminal. You should have pressed charges. From what you’ve said, they’ll do it again,” Piper said as she reached over and caressed Kinley’s cheek. Kinley remembered who she was now. With the memories of the gang rape back on Earth at her university dorm, everything else had come flooding back. Her wonderful, tight-knit family. The devastating news of her brothers being unable to return to Earth. How she and her sisters had dropped their studies in order to train for a top-secret mission to Paradise in order to bring their brothers’ asses home. She remembered the good things in her life as well as the bad. The spaceship crashing into the swamps. The horrible solitude she’d endured following the rape by not telling anyone what had happened to her. It had been wrong for her to work it out on her own. She’d needed support. “I know that now. I should have done what you said. But after it happened…and everything that happened after…the abortion. I was so confused. I shut down. Blocked it out. Wanted the baby gone. Everything. The memories. Gone.” “You need counseling, Kinley. You need it because you haven’t fully dealt with the rape and the abortion,” Kayla said softly. Reaching out, she took Kinley’s hand into hers and held tight. “And above all, you have to realize none of it was your fault,” Piper chimed in.
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“But I forgot the rules. I left my drink unattended. They dropped something in and I paid. I got raped,” Kinley whispered. Thankfully though, emotion didn’t clog her throat as it once did. Now that things were out in the open, she was better. But she also realized she had a long way to go before she could fully heal. “No, you still are not at fault.” Piper reached out and took Kinley’s other hand in hers. “They were only saying that to pass the blame on to you. So they could make it your fault. So they wouldn’t have to take the responsibility for their actions. Don’t you see that?” “I was totally defenseless. I couldn’t do a thing to stop them. I blacked out so many times I have no idea how many there were. I didn’t go to the hospital like I should have. I didn’t ask for a rape kit. I didn’t turn them in. I didn’t ask for a morning-after pill to get rid of…” A wave of sadness hit her. She’d gotten rid of an innocent baby. That’s what really hurt. Guilt slammed into her. “I shouldn’t have had the abortion. I shouldn’t have gone back to classes and pretended nothing was wrong.” Gosh, there were so many things she should have done differently, but she’d panicked and dealt with things the best way she’d known how. Both her sisters’ hands tightened around hers. “You did what you needed to do at the time to survive, Kinley,” Kayla soothed. “I should have come to you guys. I should have known you would understand and guide me. I did everything wrong. And me, taking criminal courses. I wanted to be a crime scene investigator. God, I should have known better. I know how to report things. Why didn’t I do what I knew was the right thing to do?” Silence greeted her. She was hoping her sisters had answers for her. They didn’t. Or maybe she had the answer already? She had done what she’d needed to do at the time to survive. Just like Kayla had said. Despite knowing that, the memories still hurt. They hurt like hell.
***** “She had the eyes,” Blackie whispered as a rage of black anger clutched his soul. “The minute she remembered, I saw what she had been trying to forget in her eyes.” “I know. I saw it too,” Taylor replied from beside him. They sat in the darkness by the riverbank. White lights flashed far in the distance. The lights that indicated more storms. “In Death Valley I tried not to let the captive women of the Boys trouble me. I wanted to be strong for the females. To remain emotionless so I could focus on change. I didn’t care how slow it was going to be. I just knew their conditions would eventually alter. For the better. I had hoped.”
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Taylor remained silent. He and Jarod had been good males to the female captives. They had been laughed at by the other males. Their lives threatened because of their compassion. They’d fled the Valley because they had not agreed with the Boys. Blackie had stayed. Not because he had agreed with the Boys’ tactics, but because of his hope for change. In all the time he had stayed, he had forced himself to ignore the sour pit in his stomach whenever he saw their eyes. The haunted looks. Wounded. Fear. Hurt. Pain. Those emotions had all been in Kinley’s eyes tonight. At first, he hadn’t realized it was her screaming. Then he’d seen the slave Doctor Annie grab her baby from Kinley. Kinley’s face had been contorted in anguish, her screams so gut-wrenching that terror shot through him like an arrow. He could not remember going to her side. But he had experienced how hard she’d struggled when he’d grabbed her flailing arms as he’d tried to soothe her. And he’d seen the devastation and despair roaring in her eyes. He’d seen similar looks on women following the Slave Uprising and the ones who were forced to live in Death Valley. He’d known exactly why she did not wish to remember. He ached so badly for her, his stomach knotted as if he had been punched over and over again. “She is strong. She will heal,” Taylor soothed. Yes, she may heal. But would he?
***** “This replicator is a gold mine, Kinley,” Joe commented as he yanked out a handful of special metal screws he’d programmed the replicator to produce. Kinley’s heart swelled with warmth at the excitement reverberating from Kayla and Piper as they’d accompanied her and Joe, Taylor and Blackie back to the Statue of Liberty and down to the crash site of the spaceship Blackie had taken her to days ago. During the stormy days that had followed her violent memory recall, she and her five siblings had taken refuge in one of the huts and outlined a plan on repairing the derelict ship near the Statue of Liberty. By analyzing everything Kinley and Blackie remembered, and from what Piper, Kayla and Kinley had reported about their crash, they’d decided the older ship would be an easier repair job, plus it was much closer to them. They had begun a list of items they would need to program into the replicator in order to start the repairs. The ship was, according to Joe, an older model, but was also twice the size of the newer streamlined ships, like the one she and her sisters had arrived in. They would also need to build new sleep stasis beds for each individual. It would be a tight fit for all of them, but they would be asleep for most of the journey back home anyway so getting on each other’s nerves would be minimal.
