Return From Exile

RETURN FROM EXILE BY

MARY WINTER

Chapter One The heavy weight of Ter’s arm pinned Rina to the bed. Turning her head, she watched her lover sleep, his expression soft in repose. He lay on his side, his arm flung across her abdomen, as if even in his sleep he wanted to keep her by his side. Lightly, she brushed a strand of his thick coffee-colored hair from his forehead. His thick lashes rested on his soft cheeks, and a hint of new growth shadowed his jaw. Lieutenant Captain Terrastan Ilykianoiselle slept deeply, exhausted by the war games and their sexual escapades earlier in the day. She smiled to herself, knowing that rumors flew about the major sleeping with the sexy, up-and-coming younger officer. Still, that junior officer had the most talented lips she’d ever known. Leaning over, she brushed her lips across his forehead. She gingerly slipped from the bed and donned a close-cropped shirt and sleek trousers of a deep royal blue. Sliding her feet into house slippers, she gave Ter one last look and stepped into the hallway. She closed the door behind her. Wall sconces burned at nighttime levels, the low light enough to see by. Shadows hugged the corners and doorways. She couldn’t get the conversation she’d overheard out of her mind. Young Heir Androillellis Kardenasillianolos spoke with a member of the Quintnyia, an elite assassin class. Snippets of conversation had drifted to her. Phrases such as “father wouldn’t know” and “I deserve to be emperor” that sent shivers down her spine. She knew Yelexian politics were cutthroat. She didn’t get to her own rank of major without learning that prime lesson, but to openly hear the heir speak about killing his father… It made her stomach churn. She hovered in the shadows, trying to shake off that memory. Two days she had mulled those words over in her mind, combining them with other rumors and hints that flew through the Yelexian Military like long-range missiles. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply. That’s why I’m out here. To clear my mind. Her pussy ached from Ter’s lovemaking, and her nipples, sensitive, beaded against the fabric of her shirt—for a moment, she longed to turn around and slide back into bed with him. Ter would make me forget about the threats to the emperor. She shook her head. I can’ t take the easy way out. It’s my job to keep the emperor safe from all threats, including those from his son. Rina forced herself to start down the hall. Physical movement always helped her to think. The thick walls of the palace muffled most sounds. Not even the trill of a night bird floated through the doorways. Behind closed, heavy doors, nobles and laymen alike slept. Rina licked her lips nervously. The hall forked ten paces ahead. Rina debated a moment, before deciding to take the right-hand path down past the emperor’s apartments. A series of holograms depicting the Concordance’s first contact with Yelexia lined the walls. She enjoyed the subtle reminder of why she had joined the military. To protect Yelexia from those who would exploit her. Of course, the Concordance wouldn’t dream of exploiting the planet, not with the amount of troops it sent to the coalition army. The hushed sounds of slippers sliding over stone drifted down the hall. Rina darted into the shadows, not wanting to be seen. If the emperor were returning from a late night liaison, she didn’t want to know. The scuffing sound neared, and she peered down the hall in the direction from which she’d come. A shadow moved towards her.

Her heart pounded. To her trained ears the cadence of the steps sounded wrong. Had it been the emperor returning, he would have walked casually, not tried to slink like a bottom-feeder. No, whoever walked down the hall was trying, in an untrained way, to slip into the emperor’s wing. There should have been guards posted. There weren’t. Emperor Kardenasillianolos had them all dismissed from his chambers a cycle ago, citing that his grounds were secure enough. Rina had heard rumors that it was so he wouldn’t be seen returning from his frequent trysts. She scowled. She pressed herself deeper into the shadow. The emperor might be waiting for the person she now heard scuttling through the hall, and she didn’t want to catch the eye of the emperor. As a major, she spent enough time in his company, and he’d made it clear what she could do for her country. Shallow breathing echoed down the corridor. The intruder—she had no illusions that it was anything but—came nearly even with her. Even in the low light, the flash of metal caught her eye. Instinct took over. She swung from the alcove, grabbing the possible assailant by the collar. His muffled grunt filled the corridor. Slamming him against the wall, she quickly grabbed the weapon and tossed it aside. “What are you doing here?” she growled. The clatter of the pistol sliding over the stone floor of the palace sounded obscenely loud. “Ungh!” The man grunted as she ground her knee into the back of his leg. The man, taller than she by only a few inches, stood dumbfounded. Rina grabbed his wrists. She pressed them into the wall. “What are you doing here?” She made no attempt to keep her voice down. Somewhere in the distance, the sound of a door opening filled the hallway. “I live here! I’m coming back to my rooms.” The man tossed his head, sending the hood of his cape falling away, revealing his face. Looking over her shoulder, he glared at her. The pinched nose and long, almost feminine hair gave him away as the emperor’s son. “With a gun?” She glared at the weapon lying on the floor. The unmistakable sounds of footsteps filled the air. “It’s not mine!” Rina transferred his hands into one of hers and slammed his face against the wall. “The hell it isn’t.” “I didn’t see you.” “I was admiring the holographs. I couldn’t sleep. What’s your excuse?” The partial lie slid easily off her tongue. “I… well… ” The young heir never did lie well. “What is the meaning of this?” Emperor Kardenasillianolos bellowed. Rina turned to stare at him. He wore a robe hastily belted over his nightclothes, his feet bare. “Your Highness.” She bowed her head as best as she was able. “I found the heir walking towards your apartments. He had a weapon and acted secretive. I did my royal duty in preventing harm to you.” She spoke formally.

