Enslaved in Desire Stormie Kent Camryn is taken captive after Earth is invaded by hostile aliens. She is sold as an exotic, an expensive sex slave. Camryn is willing to do anything to survive and escape captivity. That includes convincing her master that she enjoys his touch. Then she is purchased by the sexy warrior Venn. Now she must convince herself that she can resist a male whose every caress ignites a passion she has never known. Venn is an empathic and hyper-sensitive tribal lord from planet Ordan. He has never owned a slave, yet he cannot resist the beautiful Earth woman. She teases his heightened senses and pushes past the control he has over his emotions. Venn struggles to own Camryn’s body with scorching sex and a firm hand. And when his possession of her body is complete, he’ll try to claim her soul.
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Enslaved in Desire ISBN 9781419936166 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Enslaved in Desire Copyright © 2011 Stormie Kent Edited by Briana St. James Cover design by Fiona Jayde Photography: Stryjek/Dreamstime.com; Jason Stitt/Fotolia.com Electronic book publication November 2011 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 author’s 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.
ENSLAVED IN DESIRE Stormie Kent
Acknowledgements I want to give special thanks to my bff Viki. Thanks for being there when I needed you.
Stormie Kent
Chapter One Camryn sighed contentedly as the movie credits rolled. “Listen, cuz, I’m glad you called.” Niki placed the empty popcorn bowl on the coffee table. Camryn struggled to keep the irritation from her voice. “Don’t call me cuz.” They were so much more than that. She smiled wistfully. “You should come by more. Or at least find a permanent home so I could come see you. We could eat popcorn, drink shakes and watch movies all the time.” “We aren’t kids anymore, Cam.” Niki stood and removed the DVD from the player. She turned the television to the local news. Niki was always moving away from her. It was why Camryn never argued with her. She left when she felt cornered. Niki plopped back on the cream leather sofa. “You’re all the family I have left.” Camryn pulled at Niki’s hands, forcing her to face her. Niki was an extremely capable person, military trained and, even though they had grown up in the same house, still a mystery to Camryn. Except for the fact that the other woman was built more generously than Camryn, they could have passed for twins. They possessed the same caramelized-sugar complexion, curly hair and almond-shaped eyes. “Don’t start, Cam.” The volume on the television rose. “What the hell?” They both scrambled for the remote. Camryn got to it first, pressing the volume button. Nothing happened. “Shut it off!” Niki screamed, holding her ears. Camryn hit the power button. The room fell silent. “Wow.” She set down the remote. With a pop, the television winked back on. A man covered in hair and dressed in leather sat in a black steel chair. In the background, a wall of steel and lights flashed. His mouth opened, exposing long, sharp teeth. He released a growl. “What is this crap?” Camryn said. She reached for the remote and repeatedly pressed the power button. He remained on screen. “People of the galaxy twelve thousand planet called Earth,” he said. His voice was guttural and each word ended in a low growl. “We are the Nestvur. You are being conquered.” His image disappeared and an image of thousands of black aircraft took its
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place. “Your chances of defiance are hopeless. Leaders, surrender within the half hour.” The screen went dark again. Camryn and Niki looked at each other, then popped up off the couch, rushing for the phones and computer. They were raised by a man whose number one mandate was protect the family at all costs. Nelson Highbear, the offspring of a Native American activist and African American conspiracy theorist, had taught them as girls that any threat was to be taken seriously. They had to be prepared and they always were. “Out.” Niki slammed down the land line phone. “Out.” Camryn pushed at the computer mouse, sliding it off the mahogany desk. “Cell too.” Niki slid the phone back in its holder. “You think it’s a prank?” Camryn asked. “Terrorists.” Niki moved toward the kitchen. “Where’s your emergency pack?” They scrambled for the items that Camryn had kept packed and updated since the “War on Terror” had begun. Camryn ran up the stairs. She pulled stored coats and gloves out of the upstairs hall closet, tossing them to the floor until she found another pack for Niki to fill and carry. She ran back down the stairs, tossing her the pack. “Hurry, Niki,” she urged, pulling the curtains back to look out on her street. A black SUV pulled up in front of the house. “What’s he doing here?” Camryn frowned. Niki joined her, peering out. “He still loves you.” She laughed. “Don’t they all?” “Hmpf.” Camryn moved to unlock the door. “Mark.” “Good, you’re packed. This is for real.” He looked behind Camryn in irritation. “Niki.” “Mark.” Camryn and Mark weren’t married any longer. It wasn’t for lack of him trying, however. He would have had to leave work and come directly to her home after the crazy broadcast to be there now. He was a sleekly built man, only five inches taller than her five-five height. Their marriage hadn’t survived all of their differences. She was African American, he was Irish American. He was conservative, she was a liberal. They hadn’t agreed on where to live, where to worship or even what should be served for dinner. Nine years ago, at twenty and twenty-one, they had believed that sheer determination to be together would make up for everything that made them different. Then he had betrayed her in a way that Nelson Highbear’s daughter wouldn’t allow. “I got a call from Brad before the alien transmission was cut.” Brad was his brother, who worked at the Pentagon. “I don’t go without Niki,” she said. She and Niki would figure out another plan if he couldn’t handle that. “Hurts, doesn’t it?” The look Niki gave him was pure devilry. “Hell, get in the Land Rover.”
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They climbed inside the black all terrain vehicle. Mark turned the key in the ignition. A loud boom sounded and the row of townhomes across the street exploded. Camryn screamed. Car alarms blared. Flaming bricks and debris rained down around them. Fear gripped her, paralyzing her momentarily. She had a normal life. This was the stuff of movies or newsreel pictures of some war-torn part of the world. “Drive, fool,” Niki said, leaning forward between the seats. Mark backed up swiftly, dodging burning wood and lawn ornaments. The earth shook and the SUV skidded on the rapidly cracking ground. A portion fell away under the back tire. Mark accelerated and they cleared the hole. She exhaled a breath she hadn’t known she was holding. Camryn had never been so scared in her life. For once she was glad her ex liked to maneuver like he was a race car driver. He maneuvered the car expertly as he dodged holes and obstructions in the road in order to navigate out onto the main street. “Better not take the highway,” Camryn said, gripping the dash. “Too many overpasses.” A five-story office building had collapsed in on itself to the right. Gray and black dust coated every surface, including the car. The windshield wipers left dirty grayish black streaks as they swung back and forth. They weren’t the only drivers about. Cars swerved around each other in near misses. Camryn flinched as a red minivan narrowly missed sideswiping her door. There was a blur of brown and green. The SUV careened to a stop, the tail end flying up into the air before crashing down jarringly. They were all propelled forward. Camryn’s head slammed against the dashboard. Hands pulled her out of the vehicle. She blinked up at a bloodied Mark until she could focus. “Niki?” “Here.” She climbed out, clutching her own head. Camryn turned. She couldn’t believe the size of the tree crushing the steaming hood. A whiz and a boom sounded fifty feet away. A crater opened in the ground, swallowing a truck. She looked up in time to see a streak of black wink out in the sky. “Can an airplane just disappear like that?” “We have to go,” Mark urged. They grabbed their packs out of the car. She reached for Niki and, hand in hand, they began walking. Her nose stung. She kept herself from crying, but just barely. People milled about, some crying, some screaming, others appearing dazed. Families clung to each other. What in the world is happening? The air was quiet now. Everywhere she looked there was debris. Cars were crushed in or just smoking steel shells. Gigantic craters dotted the ground. It would be dark soon, with the darkness’s own set of dangers. “Niki, I think we have to assume these aren’t terrorists. Hairy, beastly men, aircraft faster than anything I’ve seen before…” she whispered, unable to finish her thought. 8
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“We just need to keep moving and find someplace safe to hole up and regroup,” Niki stated calmly. They passed an ambulance set up on the side of the road where paramedics were performing triage. There was a long line of injured waiting. Their minor injuries could wait. They needed to find safety. The first sheriff’s deputies she’d seen that day were directing people in cars and on foot. Camryn glanced at Mark. He had probably saved their lives. He had come for them immediately after the broadcast and gotten them on the road fast. She was slightly ashamed of the resentment she’d felt when he appeared at her door. She still couldn’t forgive him for attempting to come between her and Niki. Mark had told lies to force Camryn to hate Niki, not realizing that nothing would make Camryn hate her. When her former husband confessed to a supposed affair between the two, Camryn turned her back on him, not Niki. He glanced up and caught her staring. He moved closer and touched her back. She stiffened but did not pull away. She wanted to. Whoop. Whiz. Boom. Holes opened up all around them. Camryn screamed. Why is this happening? Niki pulled her along and Camryn struggled to keep up. Mark pushed her from behind. More people and cars disappeared, swallowed by holes or incinerated in blasts. What were they supposed to do? The confusion caused people to bump into each other, accidentally pushing each other into craters or the line of fire. They weren’t safe. Everything was too loud, too fast and too confusing. Suddenly, all firing ceased. They stopped moving. Camryn looked around. Out of the hundreds of people who had surrounded her before, fifteen were left. Breathing heavily, she hugged Niki to her. “We survived.” “We survived again. Now we have to keep doing it. We have to find shelter or help. Someone who knows what is going on would be helpful,” Niki replied. Camryn pulled away. Her entire body shook and she felt fuzziness in her head that she was very sure meant she was going crazy. But they were alive. That’s all that mattered. “Where are you taking us, Mark?” she asked. “There is a hidden barracks about twenty miles from here. It is bunkered underground, so maybe it is still secure.” They all looked at the tractor-trailer-sized holes in the ground. The ground shook and she let go of Niki, falling to the ground. She forcefully pushed the thought away that they weren’t going to make it to the underground bunker alive. Thoughts like those wouldn’t help her keep walking. Camryn climbed to her feet and they continued. The going was rough with the ground shaking almost constantly. “What’s that?”
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They all stopped. There was a thunderous cracking. It sounded like stone falling and the clamorous roaring of a demolition. Camryn looked back. The ground was splitting. “Run!” Camryn ran. The shaking was severe. She stumbled. She got up, balancing with her arms straight out to the sides. The roaring grew deafening. She was flung back. She landed on her back, her ankle twisted. Winded, Camryn lay still until the shaking subsided. She crawled, dragged and pushed herself to her knees and gasped. She knelt at the edge of a fourteen-meter-wide fissure. The earth had cracked in a jagged line as far as the eye could see. Across from her, tugging on her hair, stood Niki. Behind her hovered an equally distressed Mark. She knew what they were thinking. She was the least likely to survive on her own. “Don’t worry. Follow the crack. It has to stop somewhere,” Camryn called. “We’ll meet there.” “If you see anyone, get out of sight,” Niki called back. “You can do it!” Mark yelled. At that moment, something inside her wanted to give up. It all seemed too hard. Whatever was attacking them could destroy buildings and eighteen wheelers. It caused earthquakes. She was just one flesh-and-blood woman. “Camryn,” Niki called. Camryn focused. Niki looked as if she would attempt to fly across the gap if necessary. It was the first time in a long time that Niki had let her feelings show. Camryn always put Niki’s feelings above her own. Always. Giving up wasn’t an option. Trembling, Camryn stood and limped away. She limped until nightfall, crying softly, glad that Niki and Mark were too far away to hear. Both of them were ex-Army. They would be okay, just worried for her. The area had fallen silent and still. The people she passed were dead. She averted her eyes where possible. She stopped checking for pulses after the tenth corpse. She was thirsty and exhausted. The crack widened the farther she walked and what appeared to be an entire copse of trees was overturned in her path. She would have to go around. She pressed dirty palms to her eyelids. Her body wanted to shut down. “In the morning,” she whispered. She could no longer see Niki and Mark and she needed to sleep. Camryn pulled herself behind a fallen tree and settled against it. Finally she allowed herself to open her pack and take out a bottled water. She only drank half because she needed to ration her supplies. Who knew when she would find help? She also needed to sleep or she wouldn’t be able to go on. Camryn rested her head against the bark and waited for morning.
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***** She awakened to daylight and the feeling of her hair being pulled out by the roots. Pain exploded through her head and her eyes watered. She punched and kicked. Her eyes opened and she screamed. A man had her by her long hair. He pulled her to her feet. She was in the clutch of full-blown horror. The man who held her was different than the man from the terrorist broadcast but just as terrifying. He was huge, muscled and his features reminded her of museum waxes she had seen of the Neanderthal man. He wore a khaki jumpsuit. He leaned in and sniffed her, then gutturally yelled into the distance. Men similar to the Neanderthal came running. Camryn watched them in terror. She couldn’t fight that many men. She tried to scramble away despite still being held tightly by the hair. She pulled at the Neanderthal’s hands, scratching and kicking. “Let me go!” Behind the men, a craft that looked like a gray delivery truck hovering over the ground drew closer. She turned her face away as dust flew up. The craft pulled to a stop in front of them. Another man emerged. He wasn’t like the others. He was corpulent, but it looked more like water running under the fleshy rings of his skin than fat. He was bald, pale and seemed to be sweating profusely. “Let me go!” He looked at her and smiled. The man spoke to the Neanderthal holding her in a language she didn’t understand. It smelled her again and seemed to reply. Then the man from the truck did something that sent chills down her spine. He rubbed his hands together. The man pushed some buttons on his watch. “Get off me!” “There we are.” He stopped pressing the watch as Camryn stared. “The Trogo have captured a real prize in you, slave. This planet is an exotic treasure trove.” She watched in fear as he pulled a syringe out of a pouch and uncapped it. She had thought herself afraid before. It was nothing to this. These men were not human. The situation wasn’t like the black aircraft that swooped in and destroyed everything around her and then disappeared. She could talk to the man. Maybe she could reason with him or talk her way out of whatever he wanted with her. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out but a gasp. Fright had frozen her vocal cords. Was he going to kill her with whatever was in that syringe or just dope her up? Make her more biddable? She looked around at the salivating men still snarling and snapping around her and then back at the watery blob of a man. The Neanderthal eyed her with lust. The blob simply looked delighted. She’d rather die than let them rape her. Better a swift death than a slow painful one. 11
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“Kill me,” she managed to gasp. The man laughed. “No, you will gain me many credits at the slave auction. I need you healthy and alive.” “No!” She redoubled her efforts to be free. Someone grabbed her kicking legs. The Neanderthal holding her grabbed her arm and extended it outward. She struggled. All Camryn got for her trouble was her head completely pulled back. “You stay away from me.” Her voice was so small, she wondered if he even heard her. Even though she’d known it was coming, the pinch of the needle was a shock. “Ah.” She lost control of her body by degrees until finally her consciousness winked out.
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Chapter Two Camryn knelt on the blue and gold satin-covered pillow, on a platform in the alien market, her gaze unfocused. Despair. It wasn’t even possible for that feeling to touch her now. Her senses were too overwhelmed. She had to keep all emotion locked away. If she didn’t, she would notice her nakedness. She would notice her chains. She would notice the brand on her wrist announcing that she was a slave. The sound of Lowso’s voice auctioning off her fellow humans would be evident. The blonde woman being handled on the wooden plank stage wailed, crying out for someone to save her. Camryn’s concentration was broken; the smells of strange bodies and utter desolation swamped her. She saw the woman being touched and fondled by a reptilian man. His language was a series of clicks. Camryn turned away quickly and skimmed the hungry gazes of the crowd. They were mostly men. Some were humanoid. Some were…other. Lowso, his skin teeming with fleshy water rings, had said that these baseborn aliens would not be able to purchase her. She was an exotic. Lowso had a rating scale based on how unique each of his captives were based on appearance, smell, skin texture and even voice quality. He rated her as a level one. The Trogo who captured her had tracked her by her smell. Lowso said her skin’s resemblance to an alien confection set her apart as more valuable than a level-two or three slave here on Earth. A combination of traits beyond her control had ensured that she was hunted and enslaved. That’s why she got a special place on the stage, a pillow for her knees and at least earrings, a necklace and bangles to cover her nakedness. These men would not be allowed to touch her. Maybe they had broken her. The last week had tested her surely. The male guards told her what to do. They told her when to sit and eat. They didn’t handle her though. Only women were allowed to touch her. She’d been stripped and bathed when she awoke. Whatever was in the syringe they gave her each night made her feel sluggish until about midday. Her attempts to push the women away were no more effective at stopping them than butterfly wings. They perfumed her and oiled her skin. Her hair was brushed and fussed with. Then the women attached her manacles to a chain and led her to her cushion on the stage. The blonde woman cried softly now. Camryn closed her eyes, wishing to close her ears to shut the sound out. There was a commotion. She opened her eyes to see the next human, a man, try to attack the aliens nearest him with his entire body. Never mind that both his arms and feet were chained. Camryn felt her heart beat faster. She strained slightly at her own chains. Yes. Lowso pressed a button on his controller. The man’s face froze. Teeth clamped together in a grimace, neck muscles corded, body taut. He stood on his tiptoes for a 13
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moment and then his entire body seemed to collapse in on itself. He dropped to the planks. This was why no one ever escaped. The alien technology was too great. That man was stunned, but not killed by Lowso’s machine. He had no hope of freedom or death. No escape. Just punishment when he disobeyed. Camryn dropped her chin, then looked up quickly. It was time to try again to bleed her mind of emotions and thought. Behind the auction crowd strolled aliens of every kind. She tried not to focus, not to see, not to feel. If there had been less life in her, she would have willed herself to die or made herself so inconvenient to Lowso that he killed her. One of the female attendants explained to Camryn in hushed tones what her role would be once she was purchased. She was to be a sex slave to one or many. The very idea had made her nauseous. But not suicidal. She wanted to live. She would do whatever she had to do to survive. Then she would escape. Living meant more to her than her pride. That didn’t mean that the struggle with the shame of her circumstances was easy. Broad shoulders and long blond hair caught her eye. Four men walked confidently through the alien market. They did not speak with one another, but every one of the men scanned their surroundings. Their gazes seemed to be watchful even without the constant movement of their heads. What they had to be wary of, she didn’t know. They carried weapons and they were huge. Colossal. It was a wonder they had necks. They appeared solidly muscled. They looked like a cross between mythic Vikings and Mr. Universe. But bigger. What planet made humanoids that big and tall? The colossus walking slightly in the lead stopped abruptly and turned. His gaze collided with Camryn’s. The hair on her arms rose. She couldn’t look away. He was still far away, but Camryn knew he gazed at her. She wanted desperately to look away. The man changed direction and began walking toward the slave platform. His stride was steady. People quickly stepped out of his way. Camryn silently screamed at herself to look away. She tugged at the chains that held her arms down and behind her. There was nowhere to go. He stepped into the small crowd around the stage. Now she could see him. His blue eyes blazed. She commanded her arms to cover her nakedness, but they remained tied behind her. For some reason she felt tears well in her eyes. Tears scalded her eyes and throat as this stranger, this alien, gazed at her nakedness. Aliens had been staring at her all day. This felt different. Something about him made her feel noticed. As if he saw something more than the sum of her breasts and pussy. His gaze was heavy. He wasn’t staring at her like the men around the stage, with greed, avarice and lust. She glanced at his companions. Their faces were hard, emotionless. She focused back on him and shivered.
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Colossus spoke to one of his companions softly. The other man disappeared into the crowd. Colossus then spoke to Lowso. She couldn’t be sure of what he said, but from the way Lowso began to wheedle, he had to be asking about her. She didn’t dare speak. Lowso had a special button on the controller that sent shocks through the chains. Being tortured in public was more humiliating than being naked in public. Lowso punched a button on his L.I., language interpreter. “Show him your teeth, exotic.” Hell no. She wasn’t a horse. Lowso reached for the controller and she bared her teeth in a grimace and then opened her mouth. Lowso looked pleased. “As you can see, sir, she is one of a kind. I certify the health of this exotic as part of her price. She is also genetically hyper-jump capable, a rarity on this planet.” She hated him. He was a despicable flesh peddler. Colossus’ eyes never changed as he regarded her. An attendant walked forward and moved her wrist chain from the bolt and pulled her to her feet in a very businesslike manner. Camryn’s legs wobbled for a moment. Her limbs had fallen asleep from spending all day chained. She righted herself firmly. Colossus spoke to Lowso, then typed on the band around his wrist and held it out for Lowso to scan. Just like that, Camryn became someone’s property. “Prepare the exotic for Lord Huntu,” Lowso called. Camryn watched as Lowso typed in the code to free her from the chains. They clicked and fell from her ankles and wrists. The attendant did not put new chains on her and Camryn gasped. That never happened. Then she looked at Colossus and the three men with him. They wouldn’t need shackles to make her compliant. The attendant handed Colossus a bag. She knew it contained what Lowso considered all he would need to keep her in good condition. The bastard. Colossus beckoned to her. “Vont.” Tentatively she walked toward him. He grabbed her about the waist and lifted her to the ground. He reached toward his companion, who had disappeared earlier and returned, and was given a garment. Colossus shook it out and she saw that it was a strapless tan dress that would be held up by elastic. He bunched it and she automatically raised her arms so he could slide it over her head. As the cotton-like material slid over her, Camryn felt relief and gratitude. That never happened either. Usually the newly purchased human was dragged off in chains and without the protection of clothing. “Thank you,” she said softly. Colossus inclined his head, then turned, grabbing her arm as he went. Something shivery slid up her spine. The other three spanned out around her. She looked around
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at them as well as she could while trying to keep pace with their much longer legs. She stumbled and righted herself as he continued to move. She was without chains for the first time in days. She needed to stay unencumbered if she could. If a chance for escape presented itself, she wanted to be free to run, even though she had no idea where to go. They were so large, she wouldn’t even have to pretend to look helpless. They all had to be related. Long blond hair, some plaited, some loose and some tied, trailed down their backs. They all had blue eyes, strong noses and chins and prominent cheekbones. Their bodies in the hide-colored tough fabric rippled with muscle. There was only one taller than the colossus who held her arm, but not by much. Camryn stumbled again. The man holding her arm stopped and looked down at her. She braced herself to be yelled at or, worse, hit. She didn’t think she could survive a blow from his hand. He said something to his companions and one pointed, then separated from them. Camryn watched him walk over to one of the market stalls and purchase something. He returned with a pair of slide-on sandals and placed them at her feet. Then he grunted. Camryn looked up at Colossus, then stepped into the shoes. They fit well enough and their party continued on its way. To the east, she could see the broken spans of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The surrounding area, as far as she could see into the distance, had been razed and turned into a marketplace. The landscape had been altered. Where once there were local roads and highway, now there was only flat packed earth cleared of any sign of pavement. They walked for some time before Camryn noticed they were coming to a dock. No boats, only space ships. “Oh no,” she said. What if there was a revolution and humans won? She would be off world. They wove their way in and out of ships and Camryn tried dragging her feet. She was pulled along anyway. Then she started to struggle. Okay, a war was a long shot. Puny Earth technology was no match for what these aliens had. But she had a hope. A tiny grain of hope that one day she would be free again. Her breath came in pants and she tugged as hard as she could. Colossus grunted, then simply picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. She screamed. “Please, I can’t leave Earth.” They talked amongst themselves, but Colossus never said a word. He strode purposefully toward his ship. She pushed up against his back so she could see what ship he led them to. It was large, steel colored and had square edges. A door opened at their approach and it folded down into a ramp. The men made haste inside. As the hatch closed, she saw her chance at happiness disappear.
*****
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Venn strode down the passageway. The Earth female had stopped struggling as soon as the ship’s doors closed tight. The waves of despondency coming from her were more than his empathic senses could take. “She was fine until she saw the ships,” Tor said to his right. “Maybe she didn’t want to leave her world,” Gunter offered. Maybe she was leaving something or someone behind, Venn thought. He stopped and bent to lower her to her feet. The process upset the ugly dress and he blocked her body as she absently tugged it back up over a delectable brown nipple. She gazed at each of them, then back to Venn. He heard the men gasp. In the market they needed to control their reactions and emotions, but here on the ship they could be a little more lax with each other. And she was still amazing. The first thing Venn noticed was her skin. She was the exact color of Rhinonian colbruna, which was a confection processed only on planet Rhinon. Her skin was just as glossy and delectable. Only her palms and the soles of her feet were lighter. His body clenched. For her skin alone, men in many galaxies would want her. It was as he’d come closer to her in the market that he had noticed her scent. Some of the Earth women they had seen had a similar scent, but none as strong as this one. She smelled like fantasy, long nights and deep desire. It was musky and sweet at the same time. Maybe once she washed, the scent would dull or go away like a perfume. Around him, his cousins’ nostrils flared. “Mine,” he said, using his neutral voice. No real emotion, just facts. No argument would sway him. They shifted uncomfortably, but Venn was not the leader of their tribe simply by birth. He’d had to fight for it. He had fought all challengers and won. He had also worked hard so that when he made a command, it was law. Her hair was unique. It was similar to the smooth, springy curls of the Zura people. The strands were dark brown and black together. Her face was symmetrical; her eyes big and luminous, lashes long. Her mouth was lusher than he was used to, her bottom lip full and kissable. She was short, her body compact, with breasts that would be a mouthful and full hips and thighs that made the shapeless shift Gunter purchased pull around them. This woman looked nothing like the women of his world. What she looked like was a dark fantasy of decadence. She looked good enough to eat. The woman glanced around again and took a hesitant step back. Maybe the men had somehow shown her what they thought of her. Venn started forward again, catching her elbow and separating them from the others. He walked purposefully toward his quarters, yet adjusted his stride for her shorter gate. The doors opened as he laid his palm on the keypad. They entered the sitting room and the doors slid closed, sealing him in with her scent. He noticed her anxiety calmed somewhat when she realized they would be alone.
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He let go of her and retrieved his spare L.I. Venn walked to her and placed it on her arm. She didn’t resist, so he assumed she knew what it was. Then he set both hers and his. “I am Venn,” he said, looking in her eyes. “Venn,” she repeated in a slightly husky voice. “What is your name?” “Camryn, I am Camryn,” she said. “Camryn, would you like to take a shower?” He had to get that perfume off her if he was going to be gentle with her. She looked toward the door that led into the bedroom, then back to him. “I would. Did you buy me to have sex with me?” He could see her pulse beat wildly. He didn’t know if it was because of her question or fear of the answer. He didn’t know exactly why he’d bought her. “I would like to,” he answered truthfully. “It would be only you?” She asked the question neutrally, but he sensed an increase in her fear. “Yes, it would be only me. I don’t share.” A little pink tongue moistened her bottom lip and he controlled the urge to help her. “Are you married?” she asked. “No. Were you upset because you had to leave a husband?” “No, I have no husband. You are very…large,” she said. “I won’t intentionally harm you, Camryn. Now I want you to take your shower so I can take one as well.” He tried to keep his voice even. She turned then and walked toward the door. She looked around cautiously, then disappeared to her left. Venn took a deep breath and realized it was a mistake. All Ordanians had super-sensitive senses. Some of her alluring scent lingered in the room. He shook his head and picked up his handheld so that he could enter the correct information about his scouting mission into the computer. A double tone sounded in the room, alerting him that the pilot was calling. “Computer, open communications,” he said. “We are ready to go, Venn. They have sent the final coordinates to pick up the shipment,” Captain Rhine said. “Good, I want us home in good time,” Venn replied. “Captain out.” It would take a week to reach his home world of Ordan. Venn was ready to go home. Earth had been a bleak place. All worlds after the Nestvur conquered them were. That’s why Ordan made sure their soldiers and defenses were always prepared. They sent out searchers to find the newest and best technology. 18
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He entered the bedroom and paused as she entered it from the bathroom, wrapped in a white towel. His cock hardened immediately. Her scent wasn’t due to a perfume. That was her natural smell. “Do you want me to put on the brown dress again?” she asked. “Yes.” No, I want you naked and writhing beneath me. “Here are the things they gave me for you at the market.” She took the bag, but hesitated when he sat down on the bed instead of going into the bathroom. He bent to take off his boots, but watched her intently. He remembered feeling eyes on him in the market. He remembered turning and seeing her kneeling with all that lovely skin displayed. It had been her eyes, though, that held him. They were slanted, full lashed, vibrant brown and looking for an anchor. He’d begun walking toward her without thought. Some feeling had moved in his chest and he had squashed it ruthlessly. Yet he still couldn’t make himself turn from her. He could feel her fear and anger along with the slaver’s greed. There was also lust rolling from the gathered crowd, making him feel violent for some reason. He’d also felt protective. He knew he was going to buy her even as he knew it was a terrible idea. Exotics were only purchased for one reason and he didn’t need to buy someone for that. Besides, people would come just to see her, to buy her, to steal her. When Venn had come close enough to catch her scent, he fully realized why there were so many men simply loitering. She was heady. He hadn’t haggled with the slaver. He asked a few questions so he wouldn’t drive her price up, but he really hadn’t cared about the answers. Watching her now having trouble maintaining her towel and applying lotion too, he knew that coercing her into fucking him was a top priority. Venn grunted, then stood and went to take his own shower. When he returned, he found her sitting on the edge of the large bed wearing her brown dress and no shoes. She glanced up and her eyes widened as they zeroed in on his engorged cock. Her full lips made a silent “oh” and Venn groaned. Swiftly he dressed. He felt her confusion and interest. Surprisingly, he didn’t sense desire, even though she was devouring his muscular body with her gaze. He concentrated. It was more like she was fascinated, even amazed. He dropped his shirt over his head and thought about whether it was safer to leave her in his quarters or take her on deck with him. Maybe she was hungry. He didn’t think she would flirt with the men. She didn’t seem that interested in sex with him, even though she apparently liked the way he looked and despite the fact that she smelled and looked like a science fiction porn vid. “Put your shoes on and come with me.” He started for the living quarters. “Venn,” she said softly. He turned back.