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From the information Jacey, Ben’s mate, had given them about the computer viruses layered through the atmosphere—as well as the disintegration layers surrounding Paradise and the drones that patrolled certain areas over the land—they would have to build some pretty heavy-duty antivirus programs and strong deflector shields to protect the ship. According to the computer models, thanks to the ship’s computers they’d been able to repair, it would be a rocky ride away from the planet. But all indications proved they would be able to make an escape safely. It would be a monumental task to get everything together to repair this ship, but achievable. As Kinley backed out of the broken hull of the ship, she caught Blackie’s gaze. They’d been so busy with the plans she hadn’t spoken to him about her memory recall regarding her rape back on Earth. But he knew. She could see in his eyes that he knew what had happened to her. Anger, pain and other emotions she couldn’t put a name to flared briefly in his eyes before he concealed them. He was a guarded man with his emotions, but she was the opposite. At least she had been carefree…until she’d been attacked by those men. She needed to make sure she didn’t fall back into the pattern of withdrawal and mistrust of all men she met. She would have to seek counseling when she returned to Earth. In the meantime, there were other things that needed to be done. Like helping to rebuild this spaceship in order for them to get home. There was something else she needed to know too. Did Blackie still want her?
***** Over the past few days, Blackie hadn’t been able to get Kinley out of his mind. Anger over his helplessness to make her feel better and confusion as to why he cared so much for this female kept him awake at night. Tonight though, he’d come down to the river to reflect on what he should do next. Stay here with Kinley? Or return to the Death Valley Boys and try to change things? He’d cared for other females, but not as much as this one. It frustrated him that he allowed her so much control over him. It annoyed him that the decision to return to Death Valley was not as easy as it would have been before meeting Kinley Hero. Awareness melted over him as the unique, sweet, sensual scent that belonged only to Kinley drifted through the air. He recognized the soft pattern of her approaching footsteps in the darkness and it took all his energy to force himself to remain seated. The only thing he wanted was to stand and grab her and kiss her and tell her that he wanted to be her male. “Blackie, can we talk?” Her soft voice shot out of the darkness like a velvet bullet. He said nothing as she paused. She sighed in anguish and his heart cracked. “Sit,” he ordered. His heart began to pound insanely against his chest as puzzlement slammed through him. If she wished for them to part, then he would leave.
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First though, he would allow her to speak, and then he would retaliate with his own words why they should remain together. “Are you coming with us?” she asked after she sat down beside him. His fears only increased. She wished for him to follow her to another world. But what if after they arrived, she decided she no longer wished him to be with her? Where would he go then? What would he do? He had never had these insecurities before. He had always known what he wanted to do with his free life. But now, things were very different. “What do you wish for me to do?” he asked. Yes, he was insane. Once he became a free male, he had sworn he would never allow a female to tell him what to do. Now he was doing it all over again. Yet with this female, it seemed right to ask. “I won’t go if you don’t want to leave. That is, if you still wanted me to be with you, I would stay here with you.” He swung his head to stare at her as excitement that she would want to stay behind with him flooded his heart. Perhaps his insecurities were untrue? As he looked at her, she smiled at him, her sweet lips curled upward, and his heart went warm and happy. She looked beautiful in the white splash of the light from the moon above. Her hair was neatly pinned on top of her head and she had a few sweet curls dangling along the sides of her face. She wore a light cloth that clung to her wickedly erotic curves and he grew hard despite knowing he should give her time with her newfound memories. Give her time to sort out the problem of what had happened to her in the past. If they stayed here, she would be in danger. With the Death Valley Boys’ plans to explore the entire Outer Limits, everyone was in danger. “I will go with you. If there is room. And if you wish it.” “I wish it, Blackie. I really wish it,” she whispered. He caught the excitement lacing her voice and the heat sparking in her eyes. To his surprise, she leaned against him. He inhaled sharply at the soft touch of her breast against his shoulder and the tender breeze of her mouth as she kissed his cheek. Before he could react and grab her and kiss her on the mouth, she stood. “I’m glad, Blackie. I will make the arrangements.” And then she disappeared into the darkness, leaving Blackie aching so badly for her he wondered if he would ever be his normal self again.
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“What do you think she said to him?” Taylor breathed before he sucked her earlobe into his mouth. Her entire body tingled at the sweet and tender way his teeth nibbled her flesh. Gosh, this man sure did know how to treat a woman. “She was asking him if he was going to come along with us to Earth,” she replied softly. “What do you think his answer was?” he asked as he let go of her lobe and sensuously rubbed his bearded cheek against hers, sparking erotic friction against her sensitive skin. Kayla giggled at his innocence. Was he for real? Had he not noticed the sparks flying between Kinley and Blackie? “Have you seen the way they look at each other when the other thinks he or she isn’t watching?” He moaned as she rubbed her face against his. “The same way we look at each other?” he asked. He got it. She grinned. “Yeah.” “Good. Then Blackie will be a very happy male. Just as I am. I am sure everyone here will accept him and forgive his past as they have done with Jarod and myself.” “Things will work out for them, you’ll see. Just like things have worked out for everybody.” “And for us too.” She turned her face in his and eagerly accepted his mouth as he slid his lips against hers. Yeah, everything was going to work out just fine.