“And what were you doing near my apartments, Major Corvalano?” The emperor stepped forward. “Did you come to discuss strategy?” Rina forced herself not to swallow hard against the revulsion that turned her stomach. “I couldn’t sleep, Your Highness. I have always found the holographs along this hallway soothing.” “I could show you my holographs sometime.” His husky voice slid over her like a slimy caress. Rina forced herself not to punch the emperor’s nose. The heir struggled to free his hands. “Father, I meant no harm.” “Really?” The emperor bent and picked up a small laser pistol that lay at his feet. “Then this isn’t yours?” He arched an eyebrow. “No, Father, it—” The emperor raised his hand for silence. “Don’t lie to me. I know your intentions.” He turned to Rina. “While in private I can thank you for this, you know I have to call the High Council tomorrow. Rumors are one thing, but I will not have my son accused of treason.” Cold ice filled Rina’s veins. I’ve just saved his damn life. Fuck public opinion. She brushed the blunt thoughts away and recalled her station. I’m a major in the army. He can’t do anything to me. Why call the council at all? This could just be swept under the rug if he wanted. She didn’t dare voice such thoughts to the emperor, not in such a way that wouldn’t be insubordination. “I can’t ignore that this happened. You’re a fine officer, Rina. I’d hate to lose you, but it’s all in the council’s hands.” He turned to his son. “As for you, this will also make the council aware of your actions. You’ll have plenty of years to rule once I die of natural causes. Until then, behave. I could always send you off-world, you know.” The heir grimaced. “You can release him now, Major. Thank you.” Without waiting for an answer, he turned and walked back down the hall. Reluctantly, Rina let go of the heir. She noticed the emperor had taken the pistol with him, and she knew she could easily best the heir in a fistfight. “Stupid bitch,” he growled. “You’ll pay for this. I’ll see to it.” Rina ignored his comments. She certainly couldn’t sleep now but knew she’d better get back to the room she shared with Ter. Tomorrow would come soon enough without her to worry about what might be. The council would decide what they would decide, and the emperor had to abide by the decision, whether he liked it or not.

***** The stiff-backed chair did little to ease the tension at the base of Rina’s neck. She stared ahead at the three men and two women who would decide her fate. They sat behind a wide table, a single article of their ceremonial clothing worth more than she made in a cycle. Only one, Councilor Manatanillion, wore his military dress uniform. Sunlight shone through the open skylight to glint off the medals hanging on his chest. Forcing herself to remain still, Rina sat motionless amid the heavy glares of the councilors. These five people ruled Yelexia. Not the emperor. Not the heir. Only the High Council ruled her people and by their judgment she would be bound. Behind them sat the emperor, the crown of Yelexia on his head, the staff of office lying across his