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“Do I call you something else in public? I don’t want to do the wrong thing.” Her fear was back full force and he suspected she didn’t want to be beaten. “You may simply call me Venn. We must go. I am expected on the bridge.” He led her down the corridor. They passed the youngest member of the crew, his brother Hans. As expected, the boy of sixteen couldn’t control his reaction to Venn’s new slave. He forgot whatever duty he was supposed to be performing and followed them out onto the deck. Every male there froze for a brief moment before resuming his duties. It was a testament to their maturity and self-control, because poor Hans just stood inside the door staring. Venn took his position near the captain. There was a hidden seat to the right and behind his that he activated. “Sit here, Camryn.” He noticed she had cleared her face of all expression. Unfortunately, she sat in a room full of empaths. None were as strong as Venn, but they were strong enough. “How did things go on Earth?” Rhine asked him. “You know we found what we were looking for,” Venn stated. Rhine glanced back at Camryn. “Did you?” Venn grunted. “The item was procured. We set up talks with a dealer. Everything was handled. Did the pickup go smoothly?” “Yes, we have it. Well, I know what you weren’t doing all this time in your quarters or you wouldn’t be so cranky.” “Rhine,” Venn said. “Okay.” He glanced at Camryn again. “Citizen Ors asked that you stop through on your way back.” “Damn.” He sensed Rhine’s unease. Camryn would be something that the greedy Ordanian could not resist. He would hound Venn constantly to obtain her. Anger burned in Venn brightly before he could push it down and away. The men shifted uneasily. Venn was not known for displays of emotion. They all looked around at Camryn quickly, then away. The truth was he was shocked at himself. He didn’t understand why the thought of Ors with Camryn made him feel like tearing something apart, just like he still didn’t know why he had purchased her. He had to seduce the woman and get her out of his system so that he could go back to his normal self.
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Chapter Three Camryn watched the stars flow past her on the view screen. She was in space. No space suit. No zero gravity. She had felt a little queasy for a while, but that went away. She understood now. Lowso said she was genetically hyper-jump capable. Captain Rhine, obviously another family member, had hyper-jumped soon after Venn had brought her to the bridge. It felt like they had taken the big drop on a roller coaster. Apparently they had hyper-jumped to a new galaxy. “Are you hungry, Camryn?” She flinched and looked up. The teenager stood next to her. His baby face and thinner build showed her that he wasn’t as mature as the others. He held out a large bowl and spoon the color of pewter. She glanced from the bowl back to his face. “Your name is Camryn, correct?” he asked. “Yes. What do you have?” He stared at her for a moment and blinked slowly. Then he shook his head and knelt next to her chair. He pointed to an oval-shaped object the size of his palm. It was ultramarine with broad blunt spikes. Her eyes widened. “This is surfruk. I have already cut it.” He tapped it along a lengthwise crease and two halves separated. Inside there was a gelatinous substance that was transparent and pale orange. Floating in the jelly were tiny blue seeds. Whoa. “Um, how do you eat this surfruk? Is it a fruit?” “Yes. Just spoon it out. Don’t eat the rind. This is cryduppe,” he said, pointing to a soft triangle of what looked like yellow flat bread. “Tear it and dip it into the frisckost.” The frisckost was in a smaller container inside the larger bowl. It was dark purple and creamy. Camryn hadn’t even thought of the possibility that she might not be able to eat the food. “Thank you. I don’t know your name,” she said. “I am Hans. My brother said you might be hungry.” He handed her the bowl. “Which man is your brother?” she asked. Hans smiled at her. “Venn is my brother. The rest of us are cousins.” “Hans,” Venn said sternly. Venn didn’t turn around. Hans blushed and stood quickly. He wandered back over to a counter with blinking multicolored lights. She placed the bowl on her lap and stared down at the food. Her stomach growled. She couldn’t starve herself. Lowso’s attendants had fed her something that seemed to be 21
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a mix of oatmeal and rice twice a day. She picked up the spoon and dug out a little of the surfruk. She took a deep breath and placed it in her mouth. The texture was like she’d spooned cold gravy into her mouth. The flavor was sweet and tart together. It was good but strong. She put the spoon down and reached for the cryduppe. Please let this be bread. She tore it like Hans suggested and slid it through the soft purple spread before pushing it all in her mouth. The bread was flavored with herbs that reminded her of oregano and parsley. The frisckost was bland with a slight sweetness. Everything seemed edible. She ate quickly. She needed to eat to keep her strength up. When Camryn finished the last of the food, she sat the bowl beside her on the floor and thought about her predicament. Venn said he wanted to have sex with her, but he hadn’t done so yet. She’d been with them for hours and the man had done no more than put clothes on her and feed her. That was bad for Camryn. Maybe he had changed his mind. She didn’t want to be sold and traded over and over again. He didn’t seem like a bad guy and he was certainly physically appealing. She needed him to want her enough to keep her to himself, but also let his guard down enough that if she found an opportunity, she could escape. Where? Everyone she loved was gone. When she reached Venn’s planet, she wouldn’t know the people or the terrain. Venn fed her and clothed her. He hadn’t decided to pass her around to his crew. Until she figured out what she wanted and what to do, she was safest with him She glanced around and then back to Venn. He appeared to lead here. That left her with only one option for the time being—she had to make sure he wanted to keep her. She grimaced. She didn’t like sex. It was okay and she obviously wasn’t a virgin, but her experiences with her ex-husband had made her see that she was a sensual creature, not a sexual one. But she could do what needed to be done. If he wanted orgasms, she knew how to fake them like a porn star. She also needed to accomplish her goal without getting hurt. She didn’t want to overstep a boundary and be hit. One tap from Venn’s gigantic paw would clearly put her out of commission. For a moment she couldn’t catch her breath. Venn reached back and patted her knee. Camryn jerked in surprise. He pushed a button on his chair and turned it to face her. She blinked rapidly. He had been ignoring her for hours. Now he took her hand and simply held it. “You’re all right, Camryn. What is the matter?” His voice was deep, yet surprisingly gentle and soothing. She calmed herself with effort. “Nothing, Venn. I’ve just had a long day. I’ve never been on a space ship before.” He regarded her quietly. “You were scared. We’ve been aboard the Alta for hours. You weren’t even this scared during the hyper-jump.” “How do you know I was scared?” she asked with a frown. 22
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“The same way I know you’re irritated now.” She hesitated and then pushed all her emotions under. She sang “Mary Had a Little Lamb” to herself. She concentrated on blanking her mind. “That’s better,” he said before tapping her leg and pulling back. Could he read her feelings? They called that empathy, right? If he could do it, they probably all could do it. There was no way in hell she would be able to fake a good fuck with this man. “I don’t think your pep talk worked,” Rhine said, peering at her. “Are you saying you can tell what I’m feeling? Can you read my mind too?” “No, Camryn, your actual thoughts are your own,” he said calmly. She felt her breaths coming too quickly. She wasn’t doing a good job of getting herself under control. All she kept thinking about was that it was going to be double hard to satisfy him in bed if he knew she was not turned-on or excited. Camryn didn’t know if she had it in her. Venn exhaled, stood and pulled her from her chair. She braced herself for a blow, but he only scooped her up and carried her from the bridge, showing once again how strong he was. When they entered his chamber, he simply sat on the sofa. He held her as she tried to calm down. At first she sat stiffly. But she really needed to be comforted and it had been so long since anyone had bothered that she tucked her whole body into his, clutching at his shirt. Venn was shocked that she relaxed into him. Her mouth was loosely touching his neck and every exhalation made him want to shiver in enjoyment. Her body seemed to relax further and by degrees until she lay loosely against him. He felt her breasts pressed against his chest, and she was so small compared to him that the arm that he had wrapped around her to keep her close rested half on her hip and the curve of her rounded ass. The knowledge had long since created a hard-on that he knew she had to feel against her stomach. “I feel better,” she said and leaned her head back to stare up at him. “You do.” A small smile tugged at her full lips. “Does everyone look like you on your world? Are there different types of people?” Obviously, she wanted a subject change. “There aren’t many environments like your Earth. Most people on Ordan look like I do,” he said. He couldn’t resist pulling her closer. “Blond? Big?” “Blond, brunette, red-haired. The men on this ship are family. We favor the Huntu.” He tried to remain still as she began to glide her hand over his chest.
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“Most people your color on my world have ancestors from cold climates. Is it cold on Ordan?” “Sometimes it is cold and sometimes it is hot.” He was trying to concentrate on her words, but the hand that had been skimming his chest slid into his hair. He looked into her face and her lush-lashed eyes blinked slowly as she watched him. Hell, Venn couldn’t take it anymore, so he did the only thing he could think about. He claimed her mouth. And she was everything a living sweet should be, soft, warm, moist and lush. His hands wandered, skimming her hip, cupping her ass and rolling a palm across her nipple. He opened his senses fully and allowed her passion to wash over him. It was tinged with shock. He wondered briefly if it was because he kissed her or that she liked it. Alarms blared and lights flashed. Venn quickly sat Camryn aside. “Stay here,” he said to her and headed out of the door. Camryn would not cower on the sofa. The alarms and lights were almost paralyzing. But she had run through alien fire a little over a week ago, terror thick in her throat. This not knowing what was threatening her life was almost worse. She couldn’t help herself this way. If she was going to be in danger or die, she wanted to know why. Camryn stood and went to the door. It opened and she stepped out. Slowly, carefully, she made her way to the bridge. The door opened for her there too. “Ordanian, you will give us the trilliu or we will board you and kill everyone.” The guy talking on the view screen was humanoid, but green. He was big. He looked like a pro wrestler and he had no neck. He also had really bad fashion sense, too much fur. His look screamed low-budget pimp. “I do not cave to threats. You and your flea-bitten crew should head back to your home world and save yourself the embarrassment.” Venn sounded bored. Venn’s arms were crossed over his chest. The sleeveless tunic pulled taut. Camryn was sure it was a bad time, but her body was fully aware of how hot he was. She squirmed a little and wished for a simple pair of panties. Green Pimp seemed to focus his gaze behind Venn. “We will take the woman also. I didn’t believe my man when he described her. Thank you for purchasing her for me.” He licked his lips with an unbelievably long tongue. “Yuck.” Camryn could feel her face scrunch in disgust. This was another reason she had to stay with Venn. That thing could own her body right now. That was completely unacceptable. The feed was cut abruptly. “Status, Rhine?” Venn asked.
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“Shields are at one hundred percent. The trilliu is secured. Our other cargo is not.” Rhine looked at Camryn. Camryn looked back. While it was true that this relative was handsome in an almost pretty way, she was beginning not to like him. “Camryn, come,” Venn commanded. Though she wanted to say “I hear and obey”, she wasn’t that stupid. She walked to Venn as quickly as possible. He regarded her for a moment. She stared back, trying not to give him attitude. “I told you to stay in my chambers.” “I like to see what type of danger I’m in,” she said. “When I tell you something, Camryn, I expect you to obey me. Every renegade and fighter in the galaxy is going to want you now.” “Kill the green pimp and he won’t tell anyone anything.” Her heart was pounding. “That’s a very bloodthirsty attitude for a woman,” he responded. “I don’t want any more change. Get rid of him. I stay with you for now.” Camryn realized the foolishness of her outburst, but she wasn’t going to back down. This would be the moment when she saw how he would deal with anything that looked like insubordination or disrespect. She held her breath. You could hear a pin drop on the bridge. Venn walked forward until they almost touched. She breathed out sharply but held her ground. She was afraid but that couldn’t be helped. His voice was calm when he spoke. “I give the orders, Camryn, and you follow them. Do you understand?” Could she push him a little further? “I don’t follow orders well.” He had her by the arms and lifted her so they were face-to-face before she could react. His eyes were no longer emotionless. They blazed. “Don’t worry. It will be my pleasure to teach you to take everything I give you.” He nudged her head to the side and inhaled at her neck. He gently bit the tender skin under her ear. “Including orders,” he whispered against her ear. The scrape of his teeth against her skin set off a series of reactions in her body that had her clenching her hands tightly so she wouldn’t reach for him. She wondered if he meant to drive the fear out of her and replace it with lust or it was just an unfortunate by-product of her being attracted to his body. She glared at him but decided that it would be wise to remain quiet. He lowered her back to the floor and pushed her lightly toward her seat. “Strap in, Camryn,” he said and then walked back to his seat. Flustered, she did what she was told. The men around her were focused on their monitors and control panels. They were calling back and forth to each other, sometimes using words she couldn’t understand.
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The process of keeping her safe from covetous aliens had begun. The Gastronians would be the first of many thieves who desired to steal her away. She belonged to him. The Gastronians would be the first to learn the lesson. A panel opened in the floor before Captain Rhine and the pilot’s manual controller ascended. Rhine grabbed the controller with both hands and pulled it closer to him. He flipped a switch on its base. “Going to manual,” Captain Rhine said. A screen and mounted meter-long firearm descended from the ceiling before Venn. He grabbed the double handles and flipped open the safety lock. The screen engaged, showing the Gastronian vessel and a partial view of the roof of the Alta. “Mounted laser engaged,” Venn said calmly. “Ready the weapons, Tor,” Captain Rhine told the giant who was even taller than the rest. “Fire at will.” “Incoming,” Gunter called. The entire ship jerked violently. Rhine turned his steerage column to the left and then the right. The Alta responded immediately, maneuvering without a time delay. Venn fired the virtual blaster, using the screen to track the Gastronian ship. He hit his target each time, even as he braced himself as Rhine rolled the Alta, dodging return fire. Through the screen, it was possible to see beams, some jagged, some streaming, leaving the Alta, heading toward a ship so black it almost blended into the recesses of space. The smaller black ship returned fire and the Alta shuddered once again. The Alta rocked with every direct hit. Rhine maneuvered the large vessel, trying to avoid taking damage. “Our shields are compromised. We’re working at seventy percent!” young Hans yelled. “Take over, Olaf,” Venn said. Venn took a place along a control panel. He and Rhine looked at each other and nodded at the same time. The Gastronians were a menace. They were scavengers and opportunists who roamed the universe looking for species who were weaker or already engaged in battles with other enemies. Venn led Tribe Huntu on Ordan and were neither weak nor distracted by debilitating war. Ordanians were a warrior people. They thought and behaved as such. The ship wasn’t outfitted for war but Ordanians never went anywhere in the universe unprepared for a fight. Venn entered the code to release missiles into the firing chambers. “We’re taking damage here. Stop toying with them and take them out,” Rhine said through gritted teeth. “On my signal, propel us away from the ship,” Venn said. “Line me up, Rhine!” 26
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Venn waited until he had a clear shot at a damaged portion of the Gastronian ship. “Now,” he called as he pressed the flashing red launch button. Three huge missiles torpedoed from the Alta and slammed into the black vessel. A series of explosions started at the site of impact and spread outward. “I see an escape pod,” Gunter called. “Do we fire?” “No, we have to worry about this big hunk of metal sitting out here damaged and easy prey. Let’s make for the nearest planet where we can repair the ship,” Rhine said. “That would be Fatel,” Tor supplied, pulling up a graphic on a monitor. The men all grimaced. “That hellhole,” Gunter said. Just then the console on the right wall popped and sent up sparks. Smoke ascended next. They all began pressing keys rapidly, looking grim faced. Venn turned to Camryn, where she sat trying not to fling herself at him and offer herself in gratitude. Her heart was still pounding in her chest. Something inside her shifted. She knew she wanted him. At that moment, simple survival wasn’t her top consideration. The feelings coursing through her were new and different. She tried to pass it off as the after-effects of adrenaline. “Look at my damn ship!” Captain Rhine yelled. “Can we make it to that all-forsaken planet Fatel?” Venn asked. “If we divert all power to the thrusters,” Rhine answered while hitting the smoking control panel. “Let’s do it. We’re sitting game out here.” Venn moved to his chair and sat, pressing keys that were lit in front of him. Camryn couldn’t take it any longer. She stood and leaned against the back of his chair. She laid one hand on his shoulder and the other one skimmed along his hair. He didn’t protest, so she continued to soothe herself by burying both hands in his hair. She slid her hands to the base of his neck and massaged. His neck tensed and then completely relaxed under her hands. She stood there for a while and then resumed her seat. She’d taken a risk there. If it had been forbidden for her to touch him, things could have gone badly. But he hadn’t been violent with her yet, so Camryn had caved to the desire to touch him. Uncontrollable urges directed toward a man were rare for her. The ship lurched a few times, but after about an hour she saw a planet that was a strange mix of red and blue. “I’ll try to set us down near water. It will be cooler,” Rhine said. “I have the coordinates of a space field near a large enough city to have the parts we want,” Olaf supplied. 27
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The landing was less than smooth. Venn gazed out at the blazing sun and sand of Fatel. The planet was one large desert with bodies of water thrown in at odd spurts. They still had to purchase parts, so most of the repairs would have to wait for the morning. “Gunter, Tor and I will go for parts,” Venn said. “I’m coming with you,” Camryn said. “You’ll stay here. This planet is practically lawless. I’d have a knife in my back and you would be stolen and sold to a slave caravan before you could say careless.” Venn scowled. “Right, I’m staying here.” He watched her turn and began holding a panel for Hans. At least she wasn’t stupid. Venn thought about her telling him to kill the Gastronian. He’d almost laughed. She’d looked like a patroness sending her champion out to defend her. He also recalled her saying, “I stay with you for now”. It had bothered him. He knew he wasn’t giving her up. They left the ship in cloaks and hoods to protect themselves from the harsh sun. The sooner they got the parts, the sooner he could get back to her.
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Chapter Four Several hours later, they deposited the parts and cloaks in the storage room and headed for the bridge. When the doors slid open, Venn saw the crew working diligently. Camryn knelt barefoot next to Olaf’s legs, holding a laser tool. Olaf grunted, which must have been the signal, because Camryn leaned under the console to hold out the tool. The sight of her barely covered bottom wiggling while the rest of her did no one knew what in the tight area under the console made anger spike uncontrollably in him. He walked forward and pulled Camryn out from the console. Even angry, he didn’t forget to shield her head. “What the,” she said. Camryn tried kicking back at him, but he straightened, turned her to face him and pulled her to his body. “Oh Venn, you’re back.” Camryn wrapped her legs around his waist. She smiled. “What were you doing with Olaf, Camryn?” “I was helping. I don’t know what all these tools are, but I was helping while you were gone.” She seemed happy with herself. He growled. “She was only helping, cousin,” Olaf said from the floor. Venn tried to take control of his anger as he cupped her full bottom. He held her in place. “It’s late. The ship has enough shield power to get us through until morning. Why don’t we all go to bed,” Rhine said calmly. Apparently his cousins were unsure of what to make of his lack of control. They filed out, leaving Venn and Camryn alone. “You’re really sweaty,” she said, running her fingers through the hair at the base of his neck. “This planet is mostly a desert.” He began walking to his chamber, still clutching her amazing ass. He really did have plans for it one of these days. He stepped into his room. Venn noticed how her skin glowed. He leaned his face into the slender curve of her neck, inhaling her scent. He couldn’t resist pressing his mouth to her neck and flicking his tongue over her skin. Camryn’s entire body shook against his. He quickly took the last steps that would lead him to the bedroom. He laid her on the bed, quickly coming down beside her, his
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hands roaming. He pushed her dress up and he was grateful that she helped, lifting first her hips and then her shoulders. “Venn, I want you,” she said breathlessly. He was almost scared to fully open his senses to see if she was telling the truth. He didn’t know what he would do if her words didn’t match what she was feeling. He needed to fuck her like he needed to breathe. His cock was very hard. He needed inside the pussy he could smell calling to him. He focused completely and almost shouted in triumph as he felt her desire. He rose above her and captured her lips. One handed, he tugged at his clothes as he laved at her lips, alternating between deeply mimicking the act of fucking with slowly sucking on her tongue. She’d gone molten trying to mold her body to his, tugging at his pants. He rolled away for a moment, shedding his boots, socks, pants and tunic. When he turned to her, she held both arms to him and he pulled her close, feeling her body against his. “Camryn, my control is almost all gone, sweet. I need you to do exactly as I tell you. Can you do that?” He knew his voice was gritty and guttural at this point. “Yes, Venn,” she said. He placed both of her hands above her head. “Leave your hands there. When you touch me, I forget that I have to be gentle because you’re so small. Next time you can touch.” He kissed her mouth and then licked his way to one dark nipple. He licked and circled it with his tongue before sucking it into his mouth. He heard Camryn hiss as her legs spread out. She pressed her heels to the bed and lifted her pussy upward. She undulated and his cock slid along her saturated slit. Venn released that nipple for the other and pressed his cock deeper between the folds of her pussy, sliding easily along her slickness. “Venn, oh that feels good. Wait though. Wait. That monster is not going to fit easily into my pussy.” She looked sideways down her body. “It’s bigger than it was before! Oh suck harder.” He slid one hand down her mound and paused to rub her clitoris. She shrieked. Then moaned and tried to press it into his hand harder. “Wait a minute, Camryn. I’m going to take care of your sweet pussy, don’t worry.” He kissed each nipple and then her belly before sliding down to lie between her legs. Venn pressed her knees wider apart and simply stared. The lips of her pussy were puffy and so engorged that they were opening before his eyes. Bare and smooth except for an inverted triangle of wavy hair that pointed straight to his new favorite place. It was amazing to watch the colbruna-colored lips part to show him a peek at the hot pink of the very inside of her pussy. She was shiny and she smelled like everything he’d ever wanted. He took his two index fingers and parted the glistening folds. Cream gushed from her and he knew
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there was nothing that was going to keep him from licking every bit of it up until he was full. “This is one pretty pussy. I bet it tastes as good as it looks.” He lowered his mouth to her tender flesh and Camryn let out a scream so loud that if he hadn’t known better, he would have sworn he hurt her. She grabbed his head and urged him on and he didn’t reprimand her for her disobedience. He sucked and licked and laved, burying his nose where her clit was trying to peek through and say hi. He heard her talking, but most of what she said didn’t make sense. The only thing she said that did was “Eat me, oh damn”. So he did. The more excited she got, the wetter she became, and he drank every drop. He couldn’t get enough. He inserted one finger inside her and finally got around to sucking her clit. With the first long pull, she froze, then her body jerked inside and out. Her orgasm lasted a long time and he applied gentle suction to force her to feel all of it as she tried to pull back from the pleasure. Finally, he removed his mouth so that she could come down. His finger slowly worked in and out of the tightest pussy he had ever encountered. Even the orgasm hadn’t relaxed the walls of her vagina much. He tried inserting another finger and it went and yet her pussy felt just as tight. When a third finger went in smoothly, he realized he had to chance it. She wasn’t radiating any pain, but his cock was so sensitive, the pressure of the sheets on it was threatening to make him lose control. He pushed himself up and knelt in front of her. Her body would jerk every few seconds as she felt little aftershocks from her orgasm. He clutched his erection in one hand, rubbing it slowly. “My goodness, and I thought I didn’t like sex. If your mouth can do that, I can’t wait to see what your cock can do.” Camryn then pulled her knees up and out and held them at chest level with her hands. She was as open to him as she could get and the sight of her total submission was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He lined up his cock head with her opening and pushed gently. “Fuck me now, Venn. I’m hungry for you.” He leaned down and kissed her hungrily on the mouth. If she didn’t shut up, he would ram into her and he didn’t think she could take that. He silenced her with his mouth and she was the one who sucked on his tongue. He eased another two inches inside her pussy and gasped at how tight she was. He rocked in a little at a time until he slid all the way inside. It was the best feeling he’d ever experienced. She squeezed him tight, but it didn’t hurt. It felt damn good, warm, wet and soft. He separated their mouths and started to move, gliding out as her tight pussy tried to suck him back in. Fucking her was amazing, and if he survived the experience, he would buy the woman whatever she wanted. She released one of her legs and propped her foot on his ass, then clutched his ass cheek with her free hand. “Faster,” she whispered. 31
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“Sweet, let your pussy adjust.” “Faster!” she said more forcefully and squeezed his cheek. He went to his elbows and gathered her face in his hands. He kissed her again as he gave her what she asked for. He pistoned inside her. She gasped against his mouth and met his thrusts with her undulating pelvis. He lifted his head and looked down into her face. Her expression held such wonder, he closed his eyes for a moment. Was that how he looked? Like he’d never felt anything like this in his life? He sped up, searching for release even though he wanted it to last forever. She shook her head from side to side in his hands and squeezed her eyes shut. She was gasping with each thrust and he could feel the walls of her pussy beginning to squeeze him tighter and tighter. “It’s almost too much,” she whispered and it seemed like she was talking to herself. He kissed her cheek and changed the direction of his stroke. Her mouth opened on a silent scream and she came apart in his arms. Her contractions pushed him over the edge and he roared his own release. He pressed in so that he felt the opening to her cervix and released stream after stream of cum deep in her belly. When every last drop was drained, he carefully rolled to his back, taking her with him. He adjusted her limbs while keeping his cock buried inside her. He used the last of his strength to cover them both. Her body gave several more shivers, but she remained limp, only nuzzling his chest sleepily. Venn let her recover quietly while he tried not to think about the fact that what they’d just created together had changed him forever. What the hell? Her body was still offering her little delicious climaxes as she lay like a blanket over Venn’s chest. She smiled. There was no faking here. She might not be able to walk tomorrow, but she was going to limp with a smile. The man had the biggest and longest cock she’d ever seen. When she had seen it earlier, she thought it was huge. She guessed it would make sense for him to be proportional. He was a huge man. But then the damn thing seemed to grow the more excited he got. He wasn’t fully hard now, but he was stretching her little pussy nicely. She squeezed him with her inner muscles, comforting herself. She felt him grow within her. “Really,” she said, giggling tiredly. She felt his hand slide across her ass. “Be still and it won’t bother you,” he grumbled. She flung the covers aside and sat up. “Maybe I want to bother it.” She rose and lowered herself along his length and gasped. It felt like every nerve in her pussy was being massaged all at once. “Wait. You’ll be too sore.” His voice was more gravelly than normal. She was sore, but the little bit of pain mixed with the pleasure and was exquisite. She’d never felt anything like this before. 32
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“This is the best dick I’ve ever had. It gives orgasms and I want more. I want you to fuck me until I pass out and wake up thinking about giving you a blowjob.” He gripped her hips. “I can do that.” “I know you can.” He was looking at her like she was the most beautiful sexy creature he had ever seen and she liked it. He raised her almost all the way off him and tilted her back so she had to brace her palms on his thighs. As she came down, the new angle added pressure to a spot that sent pleasure coiling throughout her body and the next thrust sent her into a climax that burst through her and didn’t even allow her the option of screaming to relieve the wonderful torment. She rode it out, blinking back the stars sliding across her vision. She gasped when she was pulled off his cock and positioned on her hands and knees. Cool air touched her wet pussy and added more shivers to her trembling body. Her arms gave out and she turned her head as she collapsed onto the mattress. She felt his hands parting her and imagined what he was seeing. She wasn’t prepared when he entered her, shoving every inch into her cunt in one thrust. She did scream then. She screamed and immediately started convulsing. She could feel every inch of him as he pounded into her, showing no mercy now. She didn’t want any. She felt completely out of control and could barely arch back into him, gripping the sheets as leverage. She knew she was babbling. Could hear herself saying things that didn’t make a bit of sense, but she couldn’t stop. She could hear him talking to her in a voice so deep and erotic it made her squeeze her pussy tighter. “That’s it. Take all of this cock in your pussy, sweet. You have the tightest pussy I’ve ever felt, Camryn. And it’s crying for me. You’re so wet and soft. I can feel every soft ridge in your pussy. That’s right, scream for me. Yell. Who’s fucking you like this?” “Dammit, you are, Venn. Oh hell that feels good,” she cried. He tucked in then and reached up and squeezed her nipple, fondling her breast. Her body couldn’t take it and she felt as if she imploded. Starting at her cunt, her body simply detonated in pleasure. It felt so good, her vision winked in and out. He leaned over and claimed her mouth, managing to half kiss her as the side of her face lay against the bed. He dropped his head on the mattress and pressed fully into her, finding his own release. She was so tired, she knew she wasn’t going to stay awake. She kissed his cheek tenderly and let sleep take her.
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Chapter Five Venn shivered even as a bead of sweat trickled down his spine from the oppressive heat on Fatel. He thought about waking up this morning to finding most of his cock being licked and sucked into Camryn’s mouth. He’d lightly laid his hand on her head and she looked up at him and smiled. She hadn’t been able to take all of him in her mouth obviously, but she’d tried. Oh how she’d tried. What she couldn’t consume, she stroked in a tight grip he’d watched her make moist with a swipe through her pussy. Best blowjob he had ever had. The men worked tirelessly in the already sweltering sun. The cloaks protected their skin but added to the oppressive blanket of heat on Fatel. Despite his desire to the contrary, Camryn was out as well. He’d made her wear a cloak, gloves and even a visor. He knew she had to be murderously hot, even if she did mostly dart out from the shade of the ship to offer water and tools to whoever needed it. Venn scanned his surroundings again. They were vulnerable here with no cover. He consoled himself with the fact that she looked like a young teenager of indiscriminate sex under all of her layers. Not enough enticement for someone to come up against six armed men. Venn finished what he was doing and moved to help Rhine. The faster they weren’t open prey, the better he would like it. He felt as if they were being watched. “You feel it too,” Rhine stated. Venn nodded. He scanned their surroundings again, then tracked Camryn. She was close to the Alta, gathering more water. Venn turned back to the ship. This all-forsaken planet wasn’t even at its hottest yet. They had about two more hours before they slowly cooked to death. They worked tirelessly, their incentive not to have to stay on Fatel another hot day and night. He slid the last panel in place just as the killing sun climbed to its peak in the sky. He looked around to see the men doing the same at strategic points. The ship had taken the most damage along the bow and starboard. There was a loud clang as Gunter and Tor fitted the last panel on their section. Venn watched as the panel gave way slightly and they wrestled it back into place, knocking over a set of spare parts in the process. A ball of wire rolled away from the ship. “I’ve got it!” Camryn called, racing for an outcrop of stones. Venn’s unease grew. He opened his senses as he started after her. “No, Camryn,” he called.