***** Four weeks later… There was an odd buzzing in Kinley’s ears. The noise unsettled her. For a split second she wanted to slam her hand down on the snooze button, but when her palm hit something smooth, solid and cool, it dawned on her she didn’t have an alarm clock on Paradise. The odd realization snapped through her sleep, prodding her awake. Opening her eyes, she blinked at the dryness that made her eyelids stick. She blinked several more times, trying to orient her thoughts. Suddenly her eyes opened and a room rolled into focus. A warm fuzzy sensation she really liked melted through her and she remembered how happy everyone had been when they’d boarded the newly constructed spacecraft. They’d checked and rechecked everything with the computers. The life support systems, thrusters, computers, replicators and stasis pods. Everything had worked to perfection. They had agreed to pick straws as to who would be allowed to awaken first
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once they entered their solar system and, to her excitement, she’d picked the shortest straw. And so here she was. Waking first. But boy, her limbs were a bit rusty as she slowly moved her arms and legs. Being asleep for a year does that. She wished she could move faster because she really wanted to see Blackie again, but the first few minutes after awakening were the toughest. It was crucial she move slowly in order to allow her body to adjust, so she exercised her arms and legs while staring up at the ceiling through the plastic encasing of the sleep pod. She reached for the button that would allow her to get out, but something seemed terribly wrong. She was not in the spaceship they’d re-created. She was back in the spaceship she and Kayla and Piper had arrived on Paradise in. Correct that. She was in the spaceship they had crashed into the Fever Swamps. And the spaceship looked totally intact. As if nothing had ever happened. As if they had never crashed. What the frig? Unease rumbled through her like a rolling earthquake and she hesitated, pressing the open button for the pod. What was going on here? Cripes! In her groggy state of reawakening, she hadn’t realized the buzzing alarm had stopped or what it had meant. Her heart started pounding way too fast and waves of lightheadedness made her surroundings swirl. Okay don’t panic, girl. Something isn’t right here. Suddenly she got the sense she’d been through this scenario before. Not just once, but many times. Awakening to an alarm. Smoke. And right on cue she saw a thin spiral of gray smoke that would signify the ship’s systems were failing. The computer started wailing warnings. Her gut reaction was to get them all out of their sleep pods. But she hesitated. This time she wouldn’t panic. How could she? She knew exactly what was supposed to happen next. Taking a deep breath, she moved her finger off the escape button. Instead, she pressed another button. A tiny screen slid along the top of the pod right over her head, about two feet from her face. It flickered on. She tensed at the sight. Floating in space were several other spaceships. There were no stars normally associated with space travel. Only total blackness, except for eight other spaceships that seemed to glow golden-white from some unseen light source. Her tummy hollowed out. She knew what was happening. Kinley swore violently and closed her eyes as understanding sliced through her. Somehow during their sleep stasis, their spaceship had been tugged or somehow wandered into one of the many wormholes that littered this quadrant of the galaxy.
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When they had all entered the rebuilt spaceship, they’d gone to sleep wearing sleep clothing. She was naked. Just as she had been before the crash. This wasn’t the recreated spaceship. This was the original one she’d arrived in. If she didn’t push the “open” button and get out of this pod, then the spaceship may not crash. Her sisters wouldn’t meet their hunky guys. She wouldn’t find her brothers. Shit! If she was right, then she could break this cycle of whatever the hell was causing them to repeat time over and over again. Who knew how long they’d been stuck in this vortex—if that’s what it was. They could have been stranded here for years for all she knew. Her gut clenched with anguish. What was she supposed to do?