knees. A single ring graced his hands, the seal of his office. He stared at her, his eyes cold and hard. “Major Corvalano bore malicious intent against a member of the royal household. This cannot be tolerated.” The eldest female councilor, Lady Abanathiana, huffed and waved her bejeweled hands in the air as she spoke. The light glinting from the gems nearly blinded Rina. “She did save the emperor’s life,” General Ascending Manatanillion said. “It is the duty of every Yelexian solider to protect his rulers.” Abanathiana pursed her lips. “We cannot tolerate such a complete and total disregard for our royals,” Councilor Jabawakanisellan retorted. He sat in his chair like a lump of dough, with two black cloves for his eyes and a smear of jam for his lips. His tunic hung over his rolls, and he eyed the pastries and pitcher of decandis juice like a predator. The other two councilors remained silent, a gift that Rina treasured. She’d known the High Council would feel this way, had lain in bed all night imagining the words that fell from their lips like poisoned wine. Still, she did nothing to betray her fear. Behind her, she felt the piercing gaze of Ter. He sat off to one side, and the displeasure that had crept into his eyes last night remained. Without turning to look at him, she imagined each scowl, each line in his handsome features. “You’re ruining your career,” he’d told her last night. “You should have walked in the gardens. Somewhere safer than the royal hallways.” She’d sighed then, knowing the truth of his words, but she’d never done the safe thing. So now, she faced the five councilors. General Ascending Manatanillion nodded in her direction. “We have debated this topic for nearly two hours, yet we have heard nothing from the defendant. Major Corvalano, do you have anything to say in your defense?” She had much to say. That the Yelexian Intelligence Division did a piss poor job of ferreting out the source of the rumors about the heir’s actions. That she shouldn’t be accused of doing the very thing she’d sworn to do since entering the army. Instead, she kept her features and her remarks neutral. “Thank you General Ascending Manatanillion for allowing me to speak. I saw a threat to our emperor, and I acted upon it. I do not regret my actions in saving our emperor. I am only sorry that the threat his heir presented has brought us all to these deliberations. My distinguished record of military service should speak for itself, Councilors. I do not bear anyone ill will, save enemies of our beloved planet.” Manatanillion nodded slightly. A hint of a smile showed at the corners of his mouth. At least I have one person on my side. That’s more than I expected. I cannot think about what will happen if they find me guilty of treason. Imprisonment at best, execution at worst. If I die, I can see the faction against the emperor’s son turning me into some kind of martyr. I hope the council realizes that possibility and acts accordingly. “You should have thought of that before you attacked the heir,” Lady Abanathiana growled. “I say we adjourn to discuss what to do with Major Corvalano.” The other councilors murmured in assent. They rose to their feet, disappearing behind a silver door set in the wall to the right of the emperor. From the foot of his throne, a trumpeter stepped forward. He played three quick notes, and all in the room

lowered their heads as the emperor rose to his feet and followed the councilors out the door. Rina remained sitting. Two house guards and two military officers stood in front of her. The military officers looked disapproving. Rina suspected they’d been chosen for their attitudes. The men glared at Rina, and she didn’t even bother to try to get up from her seat. Behind her, the crowd rustled as people shifted in their seats and began to talk amongst themselves. After long moments, the bustle behind her settled down to wait, leaving a harsh silence in its wake. Fear made her blood pound in her ears. Rina tried to focus her mind away from the councilors debating her fate in some chamber deep in the bowels of the castle. She looked behind her. Ter still sat on the bench behind her. Not caring what the guards thought, Rina rose to her feet. She leaned on the low railing that separated the holding area from the observation benches. Reaching forward, she clasped her hand around Ter’s. The warmth of his skin filled her, and for a moment, she allowed herself to think that everything would be okay. “They’re threatening to take away my commission.” Ter’s harsh words cut through her moment of happiness. “Oh, Ter. No.” “Whatever happens I can’t see you anymore.” He dragged his fingers through his thick hair. “Damn it, Rina, you’ve put me in a hell of a place. I care for you, I really do, but without my commission I have nothing. You know I can’t go back to the Anadar Province… I refuse to eke out a meager living in the mines. My mother may not have known which of the miners had been my father, but everything she did was to ensure I’d have a better future. I can’t have you taking that away from me.” Emotion choked his voice, and Rina squeezed her eyes closed against the sudden burn of tears. A rustle filled the chamber, and Rina turned to see the councilors entering the room once more. A guard suddenly stood at her elbow. “Major, you have to return to your seat now.” Rina nodded. The quick decision came fast, too fast to be anything good. She clasped Ter’s hand. “I love you,” she mouthed as the guard pulled her back to her seat. Once again, she sat ramrod straight. The heat rising in her cheeks made her tighten down her emotions even further, bottling her fear and worry deep inside. The crowd began to speak in hushed tones that quickly escalated into a dull roar. The five councilors filed back into their seats with nary an expression to give the verdict away. Even the general ascending looked somber. Rina sat straight in her seat. Whatever the verdict, she would comply. If they sentence me to death, I will take responsibility for my actions. There are those who feel the emperor’s son should be brought to justice, but I doubt the High Council will want to enrage the entire military by killing me. The crowd began to quiet down. The emperor came in and took his throne behind the councilors. He glared at her, as if she alone had made his life a living hell. Not a good sign, but Rina refused to dwell on what might happen. He had very little sway with the council, acted really as only a figurehead, but one that must be protected at all costs. General Ascending Manatanillion raised his hands for silence. “Major Corvalano, the High Council has debated your actions and the suitable punishment. You do