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To her credit, she immediately stopped. It was too late. Armed Gastronians stepped from behind the rocks. Venn and the crew pulled weapons, but Venn understood what the Gastronians did as well. Camryn stood between him and a good shot. Venn moved forward swiftly, but the Gastronian was closer. The green man swung her around so they both faced Venn, pulling her close in front of him. She didn’t betray herself, but Venn could sense the revulsion sliding off her in gusts. “You have her covered up nicely against this sun. Can’t damage the goods. You can’t cover that smell, can you? And she’s sweating, so it’s stronger.” He flicked his long tongue out. “I think I want the girl more than I want the trilliu, but I’ll take both.” Camryn stared at Venn. Venn kept his blaster trained on the Gastronian. Think, Camryn, think. Venn needed a good shot and there was no way in hell she was going anywhere with something that had a tongue that long. She couldn’t expect Venn to trade whatever this trilliu was for her, so she was going to have to get herself out of this. Besides, it was hot as hell on this planet. She dropped her weight so that her captor had to readjust. Then quickly she stomped his foot, which probably didn’t hurt much with only sandals on her feet. She elbowed him in what was supposed to be his belly, but because of his height was something he held much more dearly. He doubled over and she brought a backhanded fist to his nose. Camryn dropped to the ground and began crawling toward the ship. The firearms made sounds like hundreds of mosquitoes hitting a bug lamp. She didn’t look back, just belly crawled. She could hear the grunts from men dying. Was she always going to be fleeing for her life? At least this time she’d gotten to protect herself. It felt good. A rock skittered over toward her and she jumped. She was tired of being scared. She’d been scared of the invaders, scared of Lowso, scared of the leering men in the market and the green man who just tried to abduct her. She’d been scared that Venn would share her and abuse her. She didn’t want to be scared every possible minute. Fear makes you cautious. It keeps you alive. Maybe. The only time she wasn’t scared was when Venn made her come undone. The noise ceased. Camryn was at the ramp to the Alta, her escape inside imminent. Someone grabbed her and she kicked out wildly. “No!” “Camryn, calm yourself. It is Venn.” Camryn sagged in relief. “Are they dead?” He pulled her to her feet, blocking her view of the dead men. “Yes,” he said evenly. “Are any of your men hurt?” She inspected Venn from head to toe, patting him to make sure he was unharmed. 35
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“We are unharmed. Go inside so that we may handle things out here. Someone may have heard the fight.” Satisfied that he was okay, she walked on shaky legs into the relatively cool interior of the Alta. She stopped in the supply room to hang up her gear. Her dress was drenched and completely unwearable. She would have to ask about washing it. Camryn took a quick shower and washed her hair. She made sure that she applied the cream for her hair and skin. Hell no was she getting sold or given away. She had it good here until she could figure out how to get her freedom back. Maybe they had an underground railroad on Ordan. She waited on the bed as long as her eyes would stay open, then closed them. She couldn’t leave Venn’s quarters naked and she was not putting that dress on her clean body. How long did it take to covertly dispose of bodies anyway?
***** Barefoot, Venn entered the bedchamber to see Camryn sleeping peacefully. Naked. He located her dress on the floor and added his clothes to it to make a pile for the sterilizer. Venn had been worried that the events of the day had troubled her. Obviously, she was made of sturdier stuff. He wanted nothing more than to lie down next to her and rest, but he’d only come to quickly shower and change before relieving Rhine on bridge. They needed to haul ass off this planet. When he reached the bridge, Rhine passed him to take his own shower. Hans looked at him from his station. “She is different. Strong,” he said quietly. Venn squashed the pride he felt thinking of her actions. “She is a very different female.” “Smart to strike and then get out of the way,” Tor said. “Also smart to be sleeping like a baby while we get far away from this hell of a planet,” Venn said. They worked diligently and quietly. Venn released command to Rhine when he returned. They placed as much distance between the Alta and possible repercussions as they could. Because of the danger, they would sleep in shifts and Venn went back to his quarters and curled himself around Camryn, wishing he weren’t so sleepy so he could enjoy her softness longer. Venn awoke in four hours and took his shift. Camryn was still asleep when he returned with food. They were clear of danger. He placed the tray on the dresser and gazed at her. She’d rolled to her stomach and clutched the pillow under her head and breasts. Her legs were sprawled, affording not only a full view of her ass but also her pussy lips below. There was no hesitation or resistance in his mind as he set to work awakening her the best way he knew how. 36
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He gently lay down on his back between her legs and positioned her on her knees with her legs spread wider apart. She stirred slightly as he gazed up at her pussy above him. “Venn,” she said sleepily, starting to turn her body. Venn inhaled the moment before he opened his mouth over her cunt. “Oh,” she moaned as she pressed her pussy into his mouth. He treated her pussy like a mouth, intimately kissing it inside and out before sucking on her clit. “What the hell are you doing? Don’t stop. Don’t you dare stop. Who taught you that? Oh, oh, oh,” she moaned and chanted. Venn laved and sucked on her succulent cunt. She tasted like she smelled, sweet and spicy at once, and he couldn’t get enough. Camryn’s pussy also made so much sap it threatened to escape down his chin. He’d never encountered a female who turned and stayed liquid so fast. He redoubled his efforts, determined to lick all of her sticky treat. He palmed her rounded ass and held her tighter to his mouth. Her chants of “Oh, oh, oh” gave way to, “Eat my pussy. Eat all of it, baby. Damn your tongue is magic”. Venn concentrated on her clit and entered her channel with his thumb, thrusting in and out as he used his forefinger to rub from her perineum up to her anus and back. Her whole body seemed to freeze before she began to come all over his face. He licked her lightly through it, then helped her to her side. “Wait a second for me to catch my breath and I’ll return the favor,” she said breathlessly. Venn pulled himself up the bed and kissed her shuddering breasts. Then he simply rolled her to her back, pushed her legs back and entered her smoothly. “Fuck,” she groaned. Venn hissed out a breath and closed his eyes. Her pussy was just as tight as he remembered. He kissed her cheek and nuzzled her neck and she clutched at his back in response. Right in the middle of wanting to fuck her into the mattress, a wave of tenderness hit him and he tried to shake it off. She hadn’t wanted him to go slowly before, but that was what his body was urging him to do, savor every thrust. He let go of her legs and gathered her to him with one hand against her back and the other cradling her head, then he wrapped himself completely around her and pulled almost completely out, only to slide back into her sopping pussy slowly, but steadily and forcefully. He kissed her lips, her cheek, her ear, her neck. He wanted her entire body aware of him and needing him. There was a brand on her wrist, but he wanted her to know that he was branding every part of her body, rubbing his scent into her pores. Any hypersensitive man who smelled her would know that she belonged to him.
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Slowly she wrapped her legs and arms around him, clutching him as tightly as he clutched her. He licked from her sternum straight to her chin and she shivered. Venn raised his head to stare into her brown eyes. Her face was flushed, her mouth slightly parted, her eyes slumberous. “I’m going to take you so that every time you think of your pussy, you think of me,” he whispered. “Every time you touch the pretty brown folds, you’ll remember some part of me stroking you, my tongue licking you, my cock thrusting in and out, making your cunt spill its juices.” She whimpered and tried to look away. She felt vulnerable, but he needed her to understand that she was his. He needed to master her. He nipped at her chin until she brought her face back to him. “You feel my cock sliding in and out of you, Camryn?” he asked, kissing her lips slightly. She nodded. “Answer me, Camryn. Do you feel my cock sliding along inside the walls of your pussy?” he said more intensely. “Yes, Venn, it feels so good.” He thrust harder but didn’t increase his speed. He pushed his pelvis against her clit with each thrust and it wasn’t long before she was coming again. He kept it up, gritting his teeth when his own body wanted to release. He led her body through two more climaxes before he increased his stroke and allowed his own. He threw his head back and roared his own release. There was no doubt that he had marked her. It was good, because the tiny female made him feel things that he didn’t want to feel for any woman. He turned them slightly to the side and held her, not allowing her to distance herself from him in any way. Once her climax subsided, he could feel her resistance to being held. He held onto her anyway. What she couldn’t hide from him was that she wanted him, but also wanted some distance from him. He wasn’t going to give her any. If there was ever a woman who needed to be mastered with a firm hand and tenderness, it was Camryn. Maybe if his father had applied the same practice in their home, he would have died having known a measure of peace. Camryn stiffened. Why were men always trying to hold her after sex? Weren’t they supposed to grunt and roll over? This one grunted and held her tighter. One of her hands was pressed against his chest. The muscle definition there was awesome and frightening. She didn’t believe he would hurt her if she struggled to break free, but she couldn’t be certain. She forced first that hand and then the other parts of her body to relax. He nuzzled her and kissed her cheek. It felt good. What was wrong with her? This man owned her. There shouldn’t be anything about him that made her feel good or safe. The sex was about survival. She wanted to inspire feelings of trust and lust in him, not feel any herself.
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Venn made a soothing sound against her temple and slid his large hand from her hair down her back again and again. For such a large man, he was surprisingly gentle. Then she remembered he knew what she was feeling. Struggling with him wouldn’t work. He was simply too strong. She had to use her brains and any wiles she possessed, because she was escaping and she needed his guard down. Camryn closed her eyes and tucked her head under his chin. Her mouth was one nudge away from his delectable collarbone. Stupid lust. She breathed out and tried to clear her mind and her emotions. Venn shivered. The movement traveled along her body, eliciting a swift response from her traitorous pussy. Camryn ruthlessly controlled herself. The sex was awesome, but it was simply a tool for her freedom. She would use it without remorse. She wouldn’t be caught in the trap she laid for him. Venn rolled her onto her back and kissed her forehead, then each eyebrow and the tip of her nose. Her eyes widened. He skipped over her mouth and made a path of soft kisses from her cheek to her sensitive ear. She tried to duck her head, but he nudged it back up and grazed soft kisses and lightly sharp teeth across her neck to her other ear. He was too gentle. Her mind registered that this was a continuation of the lesson he’d given her earlier. She attempted to circumvent him by opening her legs and reaching her free hand down to grasp his cock. He pushed up onto his elbows and captured her roving hand and held it against his chest along with her other hand. Then he straddled her legs and slid them back closed. His dick lay heavy and warm against her belly. He smiled at her. “That isn’t how we’re going to do this.” She didn’t like the look in his eyes at all. She forced a fake pout. “But I want you to fuck me hard and quick with that big cock of yours.” His dick twitched against her belly, but his expression didn’t change. “What a dirty little mouth you have,” he whispered against her lips. He pressed his mouth to hers, but it wasn’t exactly a kiss. He licked her full bottom lip and nipped the top lip before she could try to make him crazy with her mouth. Yep, this wasn’t going to be good at all. She was already breathing heavily and all he’d done was given her a closed mouth kiss and a lick. She tried moving her lower body enticingly and he clamped his muscled thighs tighter around her. She moved her breasts along his torso. He lifted his chest away from her and pressed her down by the hands he still held together in front of her. “I can’t move,” she told him, trying to show him with her eyes that she wanted to be fucked now. “That’s because I don’t want you to.” His voice was raspy, but controlled.
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He pulled her hand up and slowly sucked her pinky into his mouth. His tongue swirled around her finger and fire burned in her pussy. He worked each digit the same way, into his mouth, swirl and tug and fire straight to her nipples and pussy. She groaned and closed her eyes. He pulled her thumb from his mouth. And nothing else happened. She opened her eyes. He was staring at her patiently. “Leave your eyes open. Keep your eyes on me.” She wanted to cry then. In fact, her eyes watered. She knew what he was going to do to her. Other men had tried to conquer her this way. It never worked. She was only half in her body when they touched her. With Venn she was always fully present. All she seemed to be with him was nerve endings and flesh. Her mind and body were fully intertwined and immediate. She needed to try again to distract him. “I know this trick where I lie with my head backward off the bed,” she began, but was cut off. “If you do that again, I’m going to tie something over your mouth.” She twitched. His mouth formed a smile against her wrist. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” She shook her head no. She thought that might be a lie. She sucked air through her teeth as he kissed his way up her arm. Her elbow received special attention. The fact that it almost tickled was an extra torture. “What are you trying to accomplish here?” she asked, defiant now. He ignored her and lightly bit his way from her shoulder to her collarbone. Her body began to shake and she had to blink rapidly so that she could follow his request to keep her eyes on him. He passed over the other shoulder and down the other arm. Her pinky was the last digit he released from his mouth. “The combination of your taste and smell.” He paused. “There really are no words to describe how heady you are.” Her heart was racing now. He hadn’t touched her breasts or her cunt, but she was more than ready for him to. Her thighs were wet with her juices. Her legs were being pressed together, but that wasn’t a deterrent for her pussy. She could feel every inch of her skin. The feel of his strong hands around her wrists was incredible. She wasn’t begging, no matter what. He pulled her arms down to her sides. He kissed a path down the center of her breast bone and then around the globe of her right breast. Tighter and tighter he made the rings until there was nothing left for him to suck on but her dark brown nipple. He pulled away to the left breast instead and she whimpered. He repeated the torture with her left breast. It felt so good. He raised his head and blew cool air across her chest. She arched her back. “Lie flat,” he demanded.
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“Just fuck me and fill me with your cum,” she commanded. She sounded angry, but even she could hear the desperation under the words. He pulled up. They locked eyes and she saw lust and raw determination behind his eyes. He refused to move. He forced her back against the mattress. He didn’t begin again until she was still. Then he slid down her body, adjusting his legs so that his knees pushed her legs open. He dropped his chest lightly against her pussy, keeping her legs open, but her pussy away from his mouth and hands. “Don’t twist. Don’t rock against me. Stay still or I stop.” He nibbled along her side. Camryn balled up her hands and tightened her toes painfully to keep from moving the rest of her body at the exquisiteness of his mouth against her belly. He was so close to her pussy. It was throbbing like a heartbeat now. She didn’t think she was going to make it. She licked her dry lips. This was looking like a battle of wills she was going to lose. He moved down again and this time her legs were propped open by his massive shoulders. Nothing but air touched her hungry cunt. “Ah.” She couldn’t tear her eyes away. He kissed and licked her hips. Venn traced the crease of her leg where her thigh met her mound. Then he proceeded to lap up all the moisture from her thighs. She screamed. She couldn’t help it. There was so much pressure built up in her body and he wasn’t allowing her to expend some of it with movement. Her mind had narrowed completely to her cunt and Venn’s mouth. She didn’t care about the tears leaking from her eyes or the sounds she was making that sounded more like she was being tortured rather than pleasured within an inch of her life. “Fuck!” she yelled. Her eyes rolled as she watched his pink tongue glide from her knee to the crease of her leg again. “Do you want me to bury my face in your pussy? I wish you could see how wet and puffy you are. How open you are. Your little clit is begging me to play with it,” he said. She breathed out slowly. “What do I have to do?” Her voice cracked. “Ask me nicely. Tell me how badly you want me to lick all the stickiness out of this sweet little pussy. Say my name when you do.” He pulled back a little. She licked her lips. There was no question of her refusing. She needed his mouth on her. “Please, Venn, I…really want to feel you devour my little pussy and make me cum. It’s throbbing and it almost hurts. Only you can make it better.” His mouth was on her before she could finish the last word. She sucked her breath in and then yelled her pleasure to the universe. His head dipped down and his nose nudged her clit. The climax hit her that fast. All brain functions must have been 41
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diverted to her pussy, because for several moments she swore she couldn’t see or hear. But she could still feel. On some level she knew when he pulled his mouth away and replaced it with his cock, but really the pleasure just continued. His dick just created a new sensation to ride. He still held her wrists and she loved the feel of him tugging them every time he rocked back into her. He was done quickly, stroking into her so hard that he had to have been on the very edge. His pleasure cry was guttural and sexy as hell. This time when he gathered her close, she went willingly. She made no protest as he spent a long time kissing her passionately before surrendering her mouth so she could sleep.
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Chapter Six Since Camryn had asked so nicely, and he must admit, nakedly, to go with them to the market in his favorite region of the planet Burme, Venn had ventured out first to buy an outfit that would cover her from head to toe. The loosely shaped indigo gown was embroidered beautifully with gold thread. It had a hood and long sleeves that covered her hands. He’d bought boots to fully encase her feet. The veil allowed her eyes and forehead to show, but that was quickly remedied by pulling forward the hood. She appeared richly garbed and mysterious. They all watched Camryn turn this way and that, admiring her finery. “If she keeps her hands and face covered, everything will be fine,” Venn said, staring at her. Emotions flitted to the surface around Rhine, but he seemed to catch each one before Venn could catalogue them. “This is just asking for trouble. The Burmen are peaceful and don’t have hyper senses to fully appreciate what walks among them, but there are bound to be travelers in the market. One peek of colbruna skin or one sniff of her and we will be fighting again,” Rhine declared. Camryn pulled the hood from her hair and moved closer to Venn, placing her hands against his chest. Her brown eyes stared up at him beseechingly. “Venn, please don’t make me stay here. I will stay hidden and you promised I could go.” He saw moisture in her eyes, and even though he knew that Rhine spoke true words, he didn’t have it in him to tell her no. Rhine pressed on. “When we get to Ordan, she will be safer. As an obvious paramour, she will be more visible and better protected. Here we are five and she is,” he paused to stare at the angry eyes she trained on him, “something men would kill for.” Tears overflowed her eyes and she looked down. “I am not a thing. I’m a person.” Their Ordanian hearing caught the softly spoken words. “We can all watch her, Rhine. Burme is a peaceful place and Venn promised her she could go,” Tor said evenly. “I have decided, Rhine,” Venn said. He listened to his cousin’s argument, but ultimately the decision was his. He watched as Camryn swiped at her tears with her hands and Rhine brought himself under control. They started out a solemn group, yet the sights and sounds of the market soon changed the mood. Venn was bombarded with the feelings of the shoppers and merchants. Boredom, excitement, hilarity all teemed in the brightly colored setting. 43
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“It’s wonderful,” Camryn said from beside him. Venn had a specific destination in mind, but he allowed her to stop as her eyes caught on the offerings of the smiling merchants. He was picking up the fabrics and jewelry to add to his sister’s dowry. He wanted the damn girl married and out of his household, taking their mother with her. Poison, the both of them. They finally came upon the shop that he needed. He had done business with this family before. They did excellent work and were honest. The patriarch, Lagel, greeted them himself. The entire family was there for the visit. A young male and female about four and six scampered closer and closer to Camryn as Venn inspected fabrics. “Camryn, do you like this?” He was fingering gold filigreed cloth. It would overpower his sister, but look stunning on Camryn. She walked slowly toward him. Keeping her hands hidden in the elaborate sleeves, she touched the fabric. “It’s lovely. So is this one. They’re very beautiful.” He grunted in agreement. “Add a bolt of each. Wrap it separately with a note that it is only to be opened by me.” He ordered many pieces of jewelry to go in his sister’s dowry. Then he inquired of the patriarch if they could discuss business discreetly. The male simply clapped his hands and the private parlor they occupied cleared of his family. “You wish to speak privately, sir?” he asked calmly. The males dispersed around the room. “My female is hidden from view for a reason, yet I need to outfit her properly. Can that be done here without anyone gaining a description of her, at least not until week’s end when we are safely on Ordan?” “My sister is an excellent seamstress. She can have a few things made up today and a few things sent along. She is also mute. She will spread no tales and neither will I. May I see the madam to ascertain the correct colors for her?” Venn beckoned Camryn to his side, then stepping slightly behind her, lowered her hood and detached her veil. He’d been watching the merchant’s reaction. The man’s eyes widened considerably. “Beautiful,” he said. “Jewel and natural colors will work best, definitely.” He went to the door and called, “Send me Gela only.” When the seamstress came in, the crew of the Alta went back out to the front of the house. Gela’s eyes widened as she gazed at Camryn. Lagel fired off rapid directions and the silent female helped Camryn out of her robes behind a partition and measured her. Lagel showed Venn drawings of fashions. By the time they were done, she had several more things to wear other than the brown dress she’d worn from Earth. When they exited the shop, they proceeded back to the ship with a young male from the shop hauling their goods in a cart. He’d spent a lot of credits today on keeping Camryn covered beautifully. As she thanked him prettily in the shower later, he realized it had been all worth it. 44
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***** Ors signaled the Alta the next day. Venn considered sending Camryn from the bridge, but decided it was simply not worth the subterfuge. Ors would simply hear about her some other way or see her when he came to their keep. “Greetings, Tribe Huntu!” he said exuberantly. “Greetings, Citizen Ors,” Venn replied, hiding a grimace. Ors was a large male, but he’d gone to fat with too much opulence and wealth. He also always had an air of avarice about him that put Venn off. He wasn’t a particularly controlled male either. Venn knew the exact moment Ors saw Camryn. The shock and greed was too much for the older man to hide. He knew what the man saw. She sat behind him with all of her curly hair upswept so that it cascaded to one shoulder. She was wearing a new dress. It was a deep purple and deceptively simple. It started on the same shoulder her hair touched and seemed to fall lovingly down her body to the floor. Thank goodness she sat. If not, Ors would have seen the way the fabric seemed to dance happily around her as she moved. “You must come to dine with us, Lord Huntu, and bring your lovely companion.” The statesman never took his eyes from Camryn. Venn had several choices. All of them had consequences. If he accepted, as was polite, he might end up killing Citizen Ors. If he declined without good reason, he would lose a good trade relationship and possibly offend Ors beyond repair. So he chose to lie. “We regret that it is impossible to accept that invitation at this time. I am carrying a time-sensitive treaty and we were delayed by an attack from the Gastronians. We must accept hospitality at a later date.” Without flat out calling Venn a liar, Ors could do nothing. The head of Tribe Huntu wasn’t an enemy to dismiss, so this left Ors with only one option. “A pity, but I understand diplomatic matters. Fortunately, House Ivar has been invited to visit in one week by your dear mother. Ors, out.” The screen went blank. “Make sure the connection is dead,” Venn said. “Clear. So now we just lie to important Ordanians?” Rhine asked. “Our other options were not acceptable to me.” “Venn, dinner wouldn’t have lasted that long.” “Look at her, Rhine. Really look. She is too much for the greediest man on our planet to resist.” There was no response to that and thankfully Camryn remained quiet, only shifting her legs briefly. “We are a half a day out.” Tor dropped the statement into the silence. 45
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Good. Venn wouldn’t be satisfied until he had her completely secured. There was no way in hell he was letting her slip away from him through carelessness. He understood that the woman behind him was an obsession, but by its very nature an obsession couldn’t be rationalized. He wanted her. He’d taken her and she was his. There wasn’t anyone who could tell him she wasn’t, even the woman herself.
***** Camryn’s walk from the airstrip to the waiting vehicle was an enlightening one. The Ordanians kept the mechanical and technological intrusions to a minimum. They apparently had mastered the art of keeping their ecosystem as untouched as possible. Rolling meadows surrounded the hangar and airstrip. The craft that awaited them, Camryn was told, could hover or roll on wheels. They used the hover capabilities to minimize the need for road building. She watched the fields pass. She saw sun-kissed farmers working the land, using animals that closely resembled Earth oxen and horses, only bigger and sturdier, like the male. Hans called the ox kostut. Each one had a black pattern etched into its nearly hairless rump. The horses were magnificent. Hans said they were hastut. They were huge with black horns even bigger than the oxen’s. Their ears were low on their heads, almost under the horns. Their manes and tails each had an individual stripe or zigzag design and each hastut had a repeating pattern on the legs. The colors black, white, brown and gray seemed to repeat in each animal and she wondered if they came in any other colors. The animals fascinated her but also made her homesick. They also reminded her that she wasn’t on familiar ground. They were alien. Camryn sat up and gazed at the keep as they approached. Guards were posted along the wall. The wall looked like stone, but the key pad that flipped down when a hidden button was pushed made her believe that the stone covered steel. They passed through a courtyard wide enough to put a row of townhomes. There was activity everywhere. Children played as tall males and females in simple clothes moved back and forth, working and visiting. Camryn sighed. The entire scene looked like a reenactment of medieval times. She saw technology, but it was masked where possible, just like the outer walls. Venn must not like the look of metal. They all exited the vehicle. Camryn knew all eyes were on her because almost all movement stopped as she emerged from the vehicle interior. She felt like a Lilliputian and a curiosity. Fortunately, she’d been practicing keeping her emotions under control. She applied control now. Venn claimed that most people outside his family only possessed slight empathic talents. She wasn’t taking any chances.
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Venn gave orders and the mesmerized Ordanians jumped to attention. The Alta crew continued into the keep. She was completely impressed. Venn called it a keep, but it was an actual castle, complete with stone and marble floors, wide staircases, vast paintings and beautiful pieces of sculpture. The males walked through as if the setting was nothing new. And she supposed it wasn’t. “Bring food to the dining hall,” Venn called. Evidently, he didn’t have to specify who should do that. “Where do I go, Venn?” Camryn kept fear out of her voice. He looked down at her. “You stay with me until I say otherwise.” Camryn pursed her lips. That was very lord of the manor. Now she was going to see the real Venn. She tried to memorize the path as he led her to an opulent dining hall. She attempted to step back, but he took her arm and seated her to his right at the table. The males pulled out places and servants and food began to appear. Venn placed food on her plate, then grunted. It must have been Colossus for “eat”. She ate. They talked around her and she observed as much as she could. Did they all live here? She would be sad to see them go if they didn’t. She didn’t know anyone else. Camryn touched the tattoo on the inside of her wrist. She hated the swirling scrollwork. “What is a slave doing dining at my table?” a strident female voice called. All eyes turned to a tall, striking, blonde female. Camryn glanced at Venn. “Mother.” Venn gazed at the woman. His eyes and expression showed little to no feeling. Cold. “Son, why is there an…exotic,” she said this like somebody else might say “cockroach”, “sitting at my table?” Weren’t these people supposed to be emotionless? Man, before the invasion, Camryn knew she would have been throwing down with the tall female. Now she just seethed in silence. Attacking a free person carried heavy consequences. A verbal attack induced a severe beating and a physical attack incurred death unless the master made restitution to the victim. Lowso told her that little gem the second day she had been in his care. Venn hadn’t laid a hand on her yet in anger, but men were funny about their mamas. To ease the temptation to hit her, Camryn slowly stood and went to stand behind Venn’s chair. “This is my table, Mother. This is my holding. You have a dowager residence. Go there if you don’t enjoy the company I keep.” “Bronwyn needs the prestige of Huntu keep to make a good match. It is your duty to provide and care for your sister in your father’s place.” “I know my duty to my family. This is Camryn of Earth.” Wow, that sounded epic.
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The female gasped. Apparently being introduced to a slave was beneath her. She turned to the other male at the table. “Rhine, Gunter, Tor, Olaf, how was your trip? Hans, come and greet your mother.” “Lady Helsa,” they chorused, then made vague excuses and left the room. Hans walked to his mother and gave the shortest embrace Camryn had ever seen before quitting the room as well. Apparently Lady Helsa did not inspire devotion in her offspring. There was a rustle at the doorway and in swept another Huntu. She looked like Lady Helsa, only younger, right down to the disdain in her eyes. Her gaze swept the room. Her eyes widened and her nostrils flared as she spied Camryn. Then she focused on Venn. “Brother, why are the servants taking those cases of cloth and clothes to your room? My dowry is being stored in the room next to my own.” “Those things don’t belong to you. They contain Camryn’s clothing,” he replied, going back to his food. “Camryn? Is that its name?” Bronwyn sneered. “Bronwyn,” Venn said warningly. Did this little bitch just call me it? “Why does a slave need such fine clothing? Surely an exotic should be chained naked to a bed somewhere. Why would it need clothes for that?” “Bronwyn, you will not say such vulgar things,” Lady Helsa said while managing to direct her ire at Camryn. She had enough of this place already. Don’t worry, wenches, I won’t be here long. She hoped. Seriously, she needed to find a way out of the keep and onto a space ship. At the moment, the only space ship she knew was the Alta. Captain Rhine didn’t want her here, but she didn’t think he would go against his cousin to help her escape. Maybe she could sneak aboard somehow the next time he was sent out. If he went back to Burme or a similar planet, she might be able to find work and pay someone to take her home. The only problems with her plan were that so far she was never allowed to be alone and she didn’t have a clue how to sneak aboard a vessel with only one door with no handles or exterior locks to pick. She glanced back at the female looking at her in disgust. She had to figure out a way to get out of here. When the female of the house hated you, they made trouble for you. She didn’t for one minute believe that Venn would side with her over his family in an altercation. However long it took, she needed to stay alive and unbroken. There was no way she could stay subjugated under these people without forgetting herself and attacking someone. She had to be smart about this situation. She blew out heavily. It didn’t help. She calmed a bit at Venn’s next words.