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Chapter Fifteen Something was wrong. Blackie knew it the instant he opened his eyes. He’d been trying to awaken for quite some time, but he kept wanting to drift back to sleep. Back to dreamland. Back to her. Oh man, such hot, fucking, sex dreams he’d had. Dreams of fucking Kinley over and over again. Of having his cock plunging in and out of her succulent mouth. Her silky, plump lips melting over his hard length, her mouth wrapped tightly around his cock. The things she did to his cock and balls with that lethally beautiful tongue of hers. She made him so hard he could come over and over again. Could fuck her like this forever. Yeah, forever… An odd buzzing snapped through his fantasy. Shit! He’d somehow drifted off again. This time he forced himself to open his eyes and keep them open. His stomach rolled into a sickening knot. Something was wrong. He wasn’t in the sleep pod they’d put him in. The metal on the beams holding the plastic wasn’t the same color. The lighting in here was different. From what he could see, the rest of the spaceship looked altered. And he wasn’t some sex slave who’d been pleasuring women for years. His name was Josh Black. Captain Josh Black of the United States spaceship Raider. His crew called him Blackie for short. His heart began hammering at the conflicting thoughts. Why did he think he was a sex slave? He was a captain of a spaceship, for crying out loud. They’d been sent to an unexplored part of the Section Four Quadrant when something had happened. He searched his memory, struggling for something he should know, but came up empty. His mind whirled and he bit back the swirl of panic. Okay. Stay cool, Blackie. Stay cool. He forced himself to take several deep, steadying breaths and his thoughts began to gather. Kinley. Had she been a figment of his imagination? He swallowed back another round of panic. Was he in love with a woman who didn’t exist? Holy hell, if she wasn’t real then he’d rather sink back into Paradise and let himself believe she was real. Closing his eyes, he fought back an overwhelming loss. It lodged thick in his chest. Could he survive this devastation? The odd buzzing that had awakened him from sleep stasis was the intruder alert alarm. He peered at the mini-com support screen that gave him a quick view of all life support and defense systems on the spaceship. He sharply inhaled. Someone had breached security and boarded his ship. Yet everyone on board was helpless as they lay sleeping in their pods.
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He tensed as a shadow appeared just outside his pod. Held his breath. The silhouette looked familiar. “Kinley?” he whispered. He blinked as a hand reached out of the shadows of the darkness and a feminine palm pressed against the plastic enclosure just above his face. He recognized the bracelet with her name on it. His heart soared. A moment later when she came into view, her sweet face looked down at him with the most awesome smile. He couldn’t help but laugh in relief. He didn’t know what the hell was going on, but as long as Kinley was here, alive and healthy, he really didn’t care. Behind her, shadows moved. Lights flickered on and suddenly the enclosure of his pod slid open. Her sweet, sexy scent attacked him and he sat up. Her arms swept around him and she hugged him so tight his ribs ached. “Ben thinks everything we experienced was a dream. Just a dream,” she whispered against his ear. A dream? What the hell? “It appears as if we all got pulled into some sort of a wormhole,” Ben Hero said from somewhere behind Kinley. “See the spaceships out there? Sensors show all the occupants of the ships are in sleep stasis. From what we can deduce, the wormhole screws with the dream centers of our brains.” Okay, so maybe he was dreaming now? How could he tell what was real and what was fantasy? “After your crew gives us the information on their fantasies, I’m sure it will confirm what Ben suspects. Then we can talk privately,” Kinley said as she pulled away from him and stood. She was grinning at him like a Cheshire cat who’d just caught the canary. “Maybe you’d better get dressed. I know how much you love to sleep in the nude.” She winked and then drifted off to meet her siblings, who were busy deactivating the other five sleep pods belonging to his crew. Heat warmed his face. If everything that had happened had been a dream, then Kinley knew some of his darkest fantasies. And if what Ben was saying was true, that would mean he and Kinley hadn’t had physical sex with each other. Shit, he could only imagine how intense the real thing would be.
***** Kayla couldn’t keep her eyes off Taylor. Correct that. She couldn’t keep her eyes off Lt. Brian Taylor. Brian. Hmmm…nice name. Nice ass in tight, white space pants too.
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He stood at the console, inputting the latest data coordinates that would hopefully enable them to unlock their respective spaceships from the wormhole that had ensnared them. They’d debated whether to try to break the several other ships free, but in the end the vote had been unanimous. They didn’t know what type of entity they were dealing with. More studies needed to be done and it would be too risky to go deeper into the anomaly to rescue other ships trapped there. They had to get out of here before they got sucked back in. Not that she minded going back to all that delicious sex with Taylor. “Hey, beautiful. Thinking about us?” Kayla blinked as Taylor suddenly stood in front of her. She’d been so deep in thought she hadn’t realized he’d caught her daydreaming. Her cheeks heated and he laughed. “Just because everything might have been a dream, don’t think you’re off the hook, Hero. I still have the hots for you and the minute we’re alone we’re going to be making love like there’s no tomorrow.” He winked and walked away, quickly returning to his position at the console. “Looking forward to it,” she whispered beneath her breath, all tingly and warm. She really didn’t have a reason to be shy with him. Nothing had changed regarding her love for him, especially after everything they’d been through—whether it had been real or fantasy. She still wanted him like crazy. Wanted him in her life and in her bed. Besides, he knew so much about her. Boy did he ever. Her thoughts turned to the many sexcapades they’d had and suddenly her body was humming. She was eager. Needy. Yes, he was right. Nothing had changed between the two of them. The attraction was still there. Strong and powerful. Without a doubt, the two of them would be okay. She smiled. Heck, they’d be more than okay. They would be fantastic!
***** “Blackie, someone is hailing us on the translation communication line,” Jacey White, his communications expert, said from her console. Blackie tensed and everyone suddenly fell silent, their eyes on him for guidance. He nodded. “Put them through.” He held his breath as the line crackled with static. “Visual on three,” Lt. Virginia Blakely said. Everyone turned to the main screen where an array of colorful lights similar to a rainbow splashed across the display. The colors began to dance and melt together into fantastic kaleidoscopes as a breathy female voice spoke. “We apologize for taking so long to contact you. We were learning your language while you were in what you call the wormhole.”