understand, that while you were protecting our emperor, we cannot have unsanctioned military action against our royal family. You must be punished.” Manatanillion’s words sent shivers down Rina’s spine. They can’t kill me. I’m a Major, and if they punish me for doing my job, what are they going to do to the rest of the troops? She let none of her thoughts show on her face and instead stared at a spot on the edge of the table behind which the councilors sat. “It is the decree of the High Council of Yelexia that Major Rinathallindera Corvalano is hereby exiled from Yelexia. She will retain her rank and the military retirement already vested—however, she will receive no further assistance from Yelexia. She is forever barred from this place. Major Corvalano, you have seventy-two hours to leave.” “I’ll be gone in twelve,” she replied, giving voice to the fury rising within her. Her heart ached to say goodbye to Ter, but she wouldn’t. Not after what he’d said to her. He’ d made his choice. She just hoped his career kept his cock hard and his balls tight in the middle of the night. With her exiled from Yelexia, she sure as hell wasn’t going to do it for him anymore.

Chapter Two Three and a half years later. . . Rina turned the glass of Landellian ale in her hands, watching the light sparkle in its orange depths. The mug easily could have put her under, had she decided to down its entire contents, but instead, she watched the refraction of light. At least no one will bother me if they think I’ve settled in for a good solitary drunk. That’s not the way of the Fuzzy Neutron. She sat alone at the bar. Far enough from the door, Rina didn’t see the people moving past on the walkway outside. The Fuzzy Neutron sat next to some establishments of even poorer repute, and she really didn’t want to think about who or what was happening next door. But humans and aliens alike needed their carnal pleasures. On the other hand… A nice hunk of a pleasure slave might be exactly what she needed. A dark haired one, she decided with a slight smile, one with broad shoulders and a narrow, tight ass. Rina set down the glass of ale. Gods, I’ve been hauling cargo for far too long. Why the fuck do my fantasies still look like Ter? She shook her head, trying to dislodge her thoughts. She hadn’t seen Ter since the day in the council chamber, nearly three and a half years ago. His betrayal stung less, but it still hurt. We could have worked something out. He wouldn’t have had to give up his career just because I became an exile. She chased the foolish thoughts away with a swig of her ale. She’d given her crew the night off. They needed it. After hauling precious Centrallian diamonds halfway across Concordance space, they all wanted to relax. Not worry about thieves, cutthroats or bandits for one night. Tomorrow, she’d pick up her cargo, a nice hold full of Vandebian wine and ferry it to Turas-9 for a party being thrown by some wealthy fighter owner. Maybe she’d take in a fight while she was there. The women on Turas-9 fought like fiends, and she admired their raw strength and skill. She’ d even had a chance to see the famed Eilahoriana from Yuelin fight once. Too bad she retired last year. Rina pulled her thoughts back to her more immediate concern. She needed to get laid. Her cunt ached for the touch of a man’s fingers. As if the thought conjured up the sensations, her nipples pebbled against the thin fabric of her tunic. Her pussy grew damp, anticipating the sweet invasion of a hard, thick cock. Rina took another drink. Perhaps later she’d find herself a pleasure slave. One that didn’t look the least bit like Ter.

***** Ter stepped inside the Fuzzy Neutron intending to get a drink and nurse his sorrows. The High Council had given Rina a year to return to Yelexia and he only had a month left before they sent out the assassins. She hadn’t been hard to track, not working cargo transport. A simply military request for the manifestos from her ships and her flight paths, and he’d easily followed her to this station. Too bad he hadn’t seen any sign of her for the last day and a half. A woman sitting by the bar caught his attention. Rina, he thought for a moment, before dismissing it. Twin combs held the dark fall of her hair swept into a subtle twist. The last time he had seen her, Rina’s hair had fallen nearly to her waist. His cock tightened as he remembered coiling the thick braid she usually wore around his wrist and hauling her lips to his for a soul-searing kiss. He doubted this woman’s hair would reach much farther than her shoulder blades.