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Venn had had enough. Camryn seethed behind him, giving off so much rage that he was surprised that she’d remained quiet at all. His father had made a mistake allowing his mother to corrupt Bronwyn. Venn just wanted them both gone. “You may respect my wishes or you may pack and go live in the dowager holding,” he said. Both females seemed to freeze. Lady Helsa’s mouth thinned and Bronwyn glanced from Camryn to Venn thoughtfully. “My presenting is next month,” Bronwyn said, without the venom this time. “You could plan just as well from your mother’s house.” “I will say no more, Brother. I don’t wish to offend. Come, Mother, I must show you the wonderful things my brother has bought me in his travels.” Bronwyn laid a firm hand on her mother’s arm. Lady Helsa pursed her lips, but allowed Bronwyn to lead her out. “Smart girl,” Camryn muttered behind him. Venn stood and pushed the chair out of the way. At the scrape of the legs on the stone floor, Camryn gazed up at him from where she had been staring after his mother. He deliberately crowded her against the wall, enclosing her much smaller body with his larger one. “I thought Ordanians were empaths and controlled their emotions,” she said accusingly. “No, only a few of us have a true gift of empathy or telepathy. It runs in the Huntu line, but my mother is only a Huntu by marriage and my sister takes after her line.” He lifted her a little so that he could nudge her neck and take in her scent. “All Ordanians have heightened senses. Only a few have the skills of empathy or telepathy. Of course, they are just super-heightened senses.” “Okay, so I won’t have to struggle so hard to control the lust I’m feeling right now?” He smiled against her neck at her breathless words. It was a long walk to his chamber, but servants would be coming at any moment to clear the table. He groaned. “Wait, Venn, wait.” She pushed against his chest. “I need information first. I don’t know how things work here. Where do I sleep and eat? What work do I do? What are the rules?” Her questions were sensible, but annoying while his cock was so hard he was nearly crippled by it. Venn gathered his control around himself and moved away from her slightly. They still touched, yet he no longer enfolded her into his body. Venn had briefly entertained distancing himself from Camryn, putting her in with the servants and pretending that he didn’t take note of every breath she took. Then he realized some ruddy-faced gardener might dare to put his grubby hands on Camryn and then Venn would kill him.
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So no, he wouldn’t be letting her out of his sight. Maybe later, once he had finally worked her out of his system, he would not care if another man kissed her or fucked her. Unfortunately, he didn’t think that would be anytime soon. “You will sleep and eat with me. I don’t care what Lady Helsa says.” In fact, he hoped she did leave in a dudgeon. “I do have business, so I will get someone to keep you out of trouble.” “What does that mean?” He didn’t need empathy to see that she didn’t like that. Her eyes pierced him with suspicion and he realized that she was losing her wariness of him and allowing herself to act on her feelings without fear. “You will need someone to see to you day to day. Like a…lady’s maid. She can teach you what you need to know,” he said. “That’s a different idea. An enslaved person with a lady’s maid.” She snorted and it was surprisingly cute. An exotic’s place in a household was a delicate thing. He had heard of them being set up like mistresses and also subjugated completely as his sister had intimated. His inclination was to do the former. Nolf, the castle’s manager, entered, leading servers who began to clean up the meal. “Nolf,” Venn said, straightening and taking Camryn’s hand. Nolf was tall and thin, though not as tall as the Huntu males. “Lord Huntu, how may I serve you?” “This is Camryn. I need you to recommend a girl who will look after Camryn and keep her safe. She needs to be able to teach her our ways as well. To make her task easier, she will answer only to me.” Venn knew that by saying this he was elevating this servant to Nolf’s status. Nolf would be very careful who he recommended, because in asking the way Venn had, Nolf knew that he placed a high value on Camryn. “Awya would be a good choice. She is very sweet and has been trained as a lady’s maid and governess.” “Have her come to my office. Come, Camryn.” He led her out and up the stairs to the east wing of the keep where he kept rooms. She sighed heavily as they crossed the threshold of his office. “You’ve been very quiet, Camryn.” Too quiet and she was sad. She shrugged her shoulders. “This is all different. I almost wish we were back on the ship. You won’t have much time for me here and I am different than everyone I’ve seen here.” She walked around the room, lightly touching things. “Are there other exotics here?” “No, not in this holding. I’m sure there are a few on the planet, but by their very value, they wouldn’t leave their home.” “Oh,” was all she said. “Camryn.” There was a soft but firm knock on the door. 50
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He called for the person to enter. The door opened and a tall thin young female entered. Her strawberry blonde hair was pulled back and tied under a kerchief. She seemed slightly nervous and stood just inside the doorway with her hands clasped slightly in front of her. “You wanted to see me, my lord?” “Are you Awya?” he asked “Yes, Lord Huntu.” “Tell me your family and qualifications to be a lady’s maid.” “I am the niece of Mr. Nolf. As he has no children, he had me trained as a lady’s maid and governess,” she said quietly. “What do you do in the holding now?” “I was training under the housekeeper. I was qualified since I can read and write.” She seemed acceptable so far. “This is Mistress Camryn.” Venn took Camryn’s hand from the top of his chair and tugged her forward to stand beside him. “I need someone to be her lady’s maid. She will need to be taught our ways as well. You will only answer to me in this keep. Would you like this position?” The girl’s entire face brightened. “Oh yes, my lord, I will do a wonderful job.” “Tell your uncle of your new status and salary.” Venn quoted her a sum. He was also sure that her new status in the servant hierarchy entitled her to new accommodations and wardrobe. The exorbitant salary would keep her loyal as well. While Awya had radiated excitement, Camryn was giving off envy. Envy she was trying to unsuccessfully suppress. What was there to envy? Certainly not beauty. Men in the galaxy would kill to possess her. Had killed. Did she want to work? If she asked him, he would give her anything. Almost anything, there was no way anyone was stealing her from him and there was no way he would let her go. “What is the matter, Camryn?” She stared at the spot Awya had vacated. She bet Awya could quit and walk out of this holding anytime she wanted. Whether that was wise was beside the point. She could leave. Yet Camryn was caged. She looked down at her lovely new clothes and the masculine opulence of Venn’s office. It was a gilded, carpeted cage, but still a cage. She was getting out one way or another. “Why can’t I be like Awya? I can work. I could buy back my freedom.” She watched as the compassion on his face leaked away and left an expression as cold as the Arctic. “No.” 51
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“Why not?” she whispered. Tears burned her eyes. Why not? Venn wasn’t normally cruel. He protected her. He was gentle with her. But what did she really know about him? Maybe he was a longtime slave owner who never freed slaves. He suddenly stood and pulled her closer. “You’re mine.” The declaration repulsed her and thrilled her. She was literally the property of this man, yet she enjoyed his sexual possession of her body. Fucking Stockholm syndrome. She tried to pull away, but he held her fast. She couldn’t get away and she knew it. Feeling helpless, she bared her teeth and hissed at him. This wasn’t going to be another example of him making her do exactly as he pleased with a gentle touch. Fists clenched, she strained against the hold he had on both her arms. “Stop this. This is your home, just accept it,” he said in the hardest voice he had ever used with her. She didn’t care at the moment. If she could have kneed him in the nuts, she would have. Unfortunately he held her too tightly. A knock sounded at the door and young Hans walked in. He looked confused and Camryn imagined that to him she must seem a maelstrom of emotions. “Venn,” he said questioningly. Keeping one hand on her arm, he turned to his brother. “What is it, Hans?” “Is Camryn okay?” Hans looked back and forth between them. Venn fully let go of her and walked toward the room’s tallest window. She went to Hans and lightly touched the teenager’s arm. “I’m fine, Hans. I would like to take a nap. Would you help me find Venn’s room?” She didn’t wait for him to answer but continued to the door. “Camryn,” Venn called. She stopped but didn’t turn. “Don’t leave the keep and don’t walk around without Awya or Hans.” “Yes, Master.” She heard the mockery in her own voice as she exited the room.
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Chapter Seven She was calmer by the time she entered the large royal blue and auburn bedroom. She kicked off her shoes and threw herself into a high-backed armchair. Camryn exhaled. She knew that she couldn’t expect for him to agree right away. Freeing her had probably never occurred to him before. Hell, at least he hadn’t struck her. Damn that. She couldn’t spend every minute in fear of a man whose biggest act of aggression toward her was clutching her too closely. Unless you counted all the deaths by orgasm he handed out. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. Camryn hadn’t expected a real castle with high walls and guards everywhere. She was really screwed. She would have to convince him to let her go. If not, then her only other option would be escape. Her escape checklist was long and kind of daunting. She needed supplies, a way to become invisible enough to hitch a ride back to the Alta and get onboard without Rhine or Venn catching her. That was just leg one of the journey. She needed to work on her powers of persuasion. Convincing him to let her go had to be easier than escaping from a guarded fortress. She didn’t think she had the proper skill set for that. “I have never felt Venn’s anger before you came,” Hans said quietly from the doorway. “Did it scare you?” she asked, holding her hand out to him. He walked to her and sat on the embroidered carpet at her feet. Hans squeezed her hand briefly, then let go, ducking his head. “A little, I’ve never even seen him mad at Lady Helsa.” “Lady Helsa? Isn’t she your mother?” Hans’s face seemed to close off. “Yes, but my mother is hard to take. She isn’t very interested in me. I’m just a spare son. Venn has raised me since my father died and my mother hasn’t had to pretend to be concerned about anyone other than Bronwyn.” He’d said a lot there. “I’m sorry, Hans.” Impulsively, she leaned forward and hugged him quickly. Maybe he was too old for that type of motherly gesture. Hans blushed and she ruffled his hair. “I know that you are upset that he is angry, but he is going to be upset with me for a while. We don’t see eye to eye,” she said. “Eye to eye?” he asked. “We want different things,” she whispered. “But Venn wants to make you happy. I’ve never seen him focus and pay attention to a woman as much as he watches and listens to you. Usually—”
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“Hans.” Venn filled the open doorway. “Don’t you have studying to start?” The boy rose and escaped around his brother. “Okay, Venn.” Camryn sat back in the chair and regarded Venn. Unfortunately, Hans’ story of his brother taking over his parenting had thawed her a little. She breathed deeply. Her plan was set. She needed to try to convince Venn to let her go without antagonizing him. Her fear was that she would stay in this bubble and cocoon of wealth and never make good on an escape to freedom. She had other fears. If she couldn’t get aboard the Alta, where would she go? Would she just be captured again, but the next time by someone who did indeed keep her tied naked to a bed and abuse her? She was more vulnerable than she thought she would be with this man. She’d expected physical danger, even though there wasn’t much with Venn. It was the emotional danger she hadn’t expected. He walked past her without acknowledging her. It stung a bit. She was completely used to being under his full scrutiny when they were alone. The mask he wore with the others dropped sometimes when it was just the two of them. She didn’t want him to be mad with her. Venn walked into the room, avoiding looking at Camryn. She was an infuriating woman. He gave her everything and she wanted to be away from him. He heard her moving, but continued to his closet. He felt her small hand touch his back and he stiffened. Just with a touch, he burned for her. All his senses sought her and he tensed every muscle to deny the urge to turn and pull her into his arms. Camryn ran both hands along his back and then down to caress his ass more firmly. “Your body is beautiful,” she said. Then she slid her hands under his tunic and onto his bare skin. His entire body involuntarily shuddered. Her hands crept around his body, lying low on his abdomen. “I love muscles on a man. Never have I had the opportunity to explore a body as sexy as yours before. I want to—” She was stopped by a knock on the door. He almost whimpered. “Go away,” he growled. “I’m sorry, my lord. Lady Helsa requests your presence on an urgent matter.” Dammit, she was trying to seduce him and doing a damn fine job. It was one of the first times she had initiated sex with him and his mother had just ruined it. Camryn tried to pull away, but he stopped her by laying his hands on top of hers hidden in his tunic. He reached under it for one of her hands and slowly guided her around his body until he had her melded against his front. His erection pressed into her belly and he thought about letting her explore his body any way she wanted to. “I wonder how your mother knew your virtue was in danger?” she said, eyes hot. Venn lifted her and nipped at her throat. “That woman has the worst timing in the world.”
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Lady Helsa probably simply wanted to discuss some issue with Bronwyn’s presenting, but it was best not to underestimate his mother. Turning Camryn loose abruptly, he strode from the room. He found Lady Helsa in her office poring over an information pad. “You requested my presence,” he said as a greeting. “Venn, I received a message from Citizen Ors. He and his niece will be arriving in one week.” Hell. “Did he say why he was coming?” “I invited him. His niece is young, beautiful and from an old and respected family. She is an appropriate Huntu bride.” Lady Helsa laid her information pad on her desk. Venn’s stomach seized up. “Hans is too young to marry,” he said. “You know very well that I mean you,” Lady Helsa said, regarding him with disgust. “Please do not matchmake. It would make me very unhappy and force me to close down Huntu keep for the next six months. I would have to cancel all celebrations.” There was no way he would align himself with Citizen Ors or his descendents. “I would never dream of it,” Lady Helsa said calmly.
***** Camryn paced the floor for about five minutes. He’d left her with an abundance of energy. At home, she would head for the dance studio in her basement. Her heart lurched and she breathed sharply through her nose. Her home was probably rubble by now. She needed movement to help get herself under control. There was another knock on the door. She opened it to find a modestly dressed Awya on the other side. Camryn felt a twinge of jealousy as she regarded the girl. Awya was innocent, even though her freedom made Camryn’s invisible chains tighten uncomfortably. “Mistress,” the younger woman said quietly. “Awya, how do you get music around here?” “Intergalactic Radio is the best way to hear music. You can purchase songs as well as listen to programming. Lord Huntu should have one here in the room. It plays music from every galaxy.” Awya stepped into the room. “Computer, play radio.” Nothing happened. “Maybe Lord Huntu doesn’t have an Intergalactic Radio,” Awya said. “I have to have music. I can’t bother Venn right now. Have the other Huntu males left? One of them can get me one.” She would go crazy all by herself without something to do and she needed to exercise.
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Camryn watched as Awya’s face went from cheerful to wary. “Maybe you should wait for Lord Huntu. I don’t think he would like you venturing to other men’s quarters.” “But you will be with me the entire time to keep everything honest.” Camryn went toward the door. Awya hurried to catch up, then took over the lead. She guided Camryn through corridors until finally reaching a bedroom door. Camryn knocked and Captain Rhine opened the door. “Camryn,” he said frowning. “Why are you here?” He pulled an information pad from his waist and began to type. “I need a,” she stopped speaking and looked at Awya. “Intergalactic Radio,” Awya supplied. “I need an Intergalactic Radio in Venn’s room and I need someone to teach me how to use it,” she said simply. He regarded her and crossed his arms over his chest. “Why don’t you ask your master? He seems to grant your every wish.” She ignored his use of the M word. “He’s with mommy dearest, and since I’m so spoiled, I want what I want when I want it. That would be now, in case you didn’t get it.” She had forgotten momentarily that Rhine was more difficult than the other men. “Look, I even brought a chaperone to protect your delicate sensibilities.” She smiled. A smirk appeared at the corners of his mouth, but he looked faintly amused at being called a girl in a backhand manner. As he opened his mouth to reply, Camryn felt a hand grip her arm. “What are you doing here, Camryn?” Venn asked. He looked annoyed. “Where did you come from?” she said in confusion. “Rhine sent me a message.” She turned back to the captain. “Snitch,” she said, sounding like a kid. Awya gasped. Rhine smiled outright. “Keep her better guarded, cousin. She’s dangerous and doesn’t even know it.” He stepped back inside his room and closed the door. “I’m sorry, Lord Huntu,” Awya stammered. “I…” “Don’t worry, Awya, she’s headstrong.” He turned her and started back the way she had come. Was she in trouble? He had only told her to stay in the keep and with Awya or Hans. “I just want a music system and someone to set it up. Would the Intergalactic Radio have Earth music?” “Camryn, you cannot wander freely.” “Okay.” She shrugged. He glanced at her sideways but said nothing else. 56
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“About the music,” she started. “It’s already in the room. I don’t allow others to access my computer.” He opened the door and pulled her inside. Venn went to the wall by the bed and tapped. A panel slid out and he typed in something. “Say your name, Camryn.” “Camryn,” she said simply. “Now you’re programmed in the computer for this room. Computer, activate music system.” There was a beep. “Just say the artist’s and the song title. Computer, play Anu, Warrior Song.” Immediately something that sounded like pop on sixteenth-century English steroids blared. Camryn knew her eyes were comically wide open. “Computer, stop. Now I must go.” He kissed her and walked out. Camryn sighed. “That’s enough for now, Awya. I want to dance and I won’t leave the room again for a while.” “Yes, Mistress,” Awya said before leaving and shutting the door. Camryn looked around for something to wear. The dresses in her closet were too restrictive to dance in. All this sitting and staying confined to one or two rooms was going to make her gain weight and she needed to be limber enough to get out of here when it was time. Neither lust nor warm fuzzy feelings were going to convince her to stay here if she had to do it as a slave.
***** What Venn heard as he approached his room was music that sounded like an intertwining of drums, brass, guitar and some type of organ. It was loud, mid-tempo and sounded completely different than anything he had ever heard. The female singing was saying some very suggestive things and he was getting ideas just from hearing it. He opened the door, stepped inside and closed the door behind himself. What he saw stopped him completely inside the door. Camryn, dressed in a red bra and panties, dancing. But it was the type of dancing that cost top credits on a pleasure planet. In fact, he had never seen anything quite so fluidly sensual. Her face was lost in the sensuality of the movements. Her arms twisted and arched, sometimes touching her body caressingly. Her breasts were arched, but it was the movement of her hips and legs that fully mesmerized. Her hips and ass undulated in a slow, then fast circle, scooping her pussy forward, then her ass back. Her legs widened and closed in time. Her arms slowly came up and lifted her hair off her neck, then let it fall slowly back past her shoulders. She swiveled her hips until her ass almost touched the ground, and when she came up, she shifted her entire body so that it looked as if she was isolating each part in such a way that the eye was drawn immediately to her tits, waist, cunt, hips and ass. If Venn hadn’t been completely in lust with her before, he would be now. All he wanted to do 57
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was fuck her, take a nap, eat, fuck her again and then repeat. Any man seeing this dance display would do anything to have her. Watching was pure torture for his poor cock. She turned, her ass to him, and she leaned forward and rolled her hips and ass again, this time simply bent kneed. He was unable to stop himself from walking to her quickly. He thrilled as she gasped in surprise. He pulled her up and kissed and sucked her neck. Then he pushed her over and she gasped again. Holding her in place with a hand against her neck, he trailed his hand down her back, over her ass and between her legs. He rubbed her once, then grabbed the crotch of the panties she loved so much and tore them with a savage jerk. He could hear her breathing, hard and erratic, but she said nothing, just braced her hands against the floor and arched her back. He freed himself one handed and bent, then tucked his rock-hard cock into her wetness. “Ah,” he said. As always, her pussy was impossibly tight and wet and he felt blissed from the first thrust. “Okay. Oh hell. That feels so good,” she whispered as he thrust steadily into her pussy. He opened himself to what she was feeling. Pleasure flooded him, hers and his own. He pulled her up and walked them to the bed and she braced her arms against the mattress. He felt free to drive in and out of her aggressively now and he did so. He wasn’t going to last long. Venn reached around her and rubbed her clit insistently. As usual, she responded almost immediately. He kept up the pressure as he felt his balls tighten painfully. Finally she moaned low and her climax broke over her. He pumped into her once more and released, satisfied, as he coated the inside of her pussy with his semen. He rested over her back for a moment before pulling them both up on the bed. “Computer, stop music,” he said breathlessly. “What type of dancing was that?” he asked, rubbing down her back as she lay draped across his chest. She snickered. “Is that why you screwed me without even a hello? I was a dance teacher before the invasion. I focused on African, Caribbean and Belly Dance.” He didn’t know what all that was, but he did know one thing. “Don’t show anyone else your dances, Camryn.” “Why not? I really think you overexaggerate what will happen to me if someone notices me,” she said. “You don’t recall what happened on Fatel?” “They were after the—” “And you. You are valuable. The galaxy is full of bored males and females who buy, collect and trade exotics. For a hypersensitive like me, you would be a triple temptation with your beauty, your skin and your smell. Add to that your dance talents and you would be a harem prize or the perfect pleasure planet private show draw.” He
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lifted her chin so her eyes met his. “You have to be careful. I know more about my world than you do.” “Am I trapped in this room, Venn? Am I a prisoner because of what others might do?” Camryn didn’t know what she would do if she had to be trapped here. “No,” he said slowly. “Awya will help you maneuver within the castle. You must be with me or a guard I assign within the keep. There is no need to go farther than that without me.” That’s what you think. He rose from the bed. “I’ll come too,” she said. “Camryn.” “Please, I don’t want to stay here,” she pleaded. “Maybe Awya can go with you for a walk and then you can join me. You distract me and I really need to meet with my business manager.” “What you mean is I will distract him,” she said bitterly. He hugged her and, despite herself, Camryn leaned into him. He left and Camryn got up and took a shower. When she returned to the bedroom, Awya was picking up her discarded things. “Awya, I need two things from you.” “Yes, Mistress,” Awya said. “Call me Camryn. I need some clothes sewn and I need you to teach me to speak and write your language.” “I can sew and I was trained as a governess.” “Good, let’s get started making a list of everything we are going to need.” They did eventually take a walk. They were in search of a place where they could quietly have the lessons. Camryn hated the thought of being confined to Venn’s quarters, even if they were massive. What they stumbled upon was an enclosed garden with ornate benches, tables and a gazebo. It opened off the keep. Awya assured her that the Huntu females in residence did not take to the outdoors. It was perfect. The garden was isolated and yet open enough to offer her the brief illusion of freedom. While she was able, she needed to discover as much about the people, language and terrain on Ordan. When she left, she wanted to be as ready as possible. She might not be able to convince Venn to let her go. She might not be successful at sneaking aboard Rhine’s ship either. She was still leaving by any means necessary. Gilded cages were still cages.
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Chapter Eight The next day, Camryn sent down to the kitchen for a basket of muffins, pastries and any other sweets that they had made. As soon as Venn released her to Awya, Camryn asked to be taken to the kitchen. Unfortunately, this caused a complete uproar that tightened the cook’s lips and had the maids standing around wide mouthed. “What’s the matter?” she whispered to Awya. “It is unseemly for Lord Huntu’s paramour to fetch her own things from the kitchen. They think you are going to tell the master that you had to come because they were not prompt,” Awya said stiffly while glaring back at the cook. “Everything is fine, Cook. I wasn’t aware that I wasn’t supposed to come in here. I will send someone else from now on. It’s just that where I’m from, kitchens are comforting places,” Camryn said to the robust older woman. Cook’s mouth softened. “Kitchens are comforting, Mistress Camryn. No harm done, and I tell you what, you come back whenever you want.” She turned to her helpers. “You all get back to work. Lunch isn’t going to make itself.” Camryn tried to take the basket, but Awya and the girl holding it looked so outraged that she simply held up her hands in mock surrender. She asked Awya to lead her to the front door. Camryn looked around the entire way to make sure that no Huntu males showed up to halt her plan. At the front door, she sighed with relief when the doorman held the door without comment. Camryn stepped out into the bright sunlight and moved purposefully toward the gates. She didn’t see a Huntu in sight. She smiled at the people who stopped to stare, even though she wanted to make a face or stick her tongue out instead. It wasn’t her fault she was different. About halfway to the gates, Awya began making noises of discontent. “Mistress Camryn, where are you going? Oh Lord Huntu is going to be very angry.” “Don’t worry, Awya, I’ll tell him it was my fault.” It wasn’t like he wouldn’t already know. There were guards in what looked like a gatehouse. They carried weapons and one dark-haired man walked in front of the wide entrance, looking extremely alert. Men patrolled atop the wall farther out. She needed allies and these men were it. Her plan was to butter up each rotation of guards until it would be nothing for one of them to let her out for a “walk”. The man patrolling froze and moved toward Camryn as the guards in the gatehouse came to the door.
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Their nostrils flared and she almost grimaced. It was disconcerting to have people smelling her all the time. She smiled instead. “Awya, set the basket down,” she said. “Mistress, does Lord Huntu know you are here?” the dark-haired one asked. “Should he?” She cocked her head and looked as innocent as she could. She was glad that she was so much smaller. That would lend her an innocent, helpless and nonthreatening appearance. “I just brought you hardworking gentleman a treat from the kitchens.” She leaned over and opened the basket. She was acutely aware that the position caused her breasts to swell out of the top of her gown. Innocent and yet sexy had never failed a woman yet. She pulled out a container of iced buns and held them directly under her breasts. “Why, this has to be the most important job in the entire keep. I brought these just for you.” She smiled sweetly as their eyes glazed over. “Oh heavens, it’s Lord Huntu and the captain,” Awya whispered. The men in front of her turned and immediately went back to their posts. Camryn hung her head and slowly placed the iced buns back in the basket. Someone had told on her again. She straightened in time to be jerked around to face a livid Venn. His eyes trailed down her body, then turned back to the men who were now saluting him behind her. “Why are you here, Camryn?” His voice was almost a growl. “I was simply taking a walk. Hello, Captain,” she called. The captain shook her and she gasped. “If Mistress Camryn shows up here again, you send for me right away.” He glared at the men. “She’s an escape artist.” Camryn gasped. “I wasn’t escaping! I was just bringing these gentlemen a reward for being—” she couldn’t finish as he shook her again. “You’re going to scramble my brains!” He did growl then and marched her back toward the keep. Rhine kept up, yet remained silent until they were out of hearing of the gatehouse. “Cousin, maybe you should hand her over. You’re holding her too tightly and I don’t think you want to do that,” Rhine’s voice sounded calm and even. Venn stopped and his grip actually tightened for a moment. “You want to be beaten, Camryn? Is that the only thing that will keep you docile and afraid to run?” She knew he wouldn’t beat her, but the suggestion still made her angry. “You better not try to beat me! Try it and find out what will happen.” She changed tactics and gave him a super-sultry smile. “I won’t let you beat me, but I might let you spank me.” “Hell,” Rhine said quietly.
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Camryn watched Venn’s entire demeanor change. He’d seemed bigger before, but he straightened and his chest broadened as he pulled her closer. His larger body crowded hers and his eyes dilated and focused completely on her. “Don’t fuck her right here. You’re outside in front of the entire holding, for Ordan’s sake,” Rhine said. Venn looked up and, in breaking eye contact, Camryn realized how deeply she was breathing, how tight her nipples were and how much her pussy tingled. She realized that she had forgotten Rhine and Awya were there and that they stood in the open. She would have let him take her right there on the grass, preferably hard and fast. This was the type of behavior that concerned her. Every time he touched her, Camryn’s brain shut down and her pussy started making decisions. Thinking pussies interfered with strategy. Venn grunted and she found herself over his shoulder again, but she didn’t protest. He could walk faster than she could and she needed him right now. Camryn pressed her thighs together and moaned. In minutes they were up the stairs of the keep and inside. Instead of going to his room, Venn walked down the hallway to the right of the stairs and entered a room there. He put her on her feet and locked the door. She looked around at some type of sitting room where the primary color was purple. “Strip,” he said. She shivered at the guttural sound of his voice. She was a little scared. Was he really going to spank her? She had never let a man do that to her, yet she realized that her pussy was positively weeping at the thought of his hands on her ass. It was time for her to gain some control here. She slowly twisted her arms behind her to pull her zipper down. She smiled. “Too slow,” he grunted. Venn grabbed her arm and swung her around. He pulled the zipper all the way down, then pulled her dress up over her head. He did it so fast that her curly hair ended up flung over her face. She pushed it back to see him staring at her body encased in simply a bra, panties, garters, stockings and matching shoes. He then relieved her of the bra and panties, but left the stockings. He was rubbing his cock through his pants and Camryn felt her mouth water for him to release the beast he housed there. She shivered and her nipples tightened painfully. Fuck control. Venn walked over to a chair, pulled his shirt and pants off and sat. “Come and lie across my lap, Camryn.” She was walking before she thought about it. Scared or excited, she always loved what he did to her. She reached his sprawled legs and climbed across him. Venn lifted her the rest of the way, placing her so that his twitching cock was pressed against her belly. He was such a big man that she could barely touch the floor with her tiptoes. He ran a large hand from her neck to roll and fondle her round ass. She knew she was leaking on his leg.
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“Camryn, you’ve been a very bad girl today.” He swatted her lightly. “You knew you weren’t supposed to leave the keep.” Her breathing was the only sound she heard as she felt him lift his hand. Nothing else happened and she tensed in anticipation. “Tell me you’re a bad girl and you need to be punished,” he whispered. Lord, she was going to do it. She licked her lips. “I’m a bad girl and I need to be punished.” “Tell me to spank your ass, Camryn. Tell me that’s what you deserve.” Her hips bucked and she knew she would have told him anything at this point. “I’m a bad girl and I deserve to have my bottom spanked. Please spank my ass.” His hand descended and slapped her ass. She moaned and bucked. He wasn’t being gentle, but he wasn’t hurting her. It stung and she knew she would feel it later. “That’s for disobeying me.” He hit her two times in a row. “That’s for getting so close to the gate.” He gave her ass four spanks. “That’s for damn near showing your titties to my men and making them hard for you.” She was squirming now. She knew if she could just get her leg over his knee, she could apply some pressure to her clit. The ache in her pussy was like a greedy fire and she really needed to come. He rubbed where his hand had smacked her and she groaned. “Is your little pussy soaked?” he asked. “Yes.” Even the guttural sound of his voice was turning her on. Venn’s fingers followed the crack of her ass and she parted her legs, eager for him to touch her more intimately. When his fingers came in contact with her lips, she sighed in relief. He stroked her twice before thrusting two fingers all the way inside her. He moved them in and out and she thrust back against his hand until he pulled them from her. “No!” she cried, turning to look up at him. He placed his fingers in his mouth and closed his eyes. She watched, mesmerized. “Delicious,” he said. “Lie down on the floor, Camryn, and show me my pussy.” His command should have made her angry, but she would have crawled across the carpet to lap at his dick if he would just fuck her. She moved as fast as her shaky legs would let her, almost falling to the floor. She held her legs open and to the side so he could see where he needed to be. He stood and took the rest of his clothes off quickly. His cock bobbed as he walked toward her. She let go of one leg and touched her clit. He knelt swiftly and popped her hand and pussy in the process. She gasped at how good the sting felt on her pussy. “I haven’t told you to touch this pussy, Camryn.” “Please,” she whimpered.