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“This is Captain Josh Black of the United States spaceship Raider. May I ask whom I am addressing?” Blackie asked. “Our names do not translate into your language. Our apologies.” “From which of the captured ships are you hailing us?” he asked. “Captured?” There was a slight hesitation and the kaleidoscope of lights slowed into the rainbow again. Silence ensued for several seconds before the lights began to dance in wild colorful patterns Blackie found oddly soothing. “We are living in the area you call the wormhole. We are everywhere here.” Blackie frowned. These were the aliens holding the ships? “We understand your fear now,” she said softly, almost tenderly. “No one is being harmed. We wish to thank you for your help.” “And how have we helped you?” “We use your brain’s energy to help us reproduce. To mate.” Sharp inhalations and soft curses echoed from everybody who’d gathered around the screen to watch the array of lights. He should tell them not to look. The lights could be some sort of trick, but no matter how hard he tried to turn away and tell the others to do the same, he just couldn’t. The lights were fantastic and seemed to seep right into his soul, relaxing and reassuring him there was nothing to fear. “Excuse me?” he managed to mumble, trying to get across to this woman that he didn’t quite understand. The colors floated into the rainbow pattern again. Silence followed. “Can you explain further? We do not understand,” Blackie prodded. The lights did their dance. “When we detect an alien existence passing through our territory, we hold the ships and use energy from the brains of the aliens. The parts that produce sexual excitement, and thus we harvest that energy for our own sexual needs.” Oh. “So you create sexual fantasies and feed off this energy?” Blackie asked. “Yes, but only if the aliens are a match.” “A match?” “We test everyone’s sexual chemistry to make the best matches. These produce the best and highest energy for us to harvest.” “Kind of like a dating service.” Jarod chuckled from beside him. Blackie elbowed him into remaining quiet. This was a serious matter. “How long were we held? How were you able to send a spaceship back to Earth and target a specific family?” Piper Hero asked. “Our brothers were here at least two years, being held against their will. That’s kidnapping on our planet and you could be brought up on charges.” Blackie grinned. Kinley’s twin did have just as much spark and fire as Kinley.
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The colors flickered even more wildly, obviously picking up on Piper’s anger. “Your time on Earth and our time here are on different planes. We were able to harvest information from the Hero brothers and realized the ‘family bond’, as you call it, is so strong in them that we could use it to lure more humans here without a danger to us. We are the ones who sent an exact spaceship replica belonging to the Hero brothers back to Earth, with a message telling Earth to stay away from the fictional planet Paradise. We worded the messages through the Hero brothers due to the aforementioned strong family bond, in hopes more humans would come out of concern for their safety. And they did. Another ship did arrive with their sisters.” Cripes. This anomaly could be a hell of a danger to the human race if these aliens could send such messages and material items back to Earth. “The occupants on this last spaceship have been here a very short period of time,” she said. “As we incorporated our understanding of your Earth time we have been able to produce a much quicker timeline to get what we need before releasing you back on your way. The females from the last Earth spaceship have been in your ‘wormhole’ only several hours in comparison to our time in weeks, enhanced in your brain.” Snare. Seduce. Release. How in hell was he going to explain to this alien force that what they are doing was wrong, no matter how much time was enhanced in their brains? “We had a temporary malfunction. We were disconnected when the human called Kinley awakened and was able to break our bond with her. Everyone connected in her dream state, in turn, awakened also. We need everybody to fall asleep again so we can erase the sexual bonds created, and then you are free to go. You will not remember what happened. Or this conversation. Or that we even exist. We have done this to many humans and other life forms who have used this wormhole and we have not encountered any trouble in our ways.” Trouble? He’d give her plenty of trouble. Erase the sexual bonds they created? His gaze flew to Kinley, who was standing beside him and frowning at the colorful array on the screen. Everyone else appeared as tense as hell, their gazes also glued to the screen. “These sexual bonds you’ve created. They’re not real? They are artificial?” he asked. Jesus. This was definitely rocking his world. How the hell could he not be in love with Kinley? He wanted her. He would fight anyone, including this bitch if she dared to tell him he wasn’t in love with Kinley. “Ah, I sense human curiosity in your question. Curiosity is an admirable trait.” Blackie clenched his fist at the underlying amusement in her sultry voice. He didn’t dare look at Kinley again, or at the others. Didn’t want to see the devastation he, himself, experienced in their eyes. “I also detect your impatience for my answer,” the alien purred.