She sat in shadow, her face hidden. The rainbow-hued tunic and trousers she wore looked soft to the touch, and the fabric molded to her high, firm breasts and the sweep of her long legs. He thought for a moment about introducing himself, then shook his head. Although he hadn’t been celibate, one woman still held his heart. He wanted to bring her back to Yelexia as much for personal reasons as to fulfill the orders he’d been given. Ter breathed deeply. The mingled scents of smoke, unwashed bodies and too much perfume filled his nose. When he’d first taken the orders to bring Rina back, he’d filled his mind with a daydream of her rushing into his arms. She’d come back to him, to Yelexia, confessing her love and her forgiveness. That’s what he wanted the most. Not her sweet, tight pussy wrapped around his cock—though he ached for that too—but her forgiveness. The woman sitting at the bar turned. The light hit her high cheekbones, outlining a straight, slightly tilted nose. Her full lips parted as she took another drink of her Landellian ale. The breath left his lungs. Rina. Her hair might be shorter, her body a little more curved, but without a doubt he knew Major Corvalano. He remembered how she looked the last time he’d seen her, nearly three and a half years ago, walking out of the High Council chamber. With her head held high, her lower lip trembling, he knew what it cost her to walk away from her home world. He’d almost done it himself to follow her. He had to go to her. Her name was a compulsion in his blood. Ter stepped forward. No few of the female patrons turned to watch him. He knew he looked good in his military uniform with every crease crisp and his insignia on his collar and right breast pocket. Not Rina. She didn’t turn to look at him, merely stared into her glass of ale as if it would offer her the answers to all the questions in the universe. She wasn’t drunk. He saw her posture, loose yet ready to move should the need arise. She turned the drink in her long-fingered hands, a steady, thoughtful contemplation. I should turn around and absolve myself of the situation. I’m too close. The traitorous thought wound its way through his mind, and he brushed it away. His duty. He hadn’t shirked it when he chose duty over Rina, and he wouldn’t begin now. He slid into the seat next to her, hiding his smile when she didn’t even look from her glass. Her body posture stiffened. “Stay away from me,” her muscles said, but he refused to listen. He allowed himself to drink his fill of her thick hair. The silken strands had felt like heaven sliding over his chest and his cock. With the memory, his organ sprang to life inside his uniform trousers, and he tensed his jaw. She still held the ability to make his cock rock hard in less than a second. Only she had been able to do that to him. He signaled to the bartender and ordered a flute of barralberry wine.

***** Rina sensed someone watching her. She didn’t turn, not wanting to give him signals she wasn’t prepared to follow through with. Probably trying to pick up a bed-warmer for the night. Such men disgusted her. She’d met her share of trolls looking for any trollop they could put their dicks inside, and she hated the entire breed. They all reminded her of the emperor’s offer to discuss “strategy” in his quarters. Both of them had known that the only strategy that would be discussed would have been how to quickly divest her of her clothing.