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He smiled at her, then lowered himself to the carpet. He was too low to enter her and she frowned. “Venn,” she began and then his mouth sucked her pussy and she screamed. He kissed her pussy like he was tongue kissing her mouth and her pelvis rose as if in thanks. He used both hands to press her back to the carpet. No matter what he did, she loved it. He sucked on the lips and thrust his tongue into her like he was fucking her with it. He lapped at her entrance and then went lower to lick at the entrance to her anus. She went wild, thrashing and grabbing his hair. He licked a path to her clit and tugged on it, sending her into an orgasm that rivaled any other he had given her before. She felt spent, knees bent and feet pressed to the carpet as he crawled up her body, kissing her stomach, her breasts, her neck and then her mouth as she felt his cock push into her. He stretched her deliciously and she was glad he went slowly so she could savor every inch. Venn forced himself to enter Camryn’s pussy slowly. He felt slightly guilty for striking her, even though he knew she enjoyed it. She’d been so wet her juices had coated his leg, driving him crazy. He grabbed her hips and tilted her up as he slid all the way inside her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him more fully. He eased out slowly, thrusting shallowly, but forcefully. Her head tipped back and she met his stroke. He nipped at her neck and rubbed her nipples against his chest. She hissed and he smiled into her shoulder. He controlled his half thrusts, wanting her to beg. He wanted her to say his name and know who was fucking her so she would never forget. “More, Venn,” she gasped. He restrained himself and continued his slow half in and out motions. He winced as her nails scraped his back. “More!” He pulled all the way out and thrust forcefully twice, then went back to a half stroke. She screamed, “Venn!” “You were flaunting yourself in front of other men, Camryn. Maybe you don’t want my dick anymore.” “No, I wasn’t. I love your cock. I want you to fuck me, Venn. I only want you,” she said, kissing his chin. He smiled into her hair and then pulled almost all the way out and slammed into her. “Yes,” she hissed. He was fucking her in earnest now, determined that she would never want anyone but him. “Whose cock is fucking you so good? Whose, Camryn?” “Yours, Venn. Your cock is fucking my pussy like it’s never been fucked before.” 64
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She thrust back at him with abandon and every once in a while she would just moan his name. It was enough. He concentrated on bringing her to climax. She was close, her tight pussy tugging at his cock tighter and tighter. He reached up and tugged and pulled her nipple. Camryn stiffened under him and then her cunt began to convulse, milking the cum from him. He groaned and joined her in her release. He collapsed, remembering at the last minute that she was too small. He tugged them both to the side and she winced. “What?” he asked. “Rug burn.” She sighed and kissed his nipple. He shivered. “I have some burn cream upstairs.” Some of her hair was stuck to her sweaty face and he wiped it away. “Shit, I’m going to have to do the walk of shame out of here,” she said and laughed. “What is the walk of shame?” “Usually it’s when you return home the next day with the same clothes you had on the day before, but I think knowing that all the hyper hearing people in this keep just heard me get spanked, beg and get screwed should qualify.” “Don’t worry, Nolf will have moved everyone by now. Come on, let’s get you dressed,” he said. He stood and pulled her to her feet. He dressed her himself, smiling as he did so. She lounged tiredly in the chair as he dressed. She pouted as he pulled his shirt over his head and her full lip invited him to suck on it, so he did. “Camryn,” he said softly. She opened her eyes and gazed up at him softly. “Hmm?” “Don’t leave the keep like that again.” Her eyes flashed along with her temper. “You sure know how to kill a buzz.” She said the strangest things. He pulled her to her feet and they exited the room. As he predicted, it was empty and quiet in the foyer. He escorted her back to the room and called for Awya. He could tell Awya was agitated. He smiled at her as he handed her an information pad. “Use this to call me the next time she decides to do what I’ve asked her not to. And there will be a next time, Awya. She isn’t repentant at all,” Venn said. Camryn snorted behind him. “It is already programmed to reach my pad.” “Thank you, Lord Venn,” Awya said. He left thinking that catching her each time would be a lot of fun.
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Chapter Nine Camryn stood in Venn’s room, staring at the closed door for ten minutes before she made up her mind. There wasn’t a soul watching her and he hadn’t locked her in. She lightly worried her bottom lip with her teeth. She had to be smart about this. If she just started roaming the halls, someone would notice that she wasn’t where she should be. But this was a perfect opportunity to scope out exits and to time how long it would take before someone tried to shove her back in Venn’s room. Act. She moved quickly to the door. She opened it and peered out into the hallway. She smiled. It was empty. She stepped out and chose to head to the left. No one lived in this wing but Venn, yet doors lined the hall. As she passed them, she opened each one. Some led to more bedchambers. There were two linen closets. There was also one narrow stairwell. Camryn didn’t hesitate. She simply stepped through to the landing and closed the door behind her. She was enclosed in inky darkness. If Venn found her at this point, he would be very angry. She knew where the main staircase was and how to get to his office. He wouldn’t believe the lie that she was looking for him. She started down the stairs. She used the wall as a guide. It was impossible to see where she was stepping. She lifted her skirts out of the way and slid her foot along each step until she reached the fall to the next. She shivered. It was cooler here than in the hall. The silence was eerie and the slide of her ballet shoe was the only sound she had for company. The descent seemed to last a terribly long time. Finally, she slid her foot out and it continued to slide instead of meeting air. Her shoe tapped a wall. She reached her hand out to touch the wall in front of her. Door. She found the lock and opened it. Light blinded her for a moment. She blinked and peered out. She was in another hallway. She stepped out and closed the door. Camryn had turned left in the last corridor, so she went right. There was only one door at the far end. As she drew near, the smell of food and the sounds of rattling pots and loud voices stopped her. It must be the kitchen. There were too many people for her to go in there. But there was a door in the kitchen that led to the outside. Would there be anyone in the kitchen in the middle of the night? She didn’t think so. Excitement burst in her chest, causing her heart to race. She could wait until Venn slept and then slip down the staircase and out the kitchen door. She frowned. That wouldn’t work. He held her all night and then awoke each time she tried to move away.
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She knew the possibility was there now. Maybe an opportunity would present itself. She turned and walked back the way she came. She passed the stairwell door and continued along the hallway. Many doors lined the walls. Some refused to open. One was the servant’s entrance to the formal dining room. There were more linen and storage closets. She ducked inside one as she heard hurried footsteps. She waited until her heart rate settled before leaving her hiding space. At the end of the hall, she opened the last door and looked out on the side of the main staircase. Servants milled about, attending to their business. She waited until the area emptied. Now or never, she thought. Camryn began to sweat a little as she made her way swiftly to the front entrance. As she neared, the doorman stepped out of his alcove. It was the same guy from yesterday. That wouldn’t work two days in a row. She switched directions as he opened the door and Rhine and Gunter strolled in. She kept walking. Tor and Olaf appeared around the side of the staircase. That made her stop walking. She looked back and forth between them. They were staring back at her, then they looked up at the staircase. She closed her eyes as she tried to push away her irritation. She couldn’t have been gone from the room thirty minutes, yet the men had converged on her swiftly and efficiently. She looked up at the stairway’s first landing, not surprised to see Venn standing there. “I asked you not to roam the keep,” he said. “I don’t listen.” She knew she was challenging him. “That is more than obvious,” he replied. He sounded bored. The others watched and waited. “So, don’t let me interrupt you guys. I’ll just be on my way. You all carry on with your gigantic man business. I will continue to entertain myself,” she said. Gathering her courage, she walked toward Tor and Olaf, attempting to pass them. They blocked her. “Camryn,” Venn said. He’d descended the stairs and was walking toward her. She gave him her haughtiest look. “Venn.” “Where have you been? We’ve been looking for you,” he said. Would this be a good time to throw a temper tantrum? She could try distracting him with sex again, but all of them there staring at her made her too nervous. They fully surrounded her now. “Are we going to play dodgeball now? It won’t be a fair game with you all so much bigger than me.” “What?” Rhine said.
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“You’re huge and you’re crowding me. What can I possibly do that requires five grown and gigantic men to subdue me?” she asked, anger dripping from her voice. Everyone but Venn stepped back. She crossed her arms over her chest and ignored him. “You know, I can lock you in that room. I can make it so you can’t work the lock at all,” he said. She looked up at him swiftly. His face was hard in contrast with the conversational tone of his voice. Anger flooded her system, loosening the hold she had on her words. “Well, I won’t stay locked up anywhere that doesn’t include bars and chains. If you do lock me in that room, when you come back I will have destroyed everything in it. Anyone stepping inside will be hit with anything I can get my hands on and you’ll have to kill me.” She made her voice as hard as she could. He had to know she meant business. Her body shook, she was so angry. When he reached for her, she backed up quickly against the wall. “No!” She dropped to the floor as he advanced on her. She crawled through his legs. He grabbed her ankle and pulled her back, then he took her arm and pulled her up. “I’ll do it too. Then you can kill me. Remember, if I go, the pussy goes too. Maybe that doesn’t matter since you can just buy another one, right?” she sneered. “Be quiet, Camryn,” he said. He was angry now. Judging by the expression on his face, he was way past pissed. “I won’t be quiet,” she said. He swung her around and pressed her back against his front and his hand to her mouth. She couldn’t even open it to bite him. Camryn screamed in frustration behind his hand. He turned and she was reminded that they had an audience. “She’s so little. How much harm could she really do?” Gunter asked, staring at her. She brought her fist up slightly where Venn had her arm penned and shook it at him. Gunter laughed. “I don’t think you should have told her you were going to lock her up. She was still inside the keep. No one would have let her leave,” Olaf added. “Where was she and who was she with?” Venn asked. “She doesn’t smell like she’s even touched another man. His scent would be all over her,” Rhine said. “Go calm down. She’s just one small woman who likes to wander around.” “She’s mine and I told her to stay put,” Venn growled. She was still squirming to be free. She felt his erection grow against her back and glared up at him. He wasn’t getting in her panties today and that was that. She stepped on his foot. He just grunted. “Well, she said she doesn’t listen,” Rhine replied. 68
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Exactly, she thought. “She has to learn. I don’t want to have to find every hidey hole in the keep looking for her every day,” Venn snapped. They weren’t even taking her threats seriously while they stood around discussing what to do with her. She stopped wasting her energy struggling. Chest heaving, she just stood there and tried to get her emotions under control. “See, she is calming down. You should stroke her a little. She’s so small. Are you sure you aren’t holding her too tightly?” Tor asked. She glanced around at the men. They were all peering at her closely. Normally stoic faces were now anxious. She blinked and unclenched her fists. They were trying to protect her. They didn’t want Venn to accidentally hurt her. “Stop always asking me if I’m holding her too tightly,” Venn said. Then his grip loosened slightly. She assessed herself. The hold he used restrained but didn’t cause her pain. That did not mean it was pleasant either. His hold was concrete and immovable. “Now, sweet, let me make your situation clear in front of the ruling cabinet of Tribe Huntu so they know what to do in my absence. I will not kill you for any reason. I will pay the life price for any action you take against another, then I will have you pay me back in time on your back and knees.” He inhaled at her neck. “I will remind you, since you keep forgetting, that I am faster and stronger than you. I sleep lightly. Wherever you go, I will follow and bring you back. You enlist the help of a farmer, stable boy or underfootman and he dies in your place for thinking about that pussy. That’s why he’ll be helping you and I’ll have to dismember him for it.” He nudged the side of her face. She ignored the thrill she felt at his aggressiveness because under that thrill was real fear. For the first time since they met, he scared her with his words. The eyes of his cousins told her he was serious. They stared at him, shock and wariness clear on their faces. They stared at him like he was a hungry bear turned loose in the castle. Then they settled looks of pity on her. She closed her eyes, blocking them out. But she understood. Awya had explained in her lessons that although his father had been Lord Huntu before him, Venn had only kept the position by defeating all challengers, sometimes to the death. “Do you understand me, Camryn?” he asked. Oh she understood. Camryn nodded slowly. He wouldn’t harm her, just anyone who helped her to escape. He dropped his hand from her mouth. He released her from his tight hold and she stumbled forward before catching herself. Camryn pushed through the wall of men and walked swiftly to the steps. This was a regroup moment. She needed to reassess what it meant for Venn to be angry. Before it only meant he might ignore her or be more aggressive with sex. Now he was telling her that what she did would have consequences she hadn’t expected.
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Would he feel the same need for any slave? Was there something about them together that made him unreasonable? She walked into Venn’s room and made sure the door closed behind her. She moved across the room but swung around when she heard the door open again. He must have followed her almost immediately. She adjusted her position so that most of her body was behind an armchair. Yeah, it showed her vulnerability, but she was a little unsure at the moment. He stood inside the door and regarded her intently. “Would you like to test your strength against mine here where no one can see?” he asked. Was he crazy? “No thank you.” He smiled and his expression changed. She knew that look. This was the part where he exerted his command of her body and made her do whatever he wanted. Her pussy immediately flooded. His nostrils flared. She shook her head at him. He took a step toward her and she made a run for the bathroom. He caught her with her hand on the door. “You didn’t think that challenge you issued downstairs would go unanswered, did you?” he asked against her ear. He kissed the shell of her ear and pulled the lobe into his mouth. Pleasure sure and thick wound its way through her body. “You could be the bigger person and not respond,” she said, breathless. “Oh no, I have to teach you to follow directions, don’t I? We both know I won’t hurt you. I have to use different methods.” Her feet were off the ground as he held her back to front with one arm around her torso. He walked over to the full-length mirror and set her feet on the ground. He held her close. “I want your eyes open and watching your reflection in the mirror at all times,” he commanded. “No,” she said. She watched his eyes change in the mirror. She knew the longer she defied him, the more intense the experience would be. She understood that. She craved it. He smiled. There wasn’t anything nice about it. “We already know that isn’t how this works, sweet.” Yeah, she knew. She averted her eyes anyway. He stripped her quickly and she didn’t resist. Her clothes suddenly felt too tight anyway. “Here are your chains,” he whispered. Her gaze flew up. He held up one of her stockings in the mirror. She attempted to step away, but he caught her quickly and pulled both of her hands behind her, crossing her wrists and tying them with the silky material. Her nipples were thrust forward and were so tight that she wanted to ask him to see to them first.
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He crowded her back and she watched in the mirror. He was dressed for meetings in a black dress coat, crisp white shirt and fitted black pants. The contrast of her nude body pressed against his fully clothed form made her press back against him to feel the pleasure of the smooth material against her hot skin. “I didn’t tell you to move, sweet.” He stepped back. She groaned. Her eyes clashed with his in the mirror. “What’s with the restraint?” she asked. “I know you like it when I hold you down, but I wanted to use my hands today. And you did say it would take chains to keep you in one place,” he replied. She remained as still as possible and he watched her for a while before moving behind her once more. She wanted to think she would resist him, but she couldn’t. When he got like this, he wasn’t going to be put off and she liked how he handled her too much. She liked that he took all the passion and barbarian in himself and locked it down, only for it to emerge again once he’d made her mindless. She knew it was there, just sitting under the surface of his skin. She could see it in the way his smile didn’t match the fire in his eyes. He gathered her hair in one hand and wrapped it once around his hand. He pulled her head gently to the side. She curled her toes into the carpet so she wouldn’t move. His other hand came up, but only one finger trailed her throat from her hairline to her shoulder. His mouth followed and his cool hair swung forward and trailed over her arm and breast. He did the same thing over and over again to the back of her neck and then transferred her hair to his other hand and worked the same magic on the other side of her neck. He tugged harder on her hair and the pleasure shot straight to her cunt. He stepped beside her and leaned forward, raining kisses on her chin and neck. Then he turned her loose completely. She whimpered. “Keep your eyes on your face and body in the mirror,” he said, lacing his voice with command. She stared into his eyes in the mirror. Then she lowered her gaze to her own face. Her eyes were slumberous. Her bottom lip was swollen where she’d bitten it in concentration and she was flushed. “Beautiful,” he said. He stepped behind her and gripped her wrists lightly in each hand. He slowly slid his hands up her arms, making sure to trail his fingertips along her back at the same time. She watched her mouth fall open as a gasp escaped. Her ass tucked back and she tried to get herself back under control. He stopped when she moved. He wouldn’t move again until she was still. It was harder to do when she had to watch her reaction to everything he did as well as feel it. He reached both of his strong tanned hands around and laid them against the brown of her collarbone. The contrast was startling and beautiful, even if she didn’t want to admit it. He swept them down her body, shaping her form, but stopping short
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of touching her nipples or pussy. Around her breasts, down her abdomen, down her thighs front and back and a slow caress of her ass. He repeated this process over and over again, sometimes with his palms and sometimes just his fingertips. And she watched each stroke. She trembled in an effort to keep herself from pressing into his hands or back against his body. “Please, Venn,” she groaned. He paused and she panicked, thinking she had done something wrong. But then he cupped her aching breasts and pinched her nipples between his thumb and forefinger. “Ah, that feels so good. Damn,” she managed to hiss out. He rolled her nipples, tugged them and kneaded them. And she watched. She shook her head from side to side but quickly brought her eyes back to what he was doing. She didn’t want him to ever stop. “I can’t wait to get my mouth on these pretty nipples, sweet. Look how tight they are for me.” Pressure began to build up in her entire body, causing her to curl her toes and blink rapidly. Her clit began to throb furiously. “I think I’m going to come,” she whispered desperately. He pulled back and she cried out. Her eyes watered and she just knew she was going to embarrass herself by crying. She doubled over and just tried to breathe through it. Before she was completely together, he pulled her back up and cupped her mound. “Your pussy is extra hungry today, hmm.” He widened her legs and then used the fingers of both hands to hold her open. “Look how pretty you are. Look how the folds glisten. So soft and wet, it’s going to feel incredible against my cock, Camryn.” Her legs started trembling. “Venn, my legs feel like they’re going to give out.” He pulled her back against his body and thrust two fingers into her cunt. She rose up on her toes before coming back down swiftly. Pleasure bombarded her and he placed a hand over her belly so she wouldn’t do it again. She was damp with sweat now. She looked up at his eyes in the mirror. He was watching her face. The look in his eyes was one step from feral. Her cunt automatically clamped down on his fingers in response. She understood then. He wasn’t just trying to master her. He was giving her what he knew she needed. He gave her something that she hadn’t known she needed before meeting him. If she wouldn’t take the pleasure, he made her battle for it, pushing all her limits. He wanted her, but he was willing to wait until she had everything her body and mind required. Did they really have to play it all the way out this time? She knew what she needed to say. Maybe she would feel different later, but she knew what she wanted now. She kept eye contact. 72
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“Venn, please, I need you to fill my pussy up with your big cock and fuck me. I hurt. I need you.” “What a good sweet you are,” he said. His fingers scissored in her pussy as he stepped around her and caught her gasp in his mouth. She kissed him back, trying to tell him exactly how ready she really was. He pulled his fingers free and stepped away for a moment. He returned with the comforter from the bed and spread it out before the mirror. Then he shed his clothes, tossing them carelessly away. He was a beautiful man. His cock bumped her as he stepped behind her. He untied her hands, rubbing and shaking them before slowly pulling them back to her sides. “They feel fine,” she said. He knelt on the blanket and pulled her down with him. He positioned her on her back. “You should still be able to watch yourself in the mirror,” he said. He took one of her breasts into his mouth and the fever that he incited as he teased her body leapt back full force. He intertwined his fingers with hers and held her arms out to the side. She opened her legs and wrapped them loosely around his waist. “Please fill me up. Please fuck me,” she said. He left her breast to catch her mouth. She felt him slide into her pussy and sighed against his mouth. She relaxed so she could take him deeper. He sank in and pulled out to slide home again. He released her mouth. “Look at how beautiful you are,” he said against her throat. She turned her head. The corner of her mouth pulled up. They were beautiful together. She admired the pull of the muscles in his back and ass as he put effort into working over her pussy. Tan skin flowed over caramel, so pretty together. His hair fell forward and mixed with hers. The slide of it across her skin was like the caress of his hands, clinging where her skin was wet. She turned back to him and he was staring into her face again. She smiled. He kissed her lips swiftly and then pulled away. She knew her body now and her first orgasm would be on her soon. He watched her face intently, and as she gasped, he sped up. He was fucking her so right. He released her hand and slid his fingers between their bodies. He worked her clit until she burst, screaming his name. She didn’t fight it. She rode the feeling to its conclusion. When she could see again, she stared up into Venn’s face. He’d stopped moving and was simply watching her. She started to feel self-conscious. “What?” she asked. He smiled and began to thrust again. He worked her through another orgasm before joining her. He held her gaze the entire time. She knew better than to look away.
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She wasn’t handing out any more challenges for a while. Maybe she could attempt to get along. She could afford to not rock the boat for a few days at least.
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Chapter Ten “There will be a guard with you at all times once Ors gets here,” Venn said, still pacing. “I’ve asked my cousins to stay and take turns with Hans at the post. They are the only men I trust with the job.” “What do you think of this?” she asked. The day before Ors was to arrive, Camryn tried on the outfit she had Awya create for her as Venn paced their bedroom. She kept the standard long dress, but added side slits. Leggings showed underneath. The leggings were almost tights, they were so thin, and the skirt was constructed of lighter material as well. This particular outfit was in shades of aquamarine. She walked a bit so he was able to see the leggings peek through when she moved. He frowned. “Come on, I’m still wearing the skirt. I wore less than this almost the entire way to your planet,” she said. “The skirt is almost sheer and the pants mold to your legs.” “Come on.” He grimaced. “Don’t wear anything more revealing than that.” She held out her hand. “Deal.” He took her hand and pulled her flush against his body. “That was too easy.” She smiled. “Don’t you have work to do? We need to eat so I can study before Awya quizzes me.” He grunted. They went down to breakfast and then to his office. Camryn took her normal spot reclining on the sofa and Venn realized the true problem with her new attire. Leaning on her side with her feet on the cushions, the dress fell away, draping behind her on the cushions and in front in a blue-green fall to the floor. He sighed, but said nothing for now. He simply enjoyed the view. They were quiet at these times, as Camryn studied whatever Awya had taught her the day before and Venn caught up on business matters before his business manager joined him. Camryn would then depart with Awya for her lessons. As always, it was soothing to have her there. It was nice. She had been completely pleasant since the day he found her roaming the front hall. She didn’t mention working or leaving. She was a pleasant conversationalist and never challenged him. He didn’t trust any of it. She was plotting something. She had to be. She couldn’t have gone through such a drastic personality change overnight. He watched and waited. He knew it made her uncomfortable. When she would glance up and find his
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gaze on her, she would startle for a moment. Then she would smile and go back to whatever she was doing. Unless they were fucking, that is. She’d learned to keep eye contact then. Not all the time, just when he needed it. She didn’t know how much he needed her though. He never told her that it felt like he was staring into her soul. When she was swamped in pleasure, she forgot to shield herself from him. A knock interrupted his thoughts. “Camryn, cover that expanse of leg.” He waited while she draped the material appropriately. “Enter.” Nolf entered. “Citizen Ors and his niece have arrived. Early.” From the man’s extra-stiff demeanor, Venn assumed Nolf did not approve. Venn didn’t approve either. “Let my cousins know, Mr. Nolf.” They would need to stand guard earlier than they’d thought. Nolf left and Venn stood. “Come, Camryn, let’s go greet Lady Helsa’s guest.” The front hall was a whirlwind of activity as trunks and bags were brought in by servants. “Gosh, how long are they staying?” Camryn whispered, wide eyed. Venn grunted. “Probably until Bronwyn’s presenting. Then, if they don’t leave, we will.” They had reached the first receiving room and a footman opened the door. “Lord Huntu.” Everyone rose. Venn took in his mother, sister, Ors and his niece. The tall ravenhaired female stood out amongst the room of blonds. She was beautiful. Venn’s body did not respond at all. “Ah, Lord Huntu, she’s exquisite.” Citizen Ors did not even bother to hide his interest in Camryn. The man moved forward with a raised hand as if to touch her, but Venn placed himself in the way. “I don’t allow Camryn to be touched,” he said. He felt brief irritation from Ors. “I suppose that rule will extend the exotic’s value.” Behind him, Camryn’s temper flared and then was controlled. She was getting better at controlling herself. If he killed this man in the next few weeks they would have a war on their hands. Ors was an important man in his tribe. It was dangerous to have him here with Venn’s emotions frequently out of control. Gunter and Olaf entered the room quietly. “Where are my manners? This is my niece, Dalla,” Ors said. Ors held his hand out with a flourish. Dalla stepped forward and curtsied prettily before Venn. 76
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“Lord Huntu, It’s my pleasure to meet you.” Her manners were correct. They all seated themselves. Before Venn could catch her, Camryn had settled herself in a window seat with Gunter and Olaf close by. She had succeeded in making herself completely ornamental outside the group. Venn was subjected to an hour of boring small talk and his mother’s and Ors’ attempts to make him see that Dalla would be a perfect dynasty wife. He’d detected no emotion from Camryn during that time. Maybe she didn’t care. Awya finally entered the room to quietly claim her and Gunter for her lessons. Venn wanted to offer the footman who came to tell him he was urgently needed a reward for a daring rescue. Venn strode out to the storehouse where Rhine awaited him. “This is a major cluster. Someone has been in this shed and probably only left without the trilliu because they didn’t realize we would notice they had been here,” Rhine said while walking along the almost empty shelves. “Surveillance?” “Nothing. Dead of night and they were camouflaged.” Rhine stood next to the steel container that held a king’s ransom full of minerals. The minerals had been proven to make clean fuel for space transports by top Galactic scientists. “We’ll have to move it quickly then.” Venn grimaced. “Is our buyer coming through?” “He wants more tests. I may have to search out a new buyer. We need a better system for guarding the mineral.” Venn started back toward the door. “It occurs to me that our guest showed up a day early and the morning after our break-in,” Rhine said. It had occurred to Venn also. Citizen Ors wasn’t the most scrupulous man. He was a businessman, but in the broadest sense of the word. “Let’s get this shed guarded until the mineral can be moved. The Huntu are the only men we can trust,” Venn said. “What about guarding the woman?” Rhine asked. Venn frowned. “She’ll just have to stay with either myself or Hans.” “Is the boy up to the task?” Rhine asked doubtfully. “He’s strong and has to learn sometime.” Plus the boy was fond of Camryn and would take keeping her safe seriously.
***** Camryn snapped the L.I. back on her wrist. She made sure that part of her lessons each day were conducted without the language aid. If someone took it away from her, she would be helpless. Awya taught her everything from letters to etiquette.
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“Sir Gunter,” a voice called from the doorway. “I have brought Camryn of Earth’s shoes.” Camryn looked up and recognized the shoemaker’s apprentice. She now knew that because Gunter was a male of Tribe Huntu, he needed to be addressed to see if the apprentice could approach and speak with Lord Huntu’s mistress. It was convoluted, but respectful to their traditions. “You ordered shoes, Camryn?” Gunter asked. She nodded and Gunter motioned the apprentice over and to work. The boy pulled out several pairs of heels for Camryn to try on. She squealed a little when he pulled out the black gladiator-style heels. “I wish I had a mirror,” she said. Immediately, another apprentice stepped onto the paved garden path with a shoelevel stand-alone mirror. She was impressed. Camryn pulled the bisected skirt to the side to admire the picture her leg made while wearing the shoe. “Too much showing, Camryn,” Gunter said. Camryn sighed but dropped the skirt’s front. “They’re perfect.” She tried on the rest, then Awya had them sent to her room. Camryn turned to Gunter. “Can’t we leave the keep, Gunter? I just want to take a walk.” How was she to plan an escape from inside the walls of Huntu keep? He stared at her a moment and she was afraid she’d somehow given herself away with her emotions. After a moment, Gunter simply reached for his information pad and typed something with the stylus. Camryn turned away, shoulders slumped, and helped Awya gather their things. “If you want to go for a walk, we can go now. Awya, give those things to someone else so you can accompany us.” Camryn nearly tossed everything into Awya’s school cart. They made their way through the keep and out the door. It was a side door, and besides the bustle and noise, she noticed a large stone building the length of a football field away. She also noted the extremely tall colossus making his way toward them. Camryn turned to Gunter in disgruntlement. “Don’t look at me that way. My cousin will take you for your walk,” Gunter said. How was she going to stake out the possible exits with Venn around? They met in the middle and she tried to appear as if his presence didn’t ruin all of her plans. The men nodded and Gunter took off the way Venn had come. Venn picked up her hand and pulled it under his arm to rest on the inside of his elbow. “You may have an hour alone, Awya,” he said. “Thank you, Lord Venn.” “You wanted to walk.” He held his hand out the way they should go.