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Under her breath, Jacey called the alien a bitch. He understood her hostility over the way they’d been duped but threw her a stern gaze to remain silent. “As I said earlier, we can only work with bonds. We latch onto the sexual chemistry that already exists between the matches and give an added push that speeds up the process.” “So, what? You’re saying what we have between us…is real? That if we met on Earth we would be highly attracted to each other as quickly as what we experienced in our…dream states?” Kinley asked. Hope seared her voice and excitement flared across her face. He hated that Kinley had used the word “dream”, because what they’d experienced was real, not a dream. “That is correct,” the alien replied. “Then why disconnect it? If it is already there, why not leave what little you have created?” No reply came from the alien. The swirling colors flatlined instead of curving into a rainbow. Had Kinley’s question somehow puzzled them? “I mean if what you say is the truth, our love for each other would have happened anyway,” she said. “The sexual chemistry, the attraction, or as you call it the bond, is already there and it would have happened along the way if we’d met under different circumstances, am I right?” The alien remained quiet. The colors still flatlined. “So you’ve actually done us a favor, right?” Kinley asked. By the intense way her eyes sparkled, she was immensely excited about what the alien was saying. “You’ve shaved years off for us, right? The way I see it you’ve helped us get straight to the point without going through the awkward dating stages, the fights we may have had along the way in getting to know each other. The love bond that was already there was nurtured by you. That is, unless you take it away from us. I mean all we need to do is fall asleep and then you’ll screw with our brains and have your way in erasing things. From your research, you know we can only stay awake for so long.” Kinley was right. They were sitting ducks here. All they had to do was fall asleep and the aliens would cut the ties. Urgency swept through him like a wave. The others milled around uncomfortably, apparently understanding the seriousness of this situation. Once they fell asleep, they would be at the aliens’ mercy. Again. “And if you take away what is already naturally there, how do you know we can get it back? There aren’t any guarantees that if you start tampering around and erasing things, you could do a lot more damage than you wish. You strike me as the type of creatures who want to keep us happy and sexually content, right?” The silence continued. But pride flooded through Blackie for Kinley, who was fighting to keep what they all shared. He wanted to let out a whoop of joy. But that
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would be inappropriate for a captain. Instead, he reached out and intertwined his fingers with hers and gave her a squeeze of encouragement. She gazed over at him and he winked. “You are the female Kinley.” “That’s right,” Kinley replied. She let go of Blackie’s hand and stepped closer to the screen. Her stance of defiance made Blackie smile. Kinley wanted to fight for them. For all of them. Gosh, she looked so beautiful when she was mad. “You were able to process an important issue while in our care. I hope we were able to assist you with your problem?” The alien’s voice had become soft and nurturing. The colors on the screen turned from beautiful to a dark, disturbing nature. Those colors must represent the alien’s emotions. Tears shone in Kinley’s eyes as she fought for control. He struggled to keep himself in check too. “I do thank you for helping me. I will seek additional therapy once I return home.” “The issue has not been resolved?” Kinley met Blackie’s gaze and nodded. “Sufficiently resolved, but I wish to follow up regarding what happened.” Silence for a few more seconds and the colors became bright and pleasant again. “If you wish for the problem to be eliminated, this can be arranged,” the voice said. Amazing. The aliens fucked with their brains without permission, yet they asked if something could be removed from her memory? Aliens were indeed very complicated creatures. “No, these memories are a part of me,” Kinley replied. “They are mine. I will keep them and deal with them.” “We understand. As to your questions. Yes, once your memories of each other and your experiences are removed, the bonds will naturally reestablish.” “I can’t speak for the others, but I prefer the bond I have with Blackie to remain in place,” Kinley softly said as she held his gaze. By the way she bit her bottom lip she was nervous about putting him on the spot like this. “I wish this as well,” Blackie acknowledged, wanting to put her at ease as quickly as possible. Kinley smiled her thanks. “And the others?” the alien asked. Kinley and Blackie gazed around the room at the others. Everyone nodded in agreement. “We are all fine the way we are,” Kinley replied. “Very well then. Your bonds will remain intact as you wish.” “What of the children we had?” Annie asked. Distress laced her voice and shone in the others’ faces. 187
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“These children do exist inside of you. Once you begin to mate, they will be born to you in the order they were here.” Wow. “What of the other ships? When will you let them go?” Ben Hero suddenly asked, breaking Blackie out of his thoughts of the kids. “They will remain safe. They are in various stages of their dream states and we are harvesting their sexual energy as we did with you. We will release them when we are completed.” “You realize what you are doing to them is wrong, don’t you?” Kayla Hero asked. “What you are doing is kidnapping people, forcing dreams upon them and using them for your own selfish needs.” Oh great. This is not the time to piss off an alien, Kayla. Blackie tried to grab eye contact with her, but she was intent with her focus on the screen. He wanted to order her to be quiet, but she had every right to fight for the other people being held in the aliens’ web of sensual dreams. The colorful array on the screen exploded into a magnificent starburst, making them all gasp at the beauty. Blackie swore shimmers of regret raced through him. It was as if he and the alien were somehow connected through the colors. “This part does not bode well with us, human Kayla. But it is the only way we can mate. We apologize, but it is what it is. When we determine a way to ask permission from the aliens transporting through here, then we will do so. But from our studies of humans, they wish their attractions to go through rituals of dating and the physical attraction that you mentioned previously. You are a stubborn, complicated race.” “I’m sure in your wise ways you can figure out how to get our permission in the future,” Kayla prodded. The colors danced in a way that made Blackie happy. The alien was trying to restrain Kayla’s anger through those colors and it was working. Her defiant stance seemed more subdued. These aliens had too much influence over them and they’d better get the hell out of here as fast as they could. NASA would have to be told, and hopefully they could figure out a way to neutralize the situation or come to some sort of agreement with the aliens about safe, unaffected passage through this wormhole. “At your request, we will continue to search for a way.” Kayla nodded. “Good. I thank you for that.” “There’s no changing your mind to let all the others go then?” Blackie broke in. “Interfering in their dream states could prove dangerous to us and to them. We do not wish to harm any life form. We need them healthy. We will release them when we have completed our mating.” Great. Just fucking great.