“Landellian ale, a nice drink for a lady,” a masculine voice said beside her. She heard a touch of humor in its tones. For a moment Rina thought she had conjured a dream, for when she turned her head, one of the most handsome men she’d ever seen stood just inside the door. He wore the uniform of a Yelexian soldier, the black pants and shirt interrupted by a yellow stripe down the sides and both arms. Light gleamed off the pips in his collar, and a small, gold bar on his right breast pocket. Other medals hung flat against his chest. He held a flute of barralberry wine. The thick, blue liquid looked unpalatable. Ter. She’d know that voice anywhere. She allowed herself a quick breath when she realized he now wore the insignia of a captain major. He’d been a mere lieutenant captain when she’d left. Obviously, he’d wasted no time in climbing the ranks. Need punched her in the gut and sent a flood of moisture to her pussy. Rina supposed she should stand up and walk away. After all, she wasn’t going to finish her mug of ale and really didn’t want to be bothered right now, especially not by the last man she wanted to see. Let him live in my dreams. I’m safe that way. The idea of passing time with anyone from the Yelexian military turned her stomach. I’m an outcast to them. I can’t go back home. She set down her mug and sighed. “I didn’t mean to disturb you,” he said. He moved to stand. “That’s okay,” Rina replied, then wondered at the words as soon as they left her mouth. “I was getting ready to leave anyway.” “You haven’t finished your drink,” he said, though Rina heard the teasing note in his voice. “No human finishes a mug of Landellian ale,” she said with a chuckle. He joined her in laughter, the soft, throaty notes of his mirth washing over Rina. Gods, she thought as she closed her eyes, it’s been way too long. Something twisted deep inside her. He doesn’t recognize me. I don’t look that different, not even with the haircut and the tan I got from working cargo docks around Radellias 3. If I want to get laid, she thought, I can go down a few doors and hire someone. I don’t need to torture myself like this. The muted lighting sent shadows over his face, his dark hair cascading over his collar in a very un-military style. His broad shoulders filled out the uniform shirt well. She couldn’t see below the waist, but suspected the rest of the package looked as nice as she remembered. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t get your name.” Might was well get this reunion over with. “Rina,” she said, not divulging more. She noticed his gaze sweeping past her loose tunic top and trousers made of fine silk. The weaver had dyed the rainbow into the fabric, and the light shimmered from the colors as they blended across her torso. Her black hair, a hallmark of hers, was still long enough to be swept up into twin combs decorated with bright turquoise stones. The dim lighting of the bar hid his features. Was that a flash of recognition she saw in his eyes? “Terrastan,” he replied, “but I usually go by Ter.” He said nothing that would indicate he knew it was she. Well, that’s over with now. She suppressed a sigh. I still remember teasing him that his parents must have felt merciful, since they didn’t saddle him with one of the long, ceremonial names that most Yelexians end up with. The usual bar chitchat seemed trite. She really should gracefully excuse herself and return to her ship. Better yet, rent one of those pleasure slaves and stop imagining the way Ter’s long, tapered fingers would feel running over

her body. “It was nice meeting you, Ter, but I really do need to be going.” She slid her Commerce Chip into the slot in the bar, and it debited the cost of the drink. She rose to her feet, half expecting him to stop her. He kept his hands folded around the flute of wine. He looked tense, and for a moment, she wondered if the pressure might break the fine glass. “Likewise,” he said, and then turned back to his drink. His lips twitched, making her wonder if it was in disappointment. Rina walked from the bar, suddenly feeling adrift as she stood in the entrance and watched pedestrians pass by. As she stepped onto the moving walkway that would take her to her favorite pleasure slave vendor, she breathed a sigh of relief that Ter hadn’t recognized her. Or maybe he had, and that was why he had walked over. Whatever his motivations, he hadn’t made her stay. It wouldn’t look good for an army officer to be seen with Rinathallindera Corvalano, the once-famous major from the Yelexian army. She’d given up that life and really didn’t want to deal with the Yelexian military.

***** He should have stopped her. Ter watched the way the silk clung to her curvy backside as she walked out of the bar. His gut told him he’d see her again. If his instincts told him it was so, he knew it would happen. Otherwise, he’d have to seek her out. He wasn’t going to leave without telling her about the High Council’s decree. He drank another sip of the thick liquor in his flute, smiling at the nearly untouched mug of ale left at Rina’s place. “Scare her off?” the bartender asked when he came to clear away the dirty glass. Ter smiled. God I hope not. “An old friend,” he said and left it at that. The bartender raised his eyebrow, but went back to the other end of the bar where a group of young Vandebians with too much money and too little sense were playing drinking games. His cock ached. Damn it, but he could have done with a little warmer response from Rina, but what did he expect? He knew her. She hid behind those walls until someone, or something, crashed them down. The needless death of fifteen young soldiers had led to a hand of poker and some physical consolation. He hadn’t let her slip away since then, not until that damned day in front of the High Council. He should just forget about her and find a willing pleasure slave. He wouldn’t. He needed more than a simple release tonight. Rising to his feet, he debited the cost of the drink from his card, and followed Rina into the station. Outside the door, he saw her slip into Moragi’s Pleasure Palace, a higher-class pleasure slave dealer. The corner of his mouth twitched. Apparently her itches needed to be scratched too. He turned quickly away, not wanting to imagine Rina in the arms of another man, and walked back towards his ship. Lead me not into temptation. I can find enough of it on my own. He repeated the Yelexian proverb on the way to his ship, a smile on his lips.

***** Rina stepped off the walkway at Moragi’s Pleasure Palace, a pleasure slave dealer of the highest reputation. As she passed through the silk coverings obscuring the view from outside, Moragi came to greet her. “Rina,” she said, stretching out hands overflowing with jeweled rings, “it has been too long. I have a new shipment in. You need to come and look.” Without waiting for Rina’s reply, the portly woman grabbed her hand and led her through a door into the back.