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She remained quiet and simply looked. He pointed out the various buildings, storehouses and animal enclosures. All Camryn really saw was expanses of solid stone wall twice as tall as Venn and no doubt covering steel. They walked a long time and she listened to what he said about the keep. She even asked a few questions, but her focus remained on where she could see a weakness in the holding’s defenses. They circled the keep and reached the front doors. Camryn stopped and stared at the gates. It seemed that unless there was a secret entrance, it was the only way out. “Camryn, it would be dangerous out there for you alone. You’re branded and you don’t look like anyone else. You won’t blend in.” His voice was strong, but gentle. She stiffened, wishing she could pull away from him. Running away was plan b anyway. It was time to work on plan a. “They outlawed slavery hundreds of years ago where I’m from, Venn. Some of my ancestors were enslaved. The thought of being what I am now is a nightmare for my people. It is a nightmare for me. To us, to own someone means they aren’t a person to you.” “You are a person to me, Camryn.” He gently grabbed her arms so she could face him. “Prove it. Set me free,” she whispered. She could see the struggle. But she knew the exact moment when he decided he wouldn’t. Venn pulled Camryn against his front. “I won’t let you go. I can’t.” “I don’t think you mean to hurt me,” she said sadly. His entire body jerked at her words. Camryn felt a shadow fall over them as they stared into each other’s eyes. “Venn, maybe you should let me take her to Awya while you head back to the storehouse.” Rhine wasn’t asking. He gripped her tighter, lifting her slightly. “Go straight to the room, Camryn. Don’t leave it until I come for you.” He righted her and stepped back. Turning, he headed back toward the storehouse. It hurt that he was angry with her, but she ignored it. Rhine took her arm and led her inside. “Does he not give you enough? Must you torment him too?” “You should have a prick, not be one. I want to be free. I don’t want to be owned. Why won’t he even allow me to buy my freedom? Awya says I’m the only slave he’s ever owned.” Why was she even explaining herself to him? “I don’t know. I don’t think your relationship is good for him.” She halted and he stopped and faced her. “You can’t have a relationship with something you own.”
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She stared at him, daring him to contradict her. Wisely, he kept quiet and turned them to ascend the stairs. She was being taken back to her gilded cage. Rhine was just another human leash Venn used to keep her inside Huntu keep. She didn’t understand how Venn could give every sign that he cared for her one minute, then totally disregard her feelings the next. She was the bigger fool. She cared for him despite it all. “He won’t be happy unless you are,” he said at Venn’s door. “Then talk to him. I won’t be happy as things stand.” Camryn went inside and quietly closed the door.
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Chapter Eleven Camryn dressed in the most feminine outfit she owned for dinner. It was a warm cream-colored satin dress with a flower-embossed, gold tulle overskirt that seemed to caress her ankles. It draped from one shoulder and cinched at the waist. She’d had heeled sandals made to match. Awya also threaded a sleek updo with tiny strips of honey ribbon. She wore jewelry that appeared to be yellow diamonds on her ears, neck and fingers. She refused to ask. She was still upset and didn’t want to pretend she wasn’t. Maybe later. She’d felt the eyes of that rotund Citizen Ors on her as she’d entered on Venn’s arm. As the uncle had eaten her with his eyes, the niece did the same with Venn, which pissed her off until she realized she didn’t have the right. Outside she looked like all that was calm, inside she was a teeming cauldron of ill will. Please don’t let me throw any soup on anyone. She wouldn’t want the man to go broke paying her fines, she thought snidely. She was still upset that he’d frozen her out when he had come in to dress for dinner. That kind of crap couldn’t be allowed to continue. He wanted her here, he could deal with her. The conversation flowed around her and she tried to appear interested. “You all react to the exotic’s moods,” Dalla said. “Surely you’re mistaken, niece.” Ors tried to look apologetic, but just looked gleeful and constipated. “I know my empathy isn’t as developed as these gentlemen, but when she’s angry they tense and as she calms they relax. Is she violent?” she asked innocently. Camryn reached for her knife and Venn’s hand covered hers, pressing it to the table. The brat enjoyed making a scene. “Her name is Camryn. You will use it or not address her. Ors, I know Dalla is in a house with few empaths, but you should really find someone to train her not to say everything she thinks she knows,” Venn said with no emotion in his voice at all. Camryn relaxed her hand and Venn released her. Citizen Ors looked furious, all red and pasty. Dalla was simply red, but still not unattractive. Wench. Camryn smiled to herself and resumed eating. She even loosened up enough to speak with Rhine and Venn on either side of her. “When will you go back aboard the Alta, Captain Rhine?” “Soon. I thought I would stay until after Bronwyn’s party. Thinking of stowing away?” Yes, I am. 81
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“If I told you, then I wouldn’t be a stowaway, now would I?” She kept her movements even as she reached for her glass. “Maybe you can convince Venn to take another trip so you don’t need to plot anything,” Rhine said with a subtle sneer. “Is that the expression you were born with?” she asked pleasantly. “Camryn,” Venn said softly, finally turning to her. She turned an over-bright smile to him. “Yes, Venn?” He blinked and she smiled harder. He leaned closer and spoke softly, “Even though I know you’re only smiling to distract me, it is working.” She turned more fully toward him and shrugged her bare shoulder. “Somehow I don’t believe that. From what could I possibly distract you?” “If you are upset with me, you should take it out on me and not Rhine,” he said. “Should I?” she lowered her voice further. “He sneers at me a lot and doesn’t like me. Why should I be nice?” Rhine grunted. Venn’s lips twitched. “I see.” He glanced over her shoulder at Rhine, then turned back to the conversation on his right. Camryn rolled her eyes and glanced around the table. Olaf was missing and she wondered if he was at the often visited storehouse. Venn, Tor, Gunter and Rhine all pulled out their information pads at the same time. They all pushed back their chairs and stood. “Hans, escort Camryn to our room and wait there with her until I return.” He turned to the table. “We are sorry for the interruption. Please continue to enjoy your meal.” The men filed out as Venn assisted Camryn to her feet and swiftly handed her to Hans, who waited as stoic as his brother and cousins. She wanted to ask what was happening but glanced back at the table to see the avid expression on Citizen Ors’ face. She kept her thoughts to herself. She watched as the men departed. “Let’s go, Camryn,” Hans said. “I want my dessert, Hans. All this mystery has deprived me of colbruna cake.” “We’ll send back for it.” He smiled. They traveled through the corridors. Hans opened Venn’s door and let Camryn precede him inside. The room was beginning to grate on her nerves. Was she going to have to piss on the rug so someone would let her out? “What would you like to do while we wait for the rest of the guys?” she said, heading toward the game cabinet. There was a grunt and a loud thud behind her. Camryn turned quickly. “If you make a sound, I’ll kill him.”
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Camryn’s eyes darted quickly from Hans crumbled in a heap on the floor to the red-haired man holding a blaster on him. “What have you done to him? What do you want?” Her eyes quickly darted around the room and back to the man. How could she save them? “I only gave him a little bump on the head and something to help him sleep. He’ll recover. The blast is permanent. Unless you come with me very quietly.” “There isn’t any way out of here. Just leave. We haven’t done anything to you,” she said. “I’ve been paid to take you. Come over here,” he said. The man looked like he meant to kill Hans. “If I come, will you leave him alone? He’s just a boy.” “Yes, I don’t care about the boy.” If it had just been her, she would have fought until she died, but Hans was innocent and didn’t deserve to die so she could be free. Slowly she walked toward the man. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a thin bit of cloth. “Put this on your mouth,” he said. She watched her hand reach for the strip. When she placed it to her mouth, it tightened and sealed her mouth as tight as duct tape. Her eyes widened. “No screaming for you.” He smiled. The man opened the door and peered out. He motioned for her to come and they stepped into the hallway. Someone was bound to see them if they were just going to walk through the keep. The man took her arm in a tight grip. They made it to the end of the hall without seeing anyone. The man pulled her into a dark corridor with stairs that led down. It was different than the one she found before. He tugged her along. The way he was jerking her every time she tried to slow their pace, Camryn knew she would be bruised and sore. She had to stall him. She was tired of her heart always being in her throat. Fear clogged her brain and Camryn tried to think. If he got her out of the keep, would he be able to get her out of the holding? Would Venn ever find her? Goodness, he might even believe that she ran away. How did this mayhem keep happening to her? She thought about how paranoid Venn had been about someone kidnapping her. She pushed thoughts of violation away. That way lay madness. It was a stupid time to think about it, but she would miss the guys, even cranky Rhine. Her greatest sorrow would be leaving Venn. Whatever their relationship, there were strong emotions between them. There was caring too. He would very likely believe she had harmed his brother and escaped. It would pain him. She bumped into the man on the stairs, pushing all her weight behind it. She hoped to take him by surprise and make him fall. He didn’t even break stride. She was
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screwed. How in the hell did she end up on a planet full of strong men? She scratched at him, but her nails slid harmlessly off the long-sleeved top he wore. The stairs ended in a long room with miscellaneous pieces of furniture, some covered in cloth. She attempted to drop all of her weight and sit on the floor. He picked her up as if she were a toddler and placed her back on her feet. The grip he had on her arm was excruciating. “Don’t do that again,” he commanded. Forget him, she didn’t follow orders well. She refused to walk. He continued to drag her along. They quickly approached the far door and were outside the keep and in front of a vehicle that looked like it was built for work. It was sturdier than the automobile she had come to the keep in. It also had tools in it. This was how he planned to get her out. She turned to him quickly, bringing up her hand, nails bared. She didn’t see the needle. Camryn felt the sting even as the man ducked her hand. She kicked, but whatever he had given her was quick acting. It felt like her leg was tied to the ground and her head full of static. Then she passed out.
***** “Did you see anyone when the alarm sounded?” Rhine asked as he hunkered down in front of a partial set of footprints. “I heard something. It could have simply been an animal for the amount of noise it made.” Olaf grimaced. “We have to get this unloaded,” Tor commented. A vibration alerted Venn to a message on his information pad. He pulled it out and checked the screen. Man with red hair taking Mistress Camryn. Awya’s message seized his heart in his chest. He put the pad away as he began running for the keep. He put everything he had in it. He heard his cousins behind him. “What is happening?” Tor asked. He couldn’t bring himself to speak. Ahead he saw the slender figure of Awya running full tilt toward them. “Oh no,” Rhine said quietly from beside him. “Lord Huntu! Lord Huntu!” Fear poured off her in waves. Venn caught her by the arms and steadied her as she careened to a halt. “Where did you see them?” he asked her. “I was going to your room and I saw him making her walk down the hall. He had a blaster!” Awya was very near tears at this point. “Hans?” he asked. “I didn’t see him. Oh you must save her. They were headed toward the old servant’s stairs.” 84
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“I will, Awya.” Venn let her go. He ran toward the keep. “Gunter, don’t let them allow anyone out of the holding. Lock it down.” “Right, Venn.” Gunter veered toward the gates, pulling out his pad. “Dammit! Olaf, stay with the storehouse!” Rhine yelled. Olaf dropped off. Venn focused as he neared the keep. There were only so many ways out. They would have to head to the gates. Coming around the keep was a darkblue utility vehicle. Huntu keep service vehicles were green. “I know you have a blaster, Rhine. Give it to me!” he yelled. Rhine pulled one sleek black weapon from his hip and one from the small of his back. Venn caught the weapon Rhine tossed him. Focusing, he aimed and fired. He concentrated on the same spot on the front bumper until the vehicle began to rock and spin to the right. Utility vehicles were not made to take fire. They were on the vehicle in a moment. Venn blasted the lock and pulled up the door. The red-haired man brought up his own blaster, but Venn pushed his arm up, knocking the weapon away as it fired. He hit the man with the butt of Rhine’s weapon. Dazed, the man swung at him. Venn dragged the man out, tossing him to Tor. He concentrated on searching the interior of the vehicle. “I don’t see her,” he roared. “The storage compartment, open it,” Rhine said at the rear of the vehicle. Venn hit the button and the door at the rear of the vehicle arose. “She’s here,” Rhine called. Venn rushed to his side. Inside the cramped space, Camryn lay unconscious, nearly folded in on herself. He turned to her would-be kidnapper. “I will kill you later,” Venn snarled. He reached down and gently pulled the binding from her mouth. He lifted her as carefully as he could out of the confined space. Her head and arms flopped and he pulled her quickly to his chest. She looked like a limp rag doll, and if he hadn’t felt the pulse at her throat, he would have stopped to tear into the man until blood ran freely. Looking up, he realized a crowd had formed. He strode toward the keep. Rhine would deal with the prisoner. He’d known it was only a matter of time before someone tried to take her. She was his. She belonged to him. He’d taken her from her invaded world. He would kill anyone who tried to take her away from him. The servants inside moved out of the way as he entered. They were completely silent as he passed. Nolf appeared silently and walked ahead of Venn, directing servants as he passed. At Venn’s chamber, Nolf opened the door and exclaimed. Venn cursed as he saw his brother lying in a heap inside the door. “Get a doctor, Nolf.”
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Venn quickly laid Camryn on the bed and went to check on his brother. They were both breathing, yet both unconscious. He picked up his brother, gritting his teeth at the weight the boy had gained over the last year. He laid him on the sofa closest to where he had fallen. Venn walked to the armchair and sat, leaning his head back. Hans and Camryn were hurt because he forgot his brother was still too young for the responsibility he’d given him. Venn had failed them both. “Lord Huntu, the doctor is here,” Nolf said quietly from the doorway. Dr. Falk entered. As she glanced at both patients, her lips turned down at the corners. “Which patient is first?” “My brother has apparently been unconscious longer,” he said. Venn stood and took up position behind the couch as Dr. Falk took out her scanner and ran it over Hans. She harrumphed, then crossed to Camryn and did the same. Venn followed. “What is it, Doctor?” he asked anxiously. “They were given britoral. They’ll both wake up in twenty-four hours. Let them rest and give electrolytes when they awake. I will return tomorrow.” She put her scanner away. “Will they be okay?” he asked. She stopped. “Yes, Lord Huntu, they’ll be fine. As I said, I’ll be back this time tomorrow. Young Hans can be moved to his room and made comfortable.” As the doctor left, Rhine, Olaf, Tor and Gunter came in. “It’s not your fault, Venn,” Gunter said. “We’ll take Hans back to his room. I’ll sit with him,” Tor said. “Awya has been crying almost constantly. You might want to let her see Camryn,” Olaf added. Venn nodded. “Who’s watching the storehouse?” “Nolf. I would trust him with my valuables any day.” As they left, Venn moved the chair to sit next to Camryn. There was a light knock on the door. “Enter,” he called. A swollen-eyed, flushed Awya entered slowly. “She’s going to be fine, Awya. She’ll awaken tomorrow night just fine,” he said gently. “Could I make her more comfortable? What she’s wearing isn’t easy to sleep in,” she stated. He nodded. She stopped at Camryn’s dresser and pulled out a nightgown. Then she began to change Camryn’s clothes and release her hair. He felt her calm as she worked, becoming stable as she brushed her mistress’s hair. 86
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Soon she left and Venn stripped and climbed into bed. He finally gave in to the urge and held her. Before tonight, he had known he was fascinated with Camryn, possessive even. His behavior had bordered on obsessed. Now he knew he cared for her. He would be more than inconvenienced by her loss. He would be inconsolable. He never thought he would care for a woman. His mother was not the best example of femininity a man could have. He rarely regarded her without contempt. Venn could barely tolerate her. He didn’t feel that way about Camryn. It was one of the reasons he was going to enjoy torturing and killing her kidnapper tomorrow.
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Chapter Twelve Camryn awoke in degrees. She was disoriented. Her head hurt and her eyelids felt glued shut. “Who threw me under the bus?” she whispered. “There was no bus, Camryn,” Venn said next to her. She opened one eye to look for him. “Why are you screaming?” “I’m not. Does your head ache?” he said much more quietly. “Can I have something to drink?” Everything was beginning to flood back to her. Thoughts of the red-haired man, Hans lying unmoving inside the door and her hurried trip through the keep played in her mind. She shuddered. “The doctor said you need an electrolyte drink. Awya brought this awhile ago.” He held up a mug and helped her sit up. “How is Hans?” she asked. “He is up and about already. The doctor said you slept so long because the kidnapper gave you a dose for an Ordanian. You’ll feel better soon.” She was so happy that Hans was all right. Venn took the mug and sat it on the nightstand. He smoothed her hair from her face. She sighed into the caress for a moment and then tried to swing her legs over the side of the bed. “What are you doing? Lie still.” He scowled and pushed her legs back on the bed. “Nature calls, Venn,” she said. “What?” “I have to go to the bathroom. Like right now.” She grimaced. He swung her up in his arms and carried her. She couldn’t object because she hadn’t known how she would have gotten there on her own. She felt incredibly weak. Venn took her to the toilet, pulled her panties down and left the room. She finished quickly, but was trembling by the time she washed her hands and had to call Venn to help her. He sat against the headboard, holding her on his lap. “I don’t think whatever he gave me agrees with me. How did you find me?” “Awya saw the man holding a blaster on you and leading you out. We found the bastard trying to sneak you out in the trunk of a utility vehicle. Camryn, I don’t know what I would have done if he’d gotten you out of the holding.”
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She squeezed him tighter. She had learned the hard way that she didn’t really want to leave him. She would have grieved for him. “He said he’d been paid to take me. Do you think they’ll send someone else?” she asked. Venn squeezed her. “He said that?” Venn’s voice was cold. Deadly. “Yes. Didn’t he tell you who hired him?” “No, but he will.” She shivered. He was in full warrior mode and she was surprised he didn’t just run off now and beat the crap out of the redheaded man. “Thank you for rescuing me.” “I will always come for you, Camryn.” Camryn jumped at the knock on the door. “Come,” Venn called. A beautiful middle-aged Ordanian woman entered. “Lord Huntu,” she said, addressing Venn before turning to Camryn. “I am Dr. Falk. How are you feeling?” She pulled out an electronic device and ran it over Camryn. “A little fuzzy and weak, but otherwise okay.” Camryn sighed. “Well, your abductor gave you a dose for an Ordanian, not taking into account how small you are. You’ll feel better shortly. You aren’t damaged in any other way.” The doctor returned her scanner to her case. “Your birth control will run out soon. Are you planning on becoming pregnant or would you like to schedule an appointment for a shot?” Camryn could only blink as it felt like her chest seized. She looked at Venn, then back at the doctor. He hadn’t said anything, and for a moment she thought about holding a child in her arms and how good it would feel to smell his or her little baby smell and love and care for a child. Then she remembered that she currently didn’t belong to herself. The world seemed to crash in on her. She slowly shook her head from side to side and tried to breathe slowly through her nose so she wouldn’t cry. “If you want a child, Camryn, I will give you one,” Venn said softly, taking her hand. She swallowed. “Would my child be a slave?” The doctor spoke, “No, the child would be a free person born from a slave and freeman union.” “Oh,” Camryn said. “I would make the child a landowner when he was older,” Venn said. Why didn’t he just stab her and get it over with?
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She shook her head. “No thank you. I wouldn’t want the child to grow up proud of his powerful father and ashamed of his mother. After all, I’m the equivalent of a chair or shoes. What kind of life is that for a child?” The quiet following her words was filled with undercurrents that she didn’t quite catch. The doctor seemed surprised. She couldn’t tell what Venn thought. She knew he would sense her sadness, but she hurt too badly to care. “I’m tired. I’m sure someone will call you about the appointment.” Camryn closed her eyes and lay down with her back to them. She prayed they would both feel uncomfortable and leave. There was a rustle of fabric and then the door closed. She pressed her lips tightly together. She couldn’t cry yet. She knew she wasn’t alone. The bed tilted slightly and hands pulled her closer and arms attempted to cradle her. She flinched. They had just smacked her in the face with the fact that her happiness here wasn’t real. Camryn lay stiffly against Venn, not really wanting to share her grief with anyone. “I can feel how hurt you are, Camryn. Don’t hold yourself apart from me. Let me comfort you,” he whispered into her hair. She turned her head so that her face was pressed into his arm. Tears fell, even though she wanted to shed them alone. “There is no comfort for me,” she whispered against his sleeve. “Then take what little I can offer. I have a broad chest to lean on and strong arms to hold you.” He kissed her ear. Here was the slap, though some might mistake it for fondness. The effort to hold tears in her eyes, nose and throat hurt too much. She allowed herself to fully breathe and more tears fell from her eyes and her throat was free to make noise. She clutched him, keeping her face turned away from his and into his arm. She cried because she might never be free again. She cried for the children she wanted with this man but would never have because he couldn’t understand why she couldn’t be content as his slave and not his equal. She cried because he could love her so well, hold her so close and yet hurt her so deeply. At that moment she wondered if he’d broken her. No, she wondered if she had let him break her. She’d been attacked, drugged, humiliated again and again. Never had she felt closer to the edge than she felt at that moment. The man whom she cared so much for only thought of her as a pet. To him she was a thing that didn’t deserve the same rights he held. He didn’t care for her as much as she cared for him. He couldn’t. Not and continue to treat her so. His touch was a lie. She tried to jerk away from him. He held her fast and managed to turn her onto her back. “Please don’t. I’m sorry, sweet,” he whispered hoarsely against her ear. She closed her eyes at the desperation in his voice. “Why are you sorry?” He kissed the tears pooling along her hairline. “You’re in pain.” 90
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She stared up at him. His face was open, like it only was when they made love. Anguish and confusion were stamped there for her to see. Maybe what they shared wasn’t a complete lie. Maybe he just needed more time. She wondered if this was how addicts felt when they were willing to do anything to score a fix. Any sign of caring on his part kept her holding on, waiting for him to see their truth. She turned in his arms and held him tight. Venn held Camryn until she fell asleep, then he wiped her tears, kissed her cheek and smoothed her hair. He eased from the bed and grabbed a leather bag from a chest in his closet. He left the room after calling for a guard to stand ready at the door. He made his way to the lowest level of the keep. Doors with only small square windows filled with bars lined the walls. He went to the first and punched in the key code and laid his palm against the scanner to open the door. The man inside, chained to a chair, looked like what he was, someone who had been tortured for twenty-four hours. Rhine leaned against the wall, blood splattering his clothes. He held a knife in his hand that he tapped patiently against his leg. Venn looked back at his captive and almost cursed. He should have known better than to leave Rhine down here. Contrary to Camryn’s belief, Rhine liked her. He actually liked her too much for his own moral code. He tried to make up for wanting his cousin’s lover by being stern with her and making her dislike him. “Dammit, Rhine, how am I supposed to question him with his mouth swollen shut?” Venn asked. “He shouldn’t have touched her,” Rhine said, shrugging. That was true. “Camryn says someone paid him. I need to know who that was. Look at him.” Venn shook his head. Praying for patience, Venn walked over to the prisoner and kicked him in the leg. The man yelled. “Wake up, scum. It’s time for you to tell me what I want to know.” One bloodstained eye peered up at him. “Nuffin ’oo ay.” “Oh you’ll say something. My cousin here just warmed you up for me. You entered my keep, drugged my brother, then harmed and stole my woman.” Venn sat his bag on the cot in the corner and slowly began taking out the contents. “You brought the good toys,” Rhine said with satisfaction. Venn looked down at his tools. There were old-fashioned pliers, clamps, a hammer, twine and an ice pick. “There’s more, but we can get started with this. Now, who sent you here?” Venn could sense the man’s fear, but still he refused to talk.
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“The pliers and the ice pick,” Rhine said. “I think you’re right,” Venn said, turning to pick up the instruments.
***** Hours later, Venn and Rhine left the cell bloodier, but no smarter. Grim-faced, they ascended the stairs and made their way to a communal bathroom on the second floor. There were extra clothes there and they quickly washed and changed. “What do you think?” Rhine asked. “He doesn’t know more than he’s saying. All he knows is what came through on the contract for her,” Venn said. “I think so too. We’ve got nothing to go on.” “Whoever it is has to be rich and they have to have nefarious connections.” Venn leaned against the wall and ran a hand down his face. “Could be anyone,” Rhine said. “How’s Camryn?” “The idiot overdosed her. She is still slightly drugged. And.” He paused. “Hell, and the doctor asked her if she wanted a child and she broke down.” He could feel Rhine’s shock. “Does she want to have children?” “She refused. She said her child would be ashamed of her because she’s a shoe.” “A shoe?” “She means because I own her. She’s property,” Venn said bitterly. “Have you thought about what she asked?” his cousin asked quietly. Venn tensed. He looked at his cousin. Then he exhaled. They had been raised together, closer than brothers. “I thought about it. I can’t do it. What if I free her and she—” he stopped. He was getting into soft territory now. “What if she leaves you? I don’t think she will.” “I can’t take the chance,” he said finally, moving toward the door. “Wait, Venn, maybe you could try giving her a reason to stay. Talk to her. Find out what she really wants. Talk to her.” “When did you turn into Mr. Feelings?” Venn asked. Rhine punched him in the arm. “Look, I’m trying to help you stop walking around the keep looking like a sad sack of sheep dung because she frowns at you.” Venn scowled at his cousin. Rhine shrugged. “It’s true.” Venn snorted and left the bathroom, making his way back to his room. The door was open and Tor stood outside. Venn raised his eyebrows and Tor shrugged. “Hans,” was all he said.
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Venn and Rhine approached cautiously and looked inside. Camryn sat on the sofa in a voluminous robe with her legs tucked under her, plaiting a portion of Hans’ hair as he sat on the floor in front of her reading out loud to her. “Wait, hold up. Does that mean to get into heaven a man has to kill or outsmart all his enemies?” she asked while connecting two braids together with a strip of leather. “It’s just an old tale, Camryn. We don’t believe this anymore,” Hans said. “Hmm,” she said. “Go look at your hair. Rhine had his hair just like this, and he’s such a pretty boy, it has got to catch you a girlfriend.” Tor pushed Rhine as his face turned as red as Hans’. Venn smiled slightly. “Did your mom check on you?” she asked. Hans stiffened and sat back down, picked up the book and pretended to turn the pages. “No, Bronwyn did.” “Hmm.” She picked up the brush and brushed the part of his hair that was still loose. “At least that’s something. I would have come, but I was out cold. Next time someone kidnaps me, I’m going to have to remind them that I’m not six feet tall.” “That isn’t funny, Camryn,” Hans said. She exhaled. “I know, but sometimes it’s easier to laugh than to cry. I don’t have any more tears left.” “I’m sorry.” She turned his face and leaned over him. “It wasn’t your fault. And I’ll kick anyone’s ass who says it was. Remember, my elbow is family jewels height.” “Family jewels?” Hans asked. “Yeah, you know that thing all you men think is so cool, you start touching it when you’re babies,” she said with a grin. Hans flushed a bright red and Camryn fell over laughing. “Camryn,” Hans said, embarrassed. Venn cleared his throat from the door and he and Rhine entered the room. Hans tried to get up, but Camryn tapped his shoulder. “Stay still, I’m not finished,” she said. “Camryn, he’s too big to baby,” Venn said. “Whatever, he’s still a boy. A very big boy, but still a boy.” “How do you feel, Camryn?” Rhine asked, stone-faced. She blinked at him. “I’m fine. Thank you for asking.” She smiled. “You want your hair done too? I could set up a salon. There’s probably enough hair on this planet to keep me in business for years and years.” “I’m not a boy or a damn woman,” Rhine replied. Camryn opened her mouth to respond.
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“Camryn,” Venn said sharply. “I didn’t say anything. Gee. Okay, kiddo, I’m done. Go out and break a few hearts.” “Break a few hearts?” Hans asked. “Never mind. This translator doesn’t work on idioms.” “Are you ready to go down to eat, Camryn? You seem back to full strength,” Venn said. “Well,” she said slowly. “I’m sure Dalla can keep Venn entertained for you. You just rest,” Rhine said, too nicely. Venn watched Camryn narrow her eyes at his cousin. Rhine smiled at her and she uncurled her legs from the sofa and stood with the grace of a queen. “Someone call Awya. I’ll be ready shortly. Now you can all get out.” She turned and walked into the bathroom. “You make her angry on purpose,” Hans said with a frown. Rhine shrugged. Venn frowned. “We all need to change. This is one night I don’t want to hear Lady Helsa on top of the usual indigestion from our guests,” Venn said. Hans turned to his brother. “How much longer will it be until Bronwyn’s presenting? Citizen Ors may be a respected official, but he doesn’t say or feel nice things. Especially about Camryn.” “Just a few more weeks. There will be many contractors in and out during that time. With the trilliu and Camryn here, we will have to be extra vigilant.” Rhine and Hans left and Venn gathered what he needed. Camryn came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. He couldn’t resist grabbing her and kissing her deeply. He knew she wanted to resist, but also knew that her attraction to him was so complete she couldn’t. Finally, she pushed at his chest. “Stop. We don’t have enough time. Let me dress.” He took his things into the large bathroom so he wouldn’t shock poor Awya by stepping out naked. By the time he was finished and returned to the bedroom, Camryn was having something applied to her face. Venn frowned, she looked different. If possible, she looked…sexier. She wore a black dress. The top seemed to shelf her breasts, and with everyone taller than her, they would get an eyeful. The top tucked her waist in even smaller than before. Her shoulders and arms were bare. Her neck was circled with a black leather choker. The skirt was black, shimmery and slightly see-through. The shoes, wow, were heels with straps that crissed and crossed with a little red bow on the heel. Her finger and toenails were deep red, as were her lips. Her eyes looked smoky. Her curly hair was straight and hung down her back. Awya was creating a lightning bolt of appliquéd stones along her eye.