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He was about to ask the alien exactly how many of them were in this wormhole, but she interrupted his thoughts. “To ensure our continued safety, the coordinates to our existence in this part of your wormhole will be dissolved from all your spaceship’s logs. There is no negotiating on the matter.” The colorful array on the screen flickered and disappeared, leaving them with the view of the spaceships floating quietly in space. Blackie’s gut hollowed out in disappointment as he stared at the screen. The occupants of those ships would be on their own for now. He couldn’t afford to keep the rest of them here much longer. He didn’t even know if the aliens would keep their word and let them leave safely or if they were placating everyone and would attack them while they slept. A tinge of anxiety intermingled with a wave of impatience. They needed to leave this place at once. “She’s gone,” Kinley said. Sadness etched her face. But he couldn’t afford to soothe her right now. Time was of the essence. “There’s nothing we can do to help them. If we stick around, they could tamper with our brains again. We could be stuck here forever. The only way to help them is to get ourselves out of here safely and hope NASA can figure out the coordinates. Any objections?” he asked. No one said a word. “Good,” he said. “Now, let’s get the fuck out of here.”
***** Taylor punched in the recent coordinates Buck Hero had just sent him, signifying Buck’s ship had managed to pull free of the anomaly. Now it was their turn to try. “Coordinates in. Everybody hold on. It’s going to be a rough few minutes,” he called. He didn’t know who he was talking to. Everyone on board his ship was strapped into their sleep pods. He had Kinley, Blackie, and of course, Taylor had insisted Kayla come along with him. The other two ships had already left the wormhole, signaling back that they’d left without a problem. Joe and Annie had gone with Ben and Jacey in the spaceship the Hero women had shown up in. And Piper, Jarod, Buck and Virginia had left in the ship the Hero brothers had arrived in. Even with the aliens’ explanation about what had gone on and why they’d screwed with the area of the brain where their sexual fantasies were centered, he was glad it had happened. If they hadn’t been locked in this anomaly, then he may never have met Kayla. “Here we go,” he whispered and pressed the button that would take them into hyper-speed. He clutched the armrests on his chair as the spaceship began to rattle. In a 189
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split second, the other spaceships stuck in the wormhole disappeared and silver streaks zipped along the otherwise black screen. Everything fell silent and the ship hummed along at top speed. Taylor sighed a heavy breath of relief. The silver streaks were stars. Man, he’d never been so happy to see stars in his life. “We’re alone, big boy.” Kayla’s seductive whisper smoothed like a piece of silk over Taylor’s senses and he reacted, big-time. Blood pulsed into his cock and every nerve inside him slammed into alert mode. She chuckled as she came up to where he was seated. “I definitely got the big boy part right, didn’t I?” She screeched as he grabbed her by the wrist, dragged her around to the front of his chair and hurled her onto his lap. She wasn’t wearing any clothing. The burn of her pussy against the length of his clothed, hard shaft had them both gasping. Her eyes blazed as his gaze captured hers. “Do it just like the first time,” she whispered, her eyes sparkling with amusement and lust. Taylor grinned. In a way this was their first time, wasn’t it? She wiggled off his lap and bent over, giving him a luscious view of her pussy. Oh yeah, just like the first time.
***** Blackie’s heart thudded a mile a minute as he stalked toward Kinley’s sleep pod. He’d programmed his pod to awaken him the instant the computer read that Taylor had gone to sleep. He’d wanted to gaze at Kinley one more time before they went into sleep stasis for the duration of the trip back to Earth. Would they ever be together again? She’d been attacked back on Earth and tried to suppress her memories…until she’d freaked out on Paradise. Okay, correct that, it hadn’t been Paradise. It had all been in their minds. But was there really a difference? Wasn’t their love for each other what truly mattered? He sensed they would be in for some tough times back on Earth, but he would stick with her. They would get through this together. He loved her like he’d never loved another woman. She warmed his heart and was the one for him. As he approached her sleep pod, he froze. Kinley wasn’t there. What the hell was going on? Where was she? Panic zipped through him like a rocket as he turned to search the ship. “Hey, loverboy. Looking for me?” Her sexy voice swept into his bloodstream, making his heart hum. She was sitting on the bridge in his captain chair. She looked gorgeous. Her tangled brown hair swept
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around her shoulders and she wore a white terrycloth bathrobe. Her long legs were crossed and she tossed him an amazing smile that rocked him right down to his core. “What are you up to?” he asked as he walked toward her. “Waiting for you to get up.” She dropped her gaze to the area between his thighs and wiggled her eyebrows. “In more ways than one.” She wanted sex? Now? Gosh, with everything she’d been through, she still looked and acted like herself. “Are you sure about this? I mean, after what you told the aliens and everything you’ve experienced here and back on Earth…what they did to us was without our permission. It was another violation.” Blackie regretted the flash of pain flaring in her eyes. But then the pain was gone, replaced by a mischief he hadn’t seen before. He liked it. She shook her head. “They let me see I needed to get help to deal with what I went through. I’ll get it. That doesn’t mean I can’t and don’t love you. Because I really do love you and, right now, I really need for you to make love to me. Love me.” Oh man. He shouldn’t take advantage of her vulnerability like this. He really shouldn’t. She’d been through too much. She stood, her hand falling to the knot on the sash of her robe. “We’re going to be away from each other for a long time, Blackie. I want something sweet and sexy to remember what we have. Something real. Not just dream sex.” Oh boy, her bold side sure did turn him on. A lot. But still…he dropped his gaze, unable to think of how to handle this situation. “Blackie, look at me, baby. Don’t be afraid of us. I can deal with this. You can deal with this. If you want to.” “Oh sweetness, you have my heart.” “I want your body too.” Okay, he could see where she was going with this. She was testing him. Wanted to see where she stood with him. She needed to know he still loved her. That what they had experienced in their minds was really and truly valid. He smiled and reached for the knot on her sash.