Twenty men, all of them naked except for small loincloths of gold silk, lounged on couches. The dazzling array of male beauty rendered Rina speechless for a moment. Please, not one who looks like Ter. I want to forget about him for a little while. A few looked up at her entrance, but the rest remained unaffected. She saw one of the men, a Donalian from his looks, openly appraising her. Rina liked the way his soft, nutmeg hair fell over one shoulder and the bronze hue of his flesh. She ached to find out if his cock were as golden as the rest of him. Moragi must have seen her glance for she smiled knowingly. “That one is a good choice,” she said, and with a crook of her finger the man stood and strode over to them. He paused in front of them and held out his hand, palm up. Moragi pressed a med dispenser to his wrist and a soft hiss filled the room. Rina never knew everything the tiny med dispenser contained. Something to sterilize the men, she knew, though she also had her own dermal patch to prevent pregnancy, and something to kill any diseases she guessed. Perhaps a performance enhancer, since the man’s cock had already begun to swell beneath his loincloth. With a nod, she gestured to the door in the back of the room. “Shall we?” he asked, the timbre of his voice sending shivers down Rina’s spine. He held out his arm for her to take, and she looped her hand through it, and they walked through the door and into the hallway. It seemed positively novel that this man she’d purchased would act so gallant around her, though that was why Moragi’s men were highly sought after, along with their reputations for being excellent lovers. Rina chose the first open door, remembering the soft green tones of the room. They closed the door behind them. This is always the awkward part. She turned to him and saw the man looking at her. Desire shone in his eyes. Abruptly she felt she had to reach up and touch his smooth jaw, to see if it really was as smooth as it looked. She did, sliding her hand up the column of his neck to rest it on his cheek. She stroked her fingers across the line of his jaw, across his strong chin. The skin felt as smooth as glass beneath her touch, and she wanted to know if the rest of him felt as good. Lightly, she brushed her thumb across his lips. He stood there, allowing her ministrations, not touching her until she gave permission. Such was the pleasure slave protocol that she could have brought him to orgasm and he couldn’t even reach out a single finger to explore her body like she explored his. Rina saw him clench his fist at his side. Ter never allowed his passion to be restrained. Oh, they had tried. She had handcuffed him to the bed once with his own handcuffs. His cock stood at attention, begging for her touch, but she ignored it. She had kissed the tips of his toes, working her lips and tongue over his legs, then around his hips to cross his torso and trail a path to the ends of his fingers. She laved each inch of his exposed skin with her tongue, tasting his flesh until he had begged her to suck his cock. Her pussy gushed with moisture at the memory. I have to put Ter out of my mind. That’s why I bought this fine specimen. She caressed his chin, across the cords of his neck, down to his chest, enjoying the changing terrain of his skin. No hair marred her path—another delightful feature of the Donalian people. Beneath the gold silk she saw his erection. A side effect of the injection or of her caress, Rina didn’t know. She slowly caressed his taut, hard stomach, pausing where the fabric touched his hips. A groan rumbled low in his chest. The sound vibrated through her, pebbling her nipples into tight little buds. Her pussy clenched. Yes, she thought as she reached around him to undo the fabric, this is