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“Camryn,” he said uncertainly. He’d certainly not bought this outfit. Her eyes focused on him as her face remained still for Awya to glue the stones on. “Yes.” Even her voice was different. Already slightly husky and raspy, now it was downright sultry. His penis, already on alert around her, stood completely at attention. “Venn, why can’t I wear perfume again?” she asked as Awya finished with her face and helped her into fingerless black lace gloves. “Overkill, Camryn. To the male Ordanian nose, you smell like you’re already rubbed in scented oils.” “What do I smell like to you, Awya? And be honest, maybe I’m smelly to women.” She laughed and stood. “You smell like flowers, but I’m not sure what kind, just that you do,” Awya said, shrugging. “I wonder what I would smell like to a woman who preferred women?” She smiled at him slowly. Venn’s entire body seized and he swore he could feel the blood rushing through his body. He was going to fuck her in front of Awya. He wasn’t going to even be able to tell Awya to leave. Camryn was begging to be fucked. “I’m finished, Venn. We’re going to be late. Awya, I won’t need you later,” she said, heading for the door. Her walk was even different. Those shoes were really high, but she moved like a predator in them, loose hipped and purposeful. He was stuck in place. Every cell in his body wanted to take her to the floor and rip away the black outfit and take every hole she had. Camryn stopped after opening the door. With her hand on the sill, she looked back over her shoulder and smiled with only one side of her mouth. It hit him right in the groin. He also realized she knew exactly what she had done to him and exactly what she was going to do to every man she passed. Then she disappeared out into the hallway. He bolted to catch up.
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Chapter Thirteen Camryn sighed. Jealousy was a bitch. She had channeled her inner vixen to further stand out from Dalla and her sweet-as-sugar look. She had a part to play here. She might have succeeded too well. As everyone milled about after dinner, even Bronwyn couldn’t take her eyes off her. Wait a minute, the girl watched her a lot. Camryn leaned toward Venn. “Ask your sister what she thinks of my perfume,” she whispered. “No,” Venn said. “I just want to see if she can pinpoint the flower. Just running a little experiment and you know Bronwyn won’t deign to talk to me. Ask her.” She pulled at his sleeve. They were standing with Rhine, Gunter, Dalla and Bronwyn. Venn sighed. “Bronwyn, have you ever smelled the scent Camryn uses? I can’t find it. Maybe we can have it made,” he said. Bronwyn stepped closer to Camryn. “Some type of rare oil, it’s spicy. Take it to Thur. He can sniff out anything.” “Spice? I smell flowers, Dovian roses maybe,” Dalla said in confusion. Camryn elbowed Venn lightly as he stiffened. He stared at his sister and Camryn began to worry. He wasn’t going to get upset because his sister smelled the wrong scent, was he? Damn, Awya hadn’t covered this in her lessons. She had only one way to distract him. She walked away. He followed almost immediately. “She,” he began. She placed a finger to his mouth. “You don’t know for sure and this room is full of people who have hearing as good as you do.” “You’re right.” “You haven’t spoken with Citizen Ors. I’ll stay with Rhine as you go do your duty, unless you want me to sit with him too.” She ran a hand over his shirt. “No, you stay with Rhine and out of trouble. I’ll make this quick.” She walked back to Rhine’s side as Venn made his way to the chair-bound guest. Dalla drifted toward her uncle and Venn. Camryn resisted the urge to hiss at her back. Then Lady Helsa joined them and Camryn wanted to make haste anywhere but their little group. “Don’t they look lovely together? When the marriage contract is finally signed, I will be so happy. Dalla is a perfect Huntu bride. She’ll make some changes around here.
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Some people won’t be able to get away with half of what they get away with now,” Lady Helsa practically crowed. Camryn set her back teeth so she wouldn’t say anything. Fortunately, Lady Helsa had simply come to deliver her little hope for the future and pull Bronwyn away. Gunter and Rhine turned to face her. “Is he really going to marry her?” Camryn whispered. “What if he is? What does that change between you?” Rhine asked smoothly. “I’m not going to sleep with some woman’s husband,” she whispered furiously. “What choice do you have?” he asked. Her stomach felt queasy. “I could,” disappear, “ask to be given to someone else.” Hell no. Rhine stared at her hard and she glared back. “You don’t mean that,” he said matter-of-factly. “Why don’t you fight for the place you want here?” She looked around them and moved closer. “What do you mean?” “You could convince him to give you what you want, Camryn. We all know he’ll do anything for you.” “I don’t know that.” She held up her wrist with the brand. “To be rid of this is the only thing I’ve asked for.” “But have you tried?” Gunter asked. She looked back and forth between them. “What do you suggest I do?” “We have company,” Gunter said, looking behind her. She stared into Rhine’s eyes. “Would you help me?” If jealousy was a bitch, hope was her prettier cousin. She pushed past her distrust of the sarcastic man. Rhine knew Venn probably better than anyone else there. If he couldn’t help her, no one else could. Some emotion moved behind his eyes and then was gone. He nodded slowly and then peered behind her. “What type of conversation is this?” Venn asked, frowning. He’d grown concerned by how close they had been standing and the emotions bouncing between them. Camryn, as usual, was angry and sad. Then a change occurred and she had seemed hopeful with a tinge of desperation. Gunter, of course, was attracted to her, but it was to be expected. He’d also seemed concerned for her. Rhine, whose attraction went slightly beyond the physical, was feeling tenderness. Rhine never let Camryn get that close to him without adding distance. But this time he had stood his ground as she had talked to them about something none of them wanted anyone to hear. “What do you need help with? Leaving the keep?” he asked stoically. 97
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She made a noise of exasperation and crossed her arms under her chest, pushing her breasts up farther. “No, cousin, we aren’t plotting to help her escape. Trust me,” Rhine said. Venn tried to stay calm. He trusted his cousin. He trusted Camryn, but not when it came to seeking what she called her freedom. “This is ridiculous.” She stalked toward the door. Venn grimaced. He turned and followed her. He followed her up the stairs. At the top, she unhooked the side of the skirt and whipped it off, balled it up and threw it in a corner. His heart almost stopped as he climbed below her. The top was actually part of a skintight bodysuit, obviously made out of something stretchy because it had no trouble conforming to her small waist and perfectly soft, rounded ass. His entire body shuddered. She was getting that ass fucked tonight. Soon. He rushed to catch up with her. He swung her around, then lifted her over his shoulder. She yelped. Venn planted a kiss to the luscious mound right by his face. “My tits are falling out,” she said. “No worries. We’re here and I plan to take them all the way out.” He popped her ass and enjoyed the way it jiggled. “Hey,” she said. He strode into the room and closed the door. Striding to the bed, he dumped her in the middle. She bounced and he caught her ankle before she could crawl away. She kicked her other foot out and he grabbed it too. “Everything can’t be handled by you sexing me up until I black out,” she said, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at him. “What did you think was going to happen when you deliberately dressed to entice me?” He took both of her shoes off. She made a dainty noise of disbelief. “I haven’t noticed that I have to dress a certain way for your cock to go searching for my pussy. You wake up ready and stay that way as far as I can see.” He smiled. “It’s you. Everything about you invites me to fuck.” He flipped her over onto her stomach and unzipped the back of the bodysuit. She didn’t have on a damn thing underneath. He swiftly pulled the tight garment from her body and spent some time stroking and kissing her from her neck to her ankles. As usual, all her resistance ceased once he applied himself to her pleasure. Venn reached in the small table next to the bed where he had placed a small bottle of lubricant in anticipation of this moment. Then he rolled the globes of her ass in his hands and proceeded to kiss and suck on the flesh there. She writhed under him, raising her ass in the air and parting her legs. He squeezed a generous amount of the lube on his fingers and slid them between her cheeks to find her puckered hole. As soon as he touched it, she tensed. “What are you doing?” she asked, turning her head to him. 98
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He eased a finger just inside her tightest hole. “Oh hell no.” She tried to crawl forward, but he caught her around the waist and pulled her up so her back was to his chest, not removing his finger. He kissed her neck. “I promise you’ll like it. Just let me get you ready properly. You’ve liked everything else I’ve done to you.” “Are you crazy? I’ve never let anyone take my ass. Oh,” she moaned as he thrust the digit completely past her sphincter. “See, that isn’t bad.” He slid the hand splayed across her belly down to cup her mound. “Look how wet you are.” “That is a finger and even though you have abnormally large hands, your dick is massive. It stretches my pussy to the very limit. There is no way you can fuck me in the ass without damaging me.” She was riding his finger now. He pulled the finger out and added another as he thrust back into her. His other hand coaxed and rubbed at her pussy. She was on her knees now and he kissed and sucked her neck. Her breathing was erratic. “Does it hurt?” he asked before catching her earlobe between his teeth. “Not exactly, it’s just tight. Venn, no.” She was scared, but he also sensed her excitement. “I won’t hurt you. I will be extremely gentle with you. If it hurts, then I’ll stop.” He worked a third finger into her hole and she gasped. “Don’t fight me. Don’t clench. Just feel. That feels good, doesn’t it?” She gasped and her head fell forward. “So you’re going to be balls deep in my ass and if I say stop you’re going to pull out? Has that line worked before?” She was asking if he had enough control. She was scared and he knew she wanted to make sure that he knew her trust was on the line here. He wanted her submission and she wanted to make sure he could be trusted with it. “Camryn, I would never hurt you. You can trust me.” Venn stilled his fingers. He took her no further as she made up her mind. He wouldn’t force her. She had to trust him for her to completely feel pleasure from this act. He knew that if she could get past her fear, she would find power in submitting. He knew this would be important for them. She was still holding parts of herself from him, but not when he touched her. He needed this closeness with her. He needed everything she felt right there on the surface. That only happened when she submitted. Then she gave him everything. Slowly, she leaned forward, her arms extended back until she clutched behind her knees. She pressed her cheek against the bed and arched her raised ass into his hand. “You’re so good, sweet.” He kissed the smooth colbruna-colored globes of her ass. He stood and stepped away from her for a moment. Damn, her pose was seductive on every level. He grabbed the bottle of lube and screwed off the tiny funnel top. She was right. She was too small for him to go marauding while taking her. He would have 99
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to be gentle. He rubbed the bottle between his hands to warm the contents, then he squirted a good amount in her anal opening. She gasped and squirmed, but otherwise maintained her pose. He ran a soothing hand down her back. “You’re perfect, Camryn.” He coated his cock with the clear liquid and stood directly behind her. He got control of himself tightly. The combination of her submissive pose and her anticipation and anxiety were a heady mix. The desire to simply conquer was strong. Her pussy dripped and her puckered rosebud clenched from where he’d loosened it. He aligned the head of his dick with her opening, and gripping her hip, he guided himself inside so slowly he wondered if he was trying to drive himself mad. She breathed out forcefully through her mouth as he pressed through her sphincter. Teeth gritted, he paused and stroked her soothingly. When she relaxed, he offered her another inch. She whimpered and he paused again, murmuring how good she was being. They repeated the process again and again until he bottomed out. She was incredibly tight and he wanted to set a faster pace. Her ass was incredible. He looked down and watched as he pulled slowly out. Beautiful. He reached around to her clit and began to rub it lightly. He used shallow strokes, pulling out farther each time so that she could become accustomed to what was happening. “You’re doing great, sweet. How does that feel?” She blew out sharply. “I feel too full, but it doesn’t hurt. Your fingers on my clit feel damn good though.” He smiled and increased the pressure there as he sped up his thrusts. Her ass jiggled enticingly and he increased the strokes to her clit until she began to push back at him as he thrust. When she became vocal finally, he knew he had her. There was no longer any fear clinging to her. She was close to her peak and he steadily drove her forward, knowing there was no way he could last much longer. She squeezed him tighter than anything he had ever known. He leaned across her back and kissed her ear. “Come for me, Camryn,” he whispered. As her climax struck, her back arched and the contractions of her pussy caused her ass to clamp down hard on his cock. He exploded in one of the best and all-consuming climaxes of his life. He rode it out, waiting until he could think again before slowly easing out of her. He knew she was going to try to hide what she felt even before she did. He gathered her close. “Look at me, Camryn,” he said, lacing his voice with command. She met his eyes, trying to hide vulnerability with defiance.
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“Don’t hide from me. When we are here together, I want everything you have, every emotion and every thought. I want all of you.” He kissed her, forcing her submission this time. Finally, she curled into him, surrendering her anger to their passion. He slowly broke their kiss, but didn’t allow her to pull away. “I’m really sore,” she said and he watched her hand gently cover her behind. “We will soak in the tub and you should be better soon,” he said. He couldn’t resist kissing her and pulling her tighter into his body. “That sounds wonderful.” Slowly he stood, taking her with him. He took them both into the bathroom to turn on the whirlpool. She deserved a little extra care today for allowing herself to be vulnerable and for trusting him. He’d never felt closer to anyone as he felt to her then. He knew he had some thinking to do.
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Chapter Fourteen It took Camryn a week to work up the nerve to talk about Bronwyn. She didn’t fully understand why it was so important that he pay attention to what was happening with Bronwyn. Maybe it was because of all the times she’d failed with Niki. Sadness crowded her for a moment. They sat in his office as he went over the bills for Bronwyn’s party. He was as grim faced as she had ever seen him. “Venn, are you really going to pretend that your sister might not be miserable married to a man?” He froze. Deer in headlights, she thought. “We don’t know that, Camryn.” “Okay, you’re her brother. Why don’t you find out?” she said. “Things have a certain way they have to be, Camryn. She needs a good marriage. If not, she will have no power because she has no house.” “What of Dr. Falk?” “Bronwyn’s strengths are not academic,” he said dryly. “Maybe she wants a choice, but no one has asked her,” Camryn suggested. “Do you want her living here with you forever?” he asked. “She could choose to stay here.” Camryn paused. Would Camryn be here forever? Not if she couldn’t talk this brand off her arm. And if she did get it off, someone needed to ask her to stay. “See, you don’t want her here either.” “No, I could take it. I mean I wouldn’t have a choice, would I? I don’t have a say. I’m a slave,” she said quietly. Camryn sighed. Sometimes she forgot. Venn mostly treated her like a girlfriend, a wife, a mate. She usually reminded herself of her limitations here. That she wasn’t any of those things, she was simply a possession. The room was dead quiet. Suddenly, Venn was before her, kneeling. He took her hands in his and stared into her eyes. “I don’t want you to leave me, Camryn.” “I didn’t say I would. I want to be free, not to be gone,” she replied. “So if I make you a free woman, you would stay with me here?” He squeezed her hands too hard, but this wasn’t the time to protest.
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“I would. Until you marry. Then I would have to go. I ask that you let me go then, because I don’t think I could watch you be happy with someone else.” “Camryn, I could want no one but you,” he said while pulling her closer. “That doesn’t mean you won’t need to marry someone for the good of Tribe Huntu. I would understand, but I’m not so selfless that I would be part of it.” Suddenly, he released her hands and circled her waist, laying his head in her lap. She ran her hands over his hair. Camryn realized that he didn’t truly object to her being free, but to her being free to leave him. He was scared to lose her. Her heart swelled. He wasn’t really a bad guy. She prayed he would make the right decision. They sat there for a while and she stroked his hair. She was so close. So close. He stood abruptly and turned away. Her heart beat wildly in her breast. She desperately wanted him to be the man she could respect and love in all things. She turned her whole body in order to watch him. “We can get a lawyer out here today to fix the papers and have the doctor look at the brand,” he said. The shock of it paralyzed her for a long moment. Then she threw herself off the sofa and into his back. She hugged him with all her strength. “Thank you.” She kissed his back. “Oh call them now.” She wanted it done as soon as possible. She wanted it legal and airtight. She refused lunch until they came, and by nightfall she had her paperwork in hand and a bandage on her wrist from the first treatment. It would take three treatments to remove the mark from her skin. It hurt like hell, but she wore a smile. The Huntu males had all come in at some point to congratulate her. Hans had even volunteered to hold her hand through the brand removal. They all swung unsure glances at Venn, who stood apart from what was happening, signing where needed and issuing orders, but otherwise remaining aloof. He stood now with his back to the room as the doctor left. Hans looked at her and she smiled reassuringly and ushered him out. Camryn locked the door and leaned back against it and observed Venn closely. She wasn’t an empath. She could only guess that he felt insecure about what she could do now that she could pick up and leave whenever she wanted. She wasn’t going anywhere at the moment. Camryn pushed away from the wall and walked toward him. There was magic in their bodies when they touched. There was something indescribable that she had never experienced with another man. His vulnerability, which she’d watched him try to hide behind distance and severity all day, just made her want to remind him of what they created when they came together. His back was stiff as she approached and she laid one hand against his back and reached for the shades with the other, closing them. “Can we talk?” she asked while sliding around so she stood in front of him. “It is time to dress for dinner,” he said. 103
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“This will only take a moment.” Camryn unhooked the buttons on his shirt, then ran her hands across his chest. Everything about him felt new somehow. “Camryn.” “Wait, I want to go first,” she interrupted. Camryn sank to her knees and reached up and unbuckled his belt. Camryn had never taken him into her mouth like this before. She’d sucked him while they lay in bed, but never with her on her knees on the floor before him. It had felt wrong somehow, given the master/slave nature of their relationship. But things were different now. They were not master and slave anymore. They were lovers. She very firmly, yet tenderly, loosened his pants and pushed them down to the floor. He was aroused and growing more so by the second. She took his cock in her hand and opened her mouth before the tip. Then she paused and stared up at him. Damn, he was beautiful. Venn pierced her with his gaze. She could see the effort on his face not to try to force her to take him into her mouth. His jaw and fists were equally clenched and his eyes blazed. She extended her tongue and simply licked the slit on the head of his penis. His body strained toward her. She smiled. “Come on, sweet,” he rasped. “Don’t tease me.” Keeping her eyes glued to his, she opened her mouth wide and devoured him. She watched as his eyes closed and his head fell back. He groaned deeply. Camryn held him there for a moment, alternately swirling her tongue and sucking. “That’s it, sweet, suck it.” She made her mouth a tight seal and readjusted her grip before beginning the forward and back motion she knew would send him over the edge and leave her with a mouth full of his sweet cum to swallow. Camryn set to work, not surprised that her pussy was flooding. His smell, the nasty things he said to her, the feel of him hard and yet velvety in her mouth combined with the mental image she had of them in front of the window while she sucked him was too hot for her to resist. If she hadn’t needed both hands to handle his enormous cock, she would be fingering herself. “Oh you’re so good, Camryn. Suck it harder, baby. Yes, just like that. Take it all. It’s just for you. A treat for you to swallow, so take all of it. Ah, I can smell your pussy. You’re so hot for me. Does sucking my dick make you wet, baby? I know it does. I can smell that sweet cunt of yours. I can’t wait to sink all the way inside you.” He groaned. Camryn bobbed furiously, wanting to feel him come desperately. She repositioned herself without letting go of the base of his cock. She elongated her neck, took a deep breath and relaxed her throat. She felt him enter her throat. “Ugh,” he grunted. Venn grabbed the back of her head and held her gently as he released into her throat. Camryn breathed through it. She pulled her head back and he let her go. She managed to catch the last few ropes in her mouth where she held the sticky substance
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with his twitching cock, then swallowed, sucking the last of the gooey sweet from the head. He hissed and she let him go. Venn slumped back against the windowsill and stared down at her. While he tried to recover, she reached behind her and unzipped her dress to the waist, then shrugged the sleeves off her shoulders and arms. Then she removed her bra and flung it toward his desk. She smiled at him as she stood and kicked off her shoes and reached under her skirt to remove her leggings and panties in one motion. He watched her intently, but made no move to help. He waited to see what she would do next. She walked to his desk and rearranged the items on top. She hopped up on the side, pushing herself farther on. Lifting the front of her white skirt above her waist with one hand, she rubbed the folds and crease of her sopping-wet cunt with two fingers of the other. He toed off his boots. “I know you’re ready again. I need you to give me your cock in my needy pussy all at once. Just drive into me and fuck me until I scream and babble and say shit that doesn’t make—” Before she could finish, he was in motion, kicking off his pants and striding to her in two large steps. He pulled her to the very edge of the desk by her hips and slammed his cock into her pussy. “Oh fuck.” There was pain, but also a lot of pleasure. So much so that her pussy immediately gushed again, making her wet enough to take it as he pulled almost all the way out. “You okay?” he asked through clenched teeth. “Fuck me,” she whispered, panting and moaning. “So tight, so wet. So damn good,” he growled. Venn hooked his arms under her knees and pulled her ass completely off the desk. Camryn leaned back on her elbows and let him take her. He’d never fucked her this hard before. The doctor had begun to remove the brand from her wrist, but he was trying to brand her pussy now. She felt it. He was claiming her again, reminding her and himself that she belonged to him. “I’m yours, Venn. Fuck my pussy, dammit. Shit, nothing feels like this.” He leaned over and sucked a nipple in his mouth, simultaneously applying pressure to her clit. She burst like fireworks. Camryn came so hard that her vision winked out. She kept coming until she begged him to let her come down. She felt crazy, like there was nothing but the feel of her pussy and womb contracting and his cock pounding in and out. She screamed, shaking her head back and forth, trying to clear it. Her hands clenched the sides of the desk and she arched her torso. Finally, he gritted his teeth and slammed all the way inside her. He gathered her close and roared her name as he
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pumped once, twice, three times, sending rope after rope of semen to settle into her pussy. Camryn panted on the desk as she waited for the shivers in her body to still. Venn moaned, then stood, scooping her with him, and staggered to his desk chair. Camryn curled into him and allowed her body to lie loosely against his chest. She enjoyed the feeling of him still resting snugly inside her. She was comforted by the sound of his heart pounding against her ear. He rubbed a hand over her hair and down her back over and over again. As soon as her heart rate slowed, he leaned her back and set to work on her overly sensitive nipples like he was starving for them. “Now wait a minute, I’m hungry,” she said breathlessly, holding his head to her chest. “You’re a bad girl, you’ll have to ride my cock before I can let you eat tonight.” “Bad! I thought I was very, very good,” she replied. He smiled and kissed her hungrily. Then he balled up her skirt and held it in one hand so he could clearly see where their bodies were joined. He leaned back and popped her ass. “Get going, sweet,” he said smugly. Venn felt a shiver travel through Camryn’s body. Then he was distracted by the suction and slide of her pussy as she rose and fell leisurely. He watched indulgently as she reached down to press on the little hood covering her clit. No matter how often he fucked her, she still felt like a glove. He let her work and watched her face as she closed her eyes and her mouth formed a little “oh”. She was so fucking beautiful it made his chest hurt to look at her. He had been sure she would be already planning how to leave him. Her happiness at gaining her freedom had been absolute. Instead, it seemed she had channeled that happiness into more pleasure in his arms. He could live with that. He opened his senses up full force and felt how blissed she was. His cock was about to burst from simply watching her and feeling her excitement. He held back and let her ride at her own pace. “You’re so beautiful. I could watch you all day.” She opened sultry eyes and smiled at his words. “Your pussy is the best. It molds to my dick just right. I love to feel you sliding along my cock, so soft and wet. I love the way your juices coat my dick and slip over my balls.” She moved faster at his words and he stifled a groan. He thrust softly against her, but otherwise let her set the pace. “Did you like sucking my cock, Camryn?” “Y—yes.” She gasped and grabbed his arms, moving faster.
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“I wonder if it tastes as good to you as your cunt tastes when I bury my tongue deep inside you, trying to drink every drop of your juice?” He clenched the sides of the chair. She rode him furiously now, murmuring and intent. “So good,” she gasped. He knew she was at her bursting point, so he met her downward thrusts forcefully, but didn’t grasp her or force her down. He allowed her to ride him to her climax. She didn’t scream his name; she moaned it as she came. He allowed himself to let go as she spasmed, spending himself once again. They rested against each other until they each caught their breath. “I’m going to fall asleep in my soup,” she said. He laughed. He helped her up and he watched as she held her skirt over her arm while looking around for her panties. She was leaning over looking under the sofa. He was staring at the beautiful pussy and ass displayed fully in her wide-legged pose when her overfull pussy leaked cum. He watched it slide down her inner thigh. Camryn reached down and scooped it up with her finger, stood and sucked her finger into her mouth. He was on her in an instant, placing her over the side of the sofa and driving into her so she came up on her toes. She was already so full, he knew she was well lubricated. “Venn, dammit!” She laughed, then moaned. He long stroked her while playing with her breasts and nipples as they swung gently. Reaching for her clit, he brought her to a quick climax, then continued to exhaust himself in delight to the sounds she made as she strained against him. He thought again about her licking their mingled cum off her fingers after wiping it from her luscious thighs and nipped her neck as his release tore through him. He was never going to be able to move again, he thought as he leaned lightly against her back. He knew he had to move. Camryn had gone limp, falling almost immediately asleep propped over the arm of the sofa. He laughed softly and kissed her exposed neck. He pulled out of her gently, lifted her and laid her on the sofa. He kissed her lips, then placed her arms back inside her sleeves while being careful of her damaged wrist. She swatted at him briefly, but remained asleep. Venn put his pants, socks and shoes back on and buttoned his shirt. He located her assorted undergarments and stuffed them into various pockets. Unlocking and opening the door, he went back to Camryn and lifted her, cradling her to his chest. He made his way to their chamber and laid her on the bed gently. He let her sleep through dinner, but woke her up several times that night to tell her without words how much he wanted her to stay.
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Chapter Fifteen Camryn ate breakfast sleepy-eyed and starving the next morning. She fell asleep at one point and her head landed softly on Rhine’s shoulder. “Venn,” she heard him say with what sounded like desperation. “Don’t be a baby,” she murmured. “I’m up.” She blinked. “Here, drink this, Camryn. It will keep you awake,” Venn said, smiling at her. She frowned at him. “It’s your fault anyway.” He laughed. She took the cup and drank. It tasted like warm toffee-flavored coffee. She immediately asked for another. She still had lessons that day. Three cups later and she felt more herself. When Bronwyn entered Venn’s office later, Camryn only blinked. “You sent for me, Brother?” she asked. Bronwyn’s eyes were on Venn, but her nostrils flared delicately. “Have a seat, Bronwyn,” Venn commanded, grim-faced. Maybe Bronwyn wasn’t hiding her emotions well. Bronwyn looked at the sofa and then at Camryn sitting on it. Her eyes widened and she swallowed noticeably. “I think I will stand.” She tried for haughty, but couldn’t quite carry it off. “Are you attracted to me, Bronwyn?” Camryn finally asked. “Venn won’t be angry. He just wants to talk to you.” Bronwyn looked petrified. She clutched at her skirts and looked at her brother. “It’s not true. I don’t want her.” Venn exhaled. “I think you do, Bronwyn. Are you only attracted to women or do you have feelings for men too?” Bronwyn’s entire body seized, then she began to cry and dropped to a heap on the floor. Camryn stood to go to her, but Venn stopped her with a hand on her arm. He had come around the desk so fast she hadn’t heard him. He knelt by his sister and gathered her in his arms. “Shh, Bronwyn, it isn’t that bad,” he said. “Don’t tell Mother,” she whispered. Camryn knelt behind Venn and laid her hand on his back. She knew he could feel the sympathy and pride in him she was feeling. She knew he had a difficult relationship
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with his sister. Bronwyn was far from easy to get along with. Yet he was comforting her as a brother should. Yeah, she went a little gooey inside. Venn held Bronwyn until she calmed enough to stop sobbing. “Do you want to marry a man, Bronwyn? Will that make you happy?” Venn asked. “What difference does it make? What else is there for me on Ordan? Anyway, I don’t dislike men in that way, I just feel the same way for women. My life is so sheltered that it was easy to hide.” Bronwyn wiped at her face, then looked over Venn’s shoulder at Camryn. “Then Camryn came. She’s hard to ignore. She’s like a shock to the system.” “I understand,” Venn said softly. “I’m sure you do,” Bronwyn said with a small smile. “I couldn’t ignore it anymore because she is so different and yet so obviously a woman. She is a small, dainty woman as well.” “You don’t have to marry, Bronwyn. You can always live here,” Venn said. “With you and Camryn? No. It’s just there aren’t any possibilities for me on Ordan. On other worlds, people aren’t as rigid as they are here,” she said fiercely. Camryn looked at the beautiful girl and realized Bronwyn lived in a cage too. Her heart softened toward the girl. “Why can’t she see other places? At least for a year. Rhine will be leaving soon. She could go with him. She could call it a coming of age tour and say you gave it to her as a gift because you want to spoil her. She is your only sister. It might be different, but not strange. She is a pampered lady, after all,” Camryn said with excitement. Bronwyn’s eyes lit up and she looked at her brother with hope. Venn looked at her carefully. “I would have to talk to Rhine. You can’t be a witch with him. Our mother has been a bad influence on you.” “I won’t, Venn.” She clasped her hands in front of her as if in prayer. “We can announce it as my gift to you at your coming out, if Rhine agrees,” Venn said, helping both Bronwyn and Camryn to their feet. “Oh thank you, Brother!” Bronwyn threw her arms around Venn and hugged him. Then she did the same to Camryn. “Go now and don’t say anything to Lady Helsa,” he instructed. Bronwyn left and Venn regarded Camryn closely. “You’re going to have to ask Rhine.” “What! He doesn’t even like me.” She tossed her arms up. “He is very fond of you,” Venn said with a small smile. Camryn knew she was looking at him as if he were an idiot. “It’s true. He was always after me to ask you what you wanted and to consider your demands for freedom.” “Yeah?” She was shocked. 109
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Camryn could have sworn Rhine couldn’t stand her and thought she was a pain in the butt. “I’ll try. Go figure.”