***** A blast of heat enveloped Kinley as Blackie untied her sash. Her robe fell open and his hands seared against her waist. As she looked into his eyes, she could tell he told her the truth. She held his heart. He loved her. The aliens had asked her if she wanted what had happened to her back on Earth erased from her memory. She’d said no. That horrible experience was a part of her now. She was permanently scarred from that night but she had survived. For a long time it 191
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had turned her off to men and sex, but the aliens had allowed her to remember her need for love. The love of a good man. And Blackie was good. She could see it in his eyes. In the scorching way he gazed at her, and that look didn’t have anything to do with the hot sex they’d shared in their minds. He loved her. She waited anxiously while he slipped out of his white uniform. She’d always loved a guy in a uniform, but this guy she loved more out of uniform. When he stood in front of her, totally naked, he shifted uneasily as if he wasn’t sure what to do. Understandable. This reality was new to both of them. Reaching out, she slid her hands over his chest, the soft hairs and hot, sleek, silkyhard muscles. “Condom,” he gasped, as she moved alongside him, loving the warm burn of his erection as it pressed against her pussy. “I have one in my robe pocket,” she whispered. She made a move to reach for it, but his hand was already there, digging it out. She smiled when his cock twitched like a wild serpent as he ripped the foil and rolled on the condom. “Do you think there is room for two in my sleep pod?” she asked. “I don’t want to be alone.” “As long as you have me, baby, you’ll never be alone.” From the intense way his eyes twinkled, Kinley knew he spoke the truth. Confidence and happiness embraced and hugged her tightly. His head dipped and his finger tipped her chin upward. As his warm lips melted over her mouth, he slid his cock into her and she was already home.
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About the Author Jan Springer lives in Ontario, Canada and writes full time. She enjoys kayaking, hiking, photography and gardening. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Passionate Ink and The Author’s Guild. She loves hearing from her readers. Jan welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and e-mail addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Jan Springer Burn for Me Christmas Lovers Claiming Hannah Edible Delights Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails II anthology Heroes at Heart 1: A Hero’s Welcome Heroes at Heart 2: A Hero Escapes Heroes at Heart 3: A Hero Betrayed Heroes at Heart 4: A Hero’s Kiss Heroes at Heart 5: A Hero Needed Holiday Heat: Jade Let’s Get Physical Nice Girl Naughty Outlaw Lovers: Colter’s Revenge Outlaw Lovers: Jude Outlaw Outlaw Lovers: The Claiming Outlaw Lovers: Tyler’s Woman Outlaw Lovers Dossier Passionate Ink Sexual Release Sinderella Undercover 1: Peppermint Creek Inn Undercover 2: Kiss Me Undercover 3: Intimate Stranger Vampira 1: Sweet Heat Vampira 2: Dark Heat Vampira 3: Wet Heat Zero to Sexy
Print books by Jan Springer Bad Girls Have More Fun anthology Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails II anthology Heroes at Heart 1: A Hero’s Welcome Heroes at Heart 2: A Hero’s Love Heroes at Heart 3: A Hero Betrayed Heroes at Heart 4: A Hero’s Kiss Holiday Heat anthology Outlaw Lovers: Colter’s Revenge Outlaw Lovers: Jude and Luke anthology Outlaw Lovers: Tyler’s Woman Overtime, Under Him anthology Undercover 1: Peppermint Creek Inn Undercover 2: Kiss Me Undercover 3: Intimate Stranger White Hot Holidays Volume 3 anthology
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Captive Heroes ISBN 9781419938726 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Captive Heroes Copyright © 2012 Jan Springer Edited by Violet Hughes Cover design by Kendra Egert Photos: Conrado, Dash/Shutterstock.com Electronic book publication August 2012 The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously. The publisher and author(s) acknowledge the trademark status and trademark ownership of all trademarks, service marks and word marks mentioned in this book. The publisher does not have any control over, and does not assume any responsibility for, author or third-party Web sites or their content.
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