what I need. The silk fluttered to the floor with barely a sound. He stood in front of her, aroused and ready for her every pleasure. Rina pressed herself to him, delighting in the feel of his jutting cock against her stomach. She arched into it, and the hiss of his breath from between his clenched teeth inflamed her more. “You can touch me now,” she said. The standard words released him, and he reached around her to clasp her to him, her arms circling his neck for support. Rina wrapped her legs around his waist, and with quick strides, he carried her to the bed. He kissed her. His lips didn’t give her the tentative touch of a new lover. Instead he devoured her, a sweep of his tongue forcing her to part her lips and allow him entrance into her mouth. Rina clutched at his back, her hands rising to twine themselves in his hair. She rubbed against him, the thrust of his tongue making her want the thrust of his cock. With her tongue, she stroked him. She sucked in a quick gasp of air, before pulling his tongue deeper into her mouth and sucking it until he growled against her lips. He laid her on the bed. She fell back, and he leaned over her. A quick tug and her tunic went flying over her head, revealing her naked breasts to the dim light. He skimmed his lips over her flesh, and Rina lifted her breasts to his eager mouth. He pulled a nipple into his mouth, teasing her with tiny bites. She closed her eyes. It might have been Ter’s teeth tugging ever so gently on the turgid peak. Her hands slid down a back muscled from hard labor, and in her mind, it was Ter. Her cunt ached. In her battle to forget about Ter, she’d lost. The slave released her breast, her nipple sliding from his lips with a pop. His lips skirted down her stomach, towards the thatch of dark hair at the juncture of her thighs. Rina parted her legs for him, her moan echoing in the room. His hair caressed her thighs, the silken, brown strands so dark against her space-paled skin. With his tongue, he lapped her as if he were a cat enjoying the richest of creams. Rina purred. Oh, how she wished it were Ter. His hands spanned her waist. The warmth of his fingertips pressing into her skin mirrored the heat in her pussy. At the first press of his tongue against her clit, she bucked her hips into his face. She pressed her lips together, trying to restrain the moans rising in her throat. Once more, she tangled her fingers in his hair, pressing his lips to her cunt. She wiggled beneath him, trying to find the right angle for his tongue. Ter instinctively had known the right movements, the time to thrust and the time to lick. “Ah, yes,” she gasped. He moaned his approval of her wanton movements, his tongue thrusting into her. His hands reached up her body to cup her breasts. Rina bowed, her body nearly torn from the bed by the force of her passion. She whimpered. “I need… ” “Shhh,” he said, pulling back long enough to make that soothing sound. “Come for me.” Who is the master and who the slave? she wondered as his tongue began circles around her clit. Easily, she imagined Ter kneeling between her legs, his tongue darting around her hardened bud. The slave pulled away, making her cry out, but his hand replaced his lips, and his fingers slipped into her one at a time. At the second finger, she clenched her inner muscles against his hand, wishing it were the longer, thicker penetration of Ter’s cock. “Fuck me,” she sobbed.

He said nothing, merely pulled his body over hers. Bending down, he kissed her. His lips claimed hers, his tongue thrusting between her lips. Rina moaned and offered herself to him. Her legs rose to wrap themselves about his waist. She felt him, just the tip, but enough to send a cry spiraling from her lips. A tilt of her hips, and he slid just inside. The slight penetration seemed to destroy his control. Tremors ran down his body, and with a groan, he sheathed himself completely inside her. He held still for a single moment. A heartbeat passed between them, then Rina clenched her nails against his back. She knew the half-moon furrows filled with blood; the metallic scent hung heavy in the air. Rina inhaled it. He withdrew. Rina moaned. He slammed forward. Tremors radiated from Rina’s sex, like ripples on a pond, and she couldn’t stop the cry that sprang from her lips. She clenched him with her inner muscles. The single motion sent a jolt of sensation through her, obliterating all further thought. Suddenly there was the slide of skin against skin, the cries of passion, and nothing but the sticky sweaty world of a pleasure slave room. She moved against him, frantic now as her own release hovered perilously close. She came in a pounding orgasm that left her gasping for breath. “Ter!” she whimpered as she wrapped her arms around the slave, pressing against the hard planes of his chest. Only Ter had ever made her come so completely, and for a moment, she forgot that the man above her had been bought and paid for. He stopped moving, waiting to take his cues from the customer. “I want you to come.” She held him tightly against her, the inner muscles of her vagina clenching around his hard cock. Slowly, she arched against him. He bumped her cervix, and his breath hissed from between clenched teeth. He withdrew, but only for a moment, then plunged into her. Already, Rina felt her own climax building once more, and she thrust furiously against him. She wondered if the drug made it difficult for him to attain his release, so she snaked her hands down his back to his buttocks. She clenched the hard globes, slamming him deep inside her. He moaned, his release arriving with a painful cry. His body stiffened atop her, and she felt him bathe her insides with his come. As he collapsed on top of her his breath shuddered in and out of his lungs. Rina smiled. I may not have forgotten, but I had a hell of a fuck.

***** The airlock door closed behind Ter as he crossed the threshold into the ship he’d borrowed from a friend. Seeing Rina again made him wish he’d brought his own, with its single bedroom. But no, he had to do the noble thing and bring the one with two bedrooms. His cock hardened even more as he strode to his bedroom. Reaching for the top shelf hanging over the bed, he pulled out a secured box. Unfastening the latch, he spread the contents on the bed. Holoframes with pictures of Rina spilled onto the comforter. He sat on the bed. A crystal containing smaller, grainy surveillance photos he set aside. A large photo, taken shortly after they’d met caught his attention. Together, they had attended a