***** It had been raining for days, only stopping last night, so Camryn and Awya were holding lessons in a small parlor that was never used. Camryn was just snapping on her L.I. when Awya grimaced while rifling through her cart. “What is it, Awya?” “I left the tablet with the hierarchy on it. You’re going to need that for the party and guests coming soon.” “Oh go get it. I’ll be okay here. Gunter’s outside the door.” Awya looked at her speculatively. “I’ll just be a moment.” Awya left and Camryn stood and wandered over to the window. The rain had stopped, but it was dreary and muddy. Camryn let her thoughts drift for a moment. She laid a shaking hand against her belly. The temptation to have a child was almost unbearable, but she couldn’t and wouldn’t. She was free now, but she didn’t really have a place here. At any moment, Venn could tire of her or, heaven forbid, he could marry. Camryn was distracted by a whimper and her head came up. The sound reached her again. She looked out the window, checking to the right and left. Below a tree, she spotted a little brown and black hundrivarg. They were cute and cuddly as pups with enormous ears, sharp but small claws and a shock of straight fur between their ears that made them look like they had a mohawk. It was when they were full grown that they were dangerous, turning into horrendous creatures that looked like enormous coyote-jackals. They walked on four legs and had long furry tails. Awya had shown her holograms of the creatures with their sharp teeth, black claws and rough shock of fur that traveled from between their ears to their tails. They were used as guards along the inside and outside of the holding’s walls. This one was still cute. His leash was caught in a fallen log and the hundrivarg pup, in an attempt to get loose, had tangled itself up so that the rope was choking it. She was a pushover for a cute animal. Camryn looked around, but she didn’t see anyone to come to its rescue. If she waited or sent someone around, it could strangle first. “I’ll just climb out, help it, then be back in before Awya gets back,” she said softly. Camryn opened the window, gathered her skirts and sat on the sill. She swung around and dropped the short distance to the ground. She landed in the mud with a squish and almost slipped. She righted herself with her arms out to the sides. Carefully, she made her way across to the pup, who began to wiggle frantically at her approach. “Shh, shh. Calm down,” she soothed.
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It took her awhile to figure out how to unwind the animal. When she had it free, the pup began running and leaping around the hem of her ruined dress. She took a step to try to catch the leash, but tripped on it instead. This time, the hundrivarg pup was leaping at her legs in the back and pushed her over into a mud puddle. Thankfully, she braced her forearms. Mud splashed onto her face. She looked up to see the hundrivarg race for the front of the keep. “Damn dog.” Camryn pushed herself up, slipping twice. “Eww.” She was covered, neck to toes, in warm, brown mud. There was no way she could go back through the window. Frankly, she just felt nasty. She turned and began walking after the pup. She tried staying close to the keep where the ground wasn’t as wet. “Venn will marry Dalla if it looks as if he has publically compromised her.” Camryn stopped and looked up. She was under a windowsill. Peeking inside, she saw Lady Helsa and Citizen Ors. Camryn squatted quickly, praying they hadn’t seen her. “What if he doesn’t?” Ors asked. “Where will that leave my niece? And me, for that matter? I want the exotic. He’s freed her.” “Venn will offer for Dalla. Venn is like his father. Once he has publicly ruined her, he will marry her. Then she can insist that Camryn go. Figure out a way to make the exotic go with you. You’re rich, for Ordan’s sake. She’s now free with no way to make her living but on her back,” Lady Helsa said in exasperation. “We don’t want to mar beautiful Bronwyn’s party. We can make it for the night before. There should be a full house then,” Ors said thoughtfully. “We’ll think of something. Now make sure she understands that I don’t want to go to the dowager house.” “Don’t worry, Lady Helsa, you will find Dalla entirely biddable.” Camryn had heard enough. Those two were so sneaky and slick it was a wonder that oil didn’t leak from their pores. She wasn’t going to allow Ors and Helsa to do this to them. She would never be desperate enough to cross the street alone with Citizen Ors, let alone be his mistress. She needed to warn Venn. Slowly she eased from under the window, then hurried around to the front of the keep. All activity stopped as the people there saw her. “Mistress Camryn,” a boy said at her side. “Are you hurt?” “No. Go get Lord Huntu. And a bar of soap.” She would have to bathe in the pond. The boy ran inside and Camryn tried to wipe some of the mud from her dress. “Camryn? What in the world happened to you?” Venn asked in a near shout. She looked up. An animal yelped and she saw the offending pup. “I was freeing that pup.” She pointed. The hundrivarg pup hid behind a little boy’s legs. “And ended up in a mud puddle.” Venn’s lips twitched.
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“Don’t you dare laugh. I have something important I have to tell you. Did you bring the soap?” A maid hurried out with a basket. “Here it is, Lord Huntu. There’s bathing items and a robe for Mistress Camryn.” Venn took the basket and then Camryn’s arm, steering her toward the pond. “How did you get out of the keep?” “Um, I climbed out a window.” He glanced at her sharply. “The pup was choking!” Chagrin colored her words. “I see,” was all he said. Her feet squished as she walked and she knew the little leather flats were ruined. As they neared the water, each person they passed hurried off in another direction until they were alone at the edge of the pond. Camryn walked right into the water. She sank down and then came up sputtering. “What do you have to tell me?” he asked, taking off his clothes and hanging them from a branch. She was momentarily preoccupied by the sight. “Camryn?” he prompted, entering the water. As soon as his erection was covered by water, she sighed and told him what she had heard. He distracted her a few times as he stripped off her wet clothes and soaped her completely. When she finished retelling what she’d heard, she looked at him expectantly. “What are you going to do?” He shrugged and soaped her breasts for the third time. “I’m forewarned. What can I do? They haven’t done anything yet.” She gasped as he paid special attention to her nipples. “Do you want to marry her?” She mentally braced herself. He stopped his ministrations and gathered her close. “No, I don’t want to marry her.” “Oh,” she said. “Oh,” he mocked. She wrapped her arms around his back. She was vulnerable again. His mother wouldn’t stop with Dalla. There would be other tall Ordanian women strolling through their life. She squeezed him tighter. Her jealousy was new. She had always been the one surprised when a man showed they were jealous in a relationship. She was always the one only slightly regretful when things didn’t work out. But that wasn’t how it was with Venn. She laid her cheek against his chest. His skin was warm against her cheek and she rubbed her nipples against him. He grabbed her ass and pulled her closer. They fit somehow.
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She felt so good when she was near him. Being able to touch him always made everything all right. At least for a little while. He scooped her up with the hold he had on her bottom. He kissed her and she fell into it wholeheartedly. How something could be carnal and sweet at the same time, she didn’t know. She wrapped her legs around him, then hooked one arm around his neck and reached underneath her to grab his cock. They worked together. She held him steady as he slid her down his body to impale her slowly. Water flowed around her thighs and belly, caressing her. She used both arms to pull herself closer and tightened her muscles to assist with the slow slide of his dick in and out of her pussy. The sun caressed her back and she leaned her head back to catch it on her face. He placed a wet hand on her face and slid it down her body. The coolness of the water trickling down her skin was shiver inducing. “I could only ever want you, Camryn,” he said quietly. He kissed her forehead, eyelids, cheeks and mouth. She smiled. She must not have been blocking her feelings as well as she thought. That was okay. Her feelings were honest. What they were sharing was as intense as every other moment, only sweeter and not as desperate. She looked into his eyes and held his gaze. She smiled and showed him how much she wanted to be right where she was. They stayed that way, eyes locked, until Camryn felt the shift in her body. Finally, there was the need for a faster rhythm. She nipped his lip. “Faster, babe.” He closed his eyes briefly but complied. He tightened his grip on her ass, keeping her in place as his hips rotated faster. “Oh damn. You are hitting my spot,” she whispered. She whimpered, but he kept up the pace, angle and rhythm. This wasn’t going to last much longer. “So good. Oh damn, Venn.” He whispered to her, “You can do it, sweet. I can feel how close you are. Your little pussy always holds me extra tight when you’re about to come all over me. It feels so good.” She sought out his lips and screamed her release into his mouth. He joined her a second after, gripping her so tight there was no room between them. He went to his knees in the water, still holding her. Her chin was caressed by waves caused by their movement. They stayed there, each catching their breath. “I’m cold.” He led her to the water’s edge. He dried her with brisk strokes and helped her into the robe before drying himself and redressing. He lifted her and the basket with her wet things and headed back to the keep. She felt safe in his arms. “You’re always carrying me around,” she said, smiling. 113
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“You aren’t big enough for it to be a bother.” She kissed him, only stopping when she heard the giggling. A group of young women were carrying laden baskets to the keep. She smiled and waved to them and they waved back. “Keep the flattery up, Venn. It will land you in nice places,” she said and kissed him quickly again.
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Chapter Sixteen Camryn lay on a blanket in the shade of the storehouse. Cook had packed her a basket and she’d downloaded several audio books on an information pad. She was surprised Venn let her come on patrol with him today. She had been prepared for a crazy lopsided conversation where she talked and he simply said no over and over. But he’d only regarded her closely, then told her to be ready after her lessons. They sat together on the blanket talking about nothing in particular. She was alone on the blanket now while Venn did an interior and perimeter check. Her audio books didn’t interest her. She wasn’t hungry. There was nothing to distract her from her thoughts. For days she had been increasingly unable to push thoughts of Niki away. Camryn’s life was moving in the direction she wanted. She had no master. She had a good man to love. She was attempting to build a life for herself. But she’d never pictured her life without Niki, even if Niki pictured her life without her. She didn’t doubt she was alive. Niki was resourceful in an almost frightening way. Camryn crossed her arm over her eyes. She wanted to know where she was and how she was doing more than anything. “Camryn,” Venn said. She lifted her arm and gazed up where he towered over her. And he was towering. His face was set into hard lines as he stared down at her. “Why are you so sad?” he asked. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t feel like baring her soul. “So you’re still thinking about leaving me even after all we’ve been through.” His tone was as hard as his face. Her eyes widened. What a leap his mind was making. “No,” she said. Camryn sat up quickly and reached for him. He took a step back, but she scrambled to her knees, reaching for him and catching his hand. “No. I don’t want to leave you.” She held onto him tightly. She watched his face and didn’t bother to shield her own. She knew what that felt like. That just shy of cracking feeling that only happened when someone you cared for wanted to be anywhere but with you. “Please don’t be angry, Venn.”
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They remained that way for several long moments, like some strange human sculpture. She was afraid to let go of him. She didn’t want misunderstandings in what they were building together. His face and posture softened and he knelt in front of her. He reached out and held her face in his palms. Relief assailed her, a high that brought tears to her eyes. “Why won’t you stay happy? Whatever I have is yours, Camryn. Just ask and I will find a way to get it.” He looked so frantic. It was so hard to talk about this. She’d been taught from the cradle to guard her family’s secrets. Even with her parents gone, it was hard to just open her mouth and speak. But she was going to have to. Her melancholy hurt him because he didn’t understand it had nothing to do with him. “I have a sister,” she said. The relief was staggering. He appeared confused. “Why was that so hard to say?” Her mouth opened and closed. She tried again. This time everything she ever wanted to say came stumbling out. “My family was different. We weren’t allowed to tell anyone outside the family we were sisters and not cousins. My sister, Niki, and I are the daughters of Nelson Highbear and the two sisters who loved him. Kate and Ana Sawyer would do anything for my father, even share.” “Your people are polygamist,” he said stoically. “No, they aren’t. As a matter of fact, that type of thing was frowned upon in our country. But I don’t think our parents could help themselves. They were so helpless when they were apart. Their entire world revolved around the three of them,” she explained. “What of you and your sister?” We were the casualties. “We were fine until it was time to attend school. I was six and Niki was five. Papa sat us down and told me that from now on, when I left the house, Niki was my cousin. Only at home were we sisters. He said I was Camryn Highbear and she was Niki Sawyer. I was his daughter and she was his niece.” The memory hit her hard. “I remember being confused, but no one questioned Papa. I looked at Niki and she had such a look on her little face. Looking back as a grownup, I realize she felt betrayed. At the time I only knew that she was hurt and that Papa and our mothers standing behind him had done it. It was the first time I realized I loved her more than I loved them. In my mind we became two families that day, all of us together and Niki and I alone.” She still felt her sister’s little body pressed against her own as she hugged her close, blocking their parents the way their parents blocked them. “At first Niki and I were close, but it hurt her every time she was introduced as Papa’s niece. I think I became something she hated, Papa’s real daughter in the eyes of
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the world. She rebelled. She was difficult and it just caused more talk. People said if she had a father things would be different. She left home as soon as she could,” she said quietly. “Camryn, it wasn’t your fault. Your parents made choices. They chose to lie.” “I know. But I love her so much. I would search for her when she disappeared. I had a network of her friends who fed me any information they could on her. When our parents died in a car crash, she came home for almost a year. I was so happy. She had a friend whom she introduced me to. They were inseparable. She said she thought of him like a brother.” She stopped. This was the hard part. “Just tell me, Camryn,” Venn whispered against her hair. “I used to be married.” His body jerked and he tried to pull away. She wrapped her arms around him tightly. “I’m divorced. It was a long time ago. Her friend began to romance me. Mark was a good guy and Niki was always at my house because he would drag her there.” She squeezed her face against his chest. “I’m so ashamed, but I married that man knowing he loved me and I didn’t love him. I did it so my sister would come back to me.” That plan had backfired. Not at first, though. At first everything was just as she could have wished. “It was always like that. I would do anything for my sister. I would kill for her. I have lied for her. She pushes me away. She still calls me cousin because she knows I hate it. But I take it. If I don’t, she leaves me,” she said. She couldn’t stop the tears if she wanted to. “We were together when the Nestvur invaded. We were separated. I know she’s alive though. I feel it.” He rocked her now, smoothing her hair and whispering sweet words in her ear. She felt such relief. For twenty-three years she’d held a secret that wasn’t even hers in her heart. It had shaped everything she had ever done, even who she married. Her parents’ secret had warped two little girls, causing one to forever push people away and the other to forever love someone who wanted nothing to do with her or the memories she stirred. The truth was helping her. There would be no more lies. She wouldn’t hide herself anymore. “If I’m sad, it’s because for most of my life I loved Niki more than I loved anyone, including myself. And now she’s gone. I’ll never see her again. I don’t know if she is safe. I couldn’t do anything about it if she wasn’t. I’m just coming to grips with that. It doesn’t have anything to do with you. I want to be here with you,” she said. He sat back and gathered her into his lap. She just enjoyed being there. He was the first person she’d ever shared her story with. It felt right that she should share it with him.
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***** Finally, the day of Bronwyn’s party arrived. Venn had circumvented Lady Helsa and Citizen Ors’ plan by taking Camryn shopping the day before the presenting. They had stayed in the city all day and only returned to lock themselves in their room that night. If Dalla was going to do anything, it would have to be today. They had finally unloaded the trilliu last week. Gunter had even gone so far as to suggest that because the storage break-ins had stopped with the attempt to take Camryn that they might have simply been a diversion. Maybe. Venn looked down at Camryn at his side. She had been a complete sensation so far in her shimmer-stone-studded white gown. No leggings graced her legs tonight. He had checked. His sister moved across the room in a blue gown the exact color of her eyes. She danced with a lord from the neighboring holding. Venn paused for a moment. The man might be a good husband for Bronwyn if she had to take one. There was a rumor that he also preferred men and women. He wouldn’t have any reason to resent her choices. Plus, Venn liked him. He was fair and easygoing, but firm, something he was sure his sister needed. He would have to talk to Camryn about it later. He smiled. When had he ever sought a woman’s counsel before? Camryn had handled Rhine well when she’d asked him to chaperone Bronwyn for a year. She had taken his hand and asked so prettily that Rhine hadn’t put up much of a fuss. She had even kissed his cheek, which Rhine had allowed, but he’d immediately quit the room afterward. The trip would be good for him too. Ors came over to Venn, Camryn and Hans at a brisk rate. Venn braced himself. “Dalla is missing. She’s been gone for almost an hour,” Ors whispered. “You can’t blame that on me. I’ve been here the entire length of the party in plain sight,” Venn said smoothly. Ors turned an alarming shade of red. “Just help me find her without causing a scene. We will be gone in the morning.” They made their way to the hallway slowly and quietly, making it appear that they were circulating. Once in the hallway, they wasted no time finding Mr. Nolf and explaining the situation. After Mr. Nolf had quietly questioned a few servants, he said, “The young lady was seen heading toward the stable.” They walked that way. “She better not have left in the middle of the party,” Ors said in disgruntlement. “And where would she go?” Venn exchanged a look with Hans. They entered the large stable. Venn looked around. All the hastut seemed to be accounted for. There was a rhythmic squeaking coming from the dark anterior of the building.
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“What is back there?” Ors asked. “Stable manager’s quarters,” Venn said. “Oh.” Camryn breathed out. Oh indeed. Venn was pretty sure what they would find and became more sure as they got closer. “Whose pussy is this?” a deep guttural voice called. “Uh, uh, your pussy. Your pussy,” a light female voice responded. Ors’ anger almost covered the feelings of ecstasy wafting from the room as he opened the door, flinging it against the wall. “What the hell is going on!” he yelled, turning an alarming shade of purple. The stable manager pulled away from Dalla where she lay spread open on his sofa. She hastily scrambled to her feet and snatched up her gown from the floor to cover herself. “Uncle!” “You little whore! The entire time I have been trying to make an advantageous marriage for you, you’ve been screwing the help,” he said with a sneer. “Lord Huntu doesn’t want me. He wants her. Hell, his cousin and sister want her too. How can I compete with that? I don’t want to be the second-best fuck in my own home,” she cried. “Leave me out of this,” Camryn whispered. “You wait until I get you home. You’d better not be breeding.” Ors started forward. Dalla screamed and ran for Venn, hiding behind him. “Give me the girl, Lord Huntu, she is my responsibility.” “No, my lord, he’ll hurt me. I claim asylum with you. I have information you want. I know who paid for Camryn to be taken.” Dalla cowered behind Venn. The room fell silent. Venn felt the truth in the woman behind him. She was petrified and she had the information he wanted. “Don’t listen to the lying slut. She was out here fucking the stable boy. She is obviously untrustworthy.” Ors drew closer. Venn almost smiled. He had him now. “I offer you asylum, Dalla. Who ordered the contract for Camryn?” “Him,” she said, pointing at Ors. “My uncle ordered it. I heard him tell his steward that the contract was placed and to prepare the hidden room to hide her.” Ors tried to run. Venn grabbed him and spun him around. Venn felt the rage boiling under the surface. It wasn’t as strong as it could be, but it was strong enough. The man wouldn’t escape tribe justice that day. He’d known that this piece of filth was responsible. Venn grabbed the councilman’s throat and squeezed. He would be one dead bastard today.
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Venn watched in fascination as the heavier man began to turn red, then blue. Ors grabbed at the hand around his throat. “Your little thief damaged my brother. He stole and harmed my woman. He’s missing a few body parts right now.” Venn loosened his grip slightly so the man could breathe. He wasn’t going to kill him yet. “Though I don’t think missing limbs matter to dead men.” Venn squeezed tighter. The rage in him was great. He’d almost lost Camryn to the man’s greed. He began walking, dragging Ors with him. It disgusted him that this man was Ordanian. He was weak, not even fighting for his miserable life. They were a warrior people. Even his little Camryn would be fighting for her life under the same circumstances. The man was worthless. He dragged him back into the stables and went in search of a riding crop or hastutshoe hammer. He heard yelling in the stable manager’s quarters. He paused for a moment. Camryn was in there. He spotted a hammer. He picked it up and returned to the room, making sure to let Ors have air so he would be awake for what he had planned. “Make him stop, Hans!” Camryn screamed. “I can’t, Camryn. When he’s like that, it’s like a fever. He only knows how to do one thing. This is bad. Tribe war bad,” Hans said. “Are you telling me he goes berserk?” she whispered. Venn strode into the room, making sure to slam the weight in his hand against the wall. She was safe. That was all that mattered. He flung Ors to the floor. “Take Camryn back to the keep,” he said to his brother. “No, Venn, don’t do this,” Camryn said, walking toward him. “Hans,” he said. He tested the weight on the hammer. Ors whimpered and gagged on the floor in front of him. Venn curled up his lip. He deserved what was coming to him. He planted his foot in the man’s chest. “Venn, I’m scared,” Camryn whispered. He jerked. A small hand touched his arm. “Please, Venn, I need you to make this go away. Can’t you feel how scared I am?” she asked. A woman was screaming. “Sweet Ordan, Camryn, come away from him,” Hans said. Venn looked down. Camryn was trying to wrap her arms around him. His brother was reaching for her. Venn growled at him and lifted Camryn away. She wrapped her legs around his waist and clutched his face. “Venn,” she said, pressing her face in his neck, holding him tight. “I need you.” Her body trembled and he inhaled her scent and lowered the hammer. “Fuck!” he yelled. 120
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He wanted that bastard dead. The mindless rage was past. She had crowded it out with her touch and the unhealthy force of her fear. She didn’t scare easily. Whatever else he did, he put her before everything, even his desire for vengeance. His nostrils flared as he fully brought himself under control. The room was quiet now. Dalla whimpered quietly in the corner, still clutching her dress. His stable manager stood wide eyed in the far corner. Hans stood still as stone. Disbelief was clear on his face. “Camryn,” Venn said. “Look at me.” She looked up tears in her eyes. “Don’t you ever do that again. It was very dangerous. I wasn’t in an all-out rage, but I was close. Never come near me when I’m like that. You understand, sweet?” “Yes, I understand. I couldn’t let you kill him. I know you don’t want to bring war to your people.” He kissed her quickly and fiercely. He didn’t want to think about what would have happened to her if he had been farther gone. He kicked the councilman closer to the stable manager. “Tie him up,” he commanded. Then he turned to Dalla. “Get dressed. The authorities will need your statement.” “Thank you for helping me,” she sobbed. “You should have come to me sooner.” He wasn’t moved by her tears or her nudity. “If you hadn’t believed me, he would have hurt me when we returned home. My mother doesn’t fight her brother-in-law. He does lewd things to her and she is terrified of him,” she cried. “Hans, go call the authorities. I don’t have my pad. Have them send officers in plainclothes around to the stables. We don’t want to ruin our sister’s party.” He wasn’t going to tell Camryn, but if the full Council found Ors guilty, he would ask to kill the man himself as was his right. She was correct he didn’t want to involve his people in a conflict that would just as easily come to the same end through legal means. He hugged her tighter. He still couldn’t believe that she had come between him and a killing rage. He kissed her cheek. The woman had no self-preservation or obedience in her at all. She was perfect just the way she was.
***** Courting flowers and gifts poured in the next week. Most were for Bronwyn, but some were for Camryn. The items made Venn all growly, which Camryn thought was sort of cute. She didn’t say a word when he tossed an entire table full of them to the floor of the front parlor, locked the door and proceeded to make love to her for a full afternoon.
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She’d put Gunter and Hans on finding a way for her to keep up with what was happening on Earth. She was looking for a way she could make money to support herself and help if they found Niki. The woman was probably leading a rebellion at the moment and would need credits. Venn shot down all her money-making ideas. He always had an excuse why her ideas weren’t practical or were too dangerous. She was starting to suspect that he was full of it. “Okay, what about a dance studio?” she said. He turned to her with a look so incredulous she laughed. “No, really. They will be strictly private lessons for ladies.” “Camryn, why is it so important that you work?” he asked, running both hands through his hair. Any answer she gave was going to start an argument. She tried for something funny instead. “Venn, I need something to do. Looking gorgeous and spending money on shoes only fills up half the day.” “Okay,” he replied, walking over to stand before her as she sat on an armchair in their room. “What if you supervised the day-to-day operations here? Say, anything related to inside the keep, meals, hiring, parties and et cetera. It will all come through you.” “But the housekeeper and Mr. Nolf—” “They would report to you.” He stood waiting. Her mouth hung open. “I don’t know the first thing about running an establishment this size. I would have to study for years.” “Awya can be your assistant. I’ve checked her training and references. She knows everything about Huntu keep.” She got excited despite herself. She wouldn’t be able to accept, but she was happy that he was taking her seriously finally. She would definitely give him some special attention in a minute for being so thoughtful. “So, I would be like a property manager,” she said thoughtfully. He went to his knees in front of her. “The official title is wife.” Camryn blinked. Shock coursed through her. “Whose wife?” “Camryn of Earth, will you marry me and become my wife?” he asked formally. “Yes,” she said without thinking. She slapped her hands over her mouth. He grinned. She reached for him. “Wait, no, I can’t marry you, Venn. You have to marry an Ordanian woman who will give Tribe Huntu an advantage.”
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“It’s too late, you already said yes. And who told you that garbage?” He pulled her to the edge of the chair. “Your mother.” “Tribe Huntu is the strongest and richest on Ordan. We already have family connections or treaties with every tribe on the planet. I can do as I please. It pleases me to marry the woman I love,” he said solemnly. She looked into his beautiful face. “You love me?” “Yes, Camryn, I love you. Do you love me?” He grinned. She sighed. You couldn’t keep a damn thing from an empath. “Yes, Venn, I love you and I’ll marry you.” He kissed her then with so much passion it tingled all over her body. He broke the kiss. “I have an engagement gift.” He kissed her cheek. “Okay,” she said. “I found a ship that attacks slave ships and frees slaves. They may know how to get the information we need to monitor for Niki. It’s called the Dovian Heart.” She kissed every part of his face. “You’re the best. I can tell I’ve hit husband nirvana.” He smiled wickedly and she knew that look. “No way. I get to run the show this time,” she said. “There are loads of nice things I never get to do to your body.” He cocked an eyebrow at her, still holding on to that grin that made her panties moist with promise. He reached for her and she pushed his hands down. “No, really, just give me a little time to touch you wherever I want. You’re beautiful. Your body is exquisite and I never have a chance to simply wallow in it without you making me feel crazy with lust. Please,” she pleaded. He sighed and kissed her quickly. He stood before her, smile gone, but eyes just as intense. This is going to be good. It was chocolate cake and champagne good. She stood as well and stepped around him before taking his hand and pulling him toward the bed. She stopped and turned to him. She thought about where to start. She reached for the buttons on his shirt. As she pushed each through the buttonhole, smooth tanned skin emerged. She licked her top lip in anticipation. After the third button, she leaned forward and kissed each patch of skin as it appeared until finally she pulled the shirt from his pants to finish the buttons and pushed it from his shoulders. It pooled to the floor. “You are so damn sexy,” she whispered. Muscle rippled along his skin and she traced each one with her palms. Veins strained as he tried to hold back. She marked those with her fingers. She did the same with his arms before stepping behind him and repeating her actions. She couldn’t resist
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licking her way down his spine to its base. Venn gasped and moaned every few seconds as she found a new spot to caress. She reached around and loosened his pants just enough so that the indents at the base of his spine showed. She kissed each of those, exploring them with her mouth and hands. His back arched and she followed the curve with her cheek until she was standing once more. She stepped back and removed her own clothes, then finished helping him out of his from behind. She stepped flush with his back. They both gasped. She closed her eyes briefly as she wrapped her arms around his waist and ran them along his torso. She tucked herself against him and moved her body into a shimmy and a hip undulation. “Camryn, my patience is almost gone,” he said. His voice was deliciously guttural and she tried to hold the feeling of it in her body. “I’m not done. I haven’t even gotten to the naughty parts yet.” She kissed his spine before sliding along his body to kneel behind him. She caressed his ass, marveling at how taut and sculpted it was. She ran her hands along the crease where his ass and thigh met, kissed her way down to his ankles, then back up the inside of his leg, forcing him to widen his stance. She slid through his legs backward, coming face-to-face with his cock as it strained against the tight mental hold Venn had on his body. She came to her knees and stared. She had planned to save this treat for last, but it looked so beautiful there nestled among blond curls. The tip was flushed a dark pink and precum glistened along the slit. It was weeping for her. She would just take a little taste before continuing. She reached up and grabbed it lightly by the base and guided him into her mouth. “That is too good, sweet,” he whispered. He groaned and she felt it in her throbbing pussy. She reached down and rubbed her swollen wet folds each time she slid his straining dick into her mouth. Shit. She’d seduced herself. Camryn knew she was on the very edge of her climax buildup. “Damn this,” Venn said. He pulled her away from his cock and lifted her. He tossed her on the bed and came down on top of her before she could protest. “I wasn’t done,” she whined as he slid his long cock into her forcefully. “I was.” He gasped. Venn took the fingers that she had been stroking her pussy with and placed them in his mouth. He sucked and closed his eyes. He set a hard rhythm in her pussy and she matched it. Gasping, she wrapped her legs around his waist. He licked each of her fingers before placing her hand around his neck. “Delicious,” he said. She giggled. “Now I have to start over.” “No.” 124
Enslaved in Desire
“You promised,” she reminded him. “I love you,” he said fiercely. He was staring at her and she automatically brought her gaze to his and kept it there. It was the same way he always looked at her, like he wanted to see every crevice inside her. And she realized he’d loved her for some time. She smiled. “I love you too, babe.” She kissed him with all the feeling in her heart. They climaxed together and Camryn let the feelings rush through her. She opened herself and let him have everything that she was. She knew he was doing the same for her. That was exactly what love should do.
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About the Author Stormie Kent resides in Maryland with her two children and an ever-growing assortment of houseplants. Stormie has been writing since she was a child. She used to take requests from friends to write them a “story” with the friend as the heroine. When she is not writing down all the stories that float like dreams (erotic ones) through her mind, she is reading something steamy or planning trips to beautiful places.
Stormie welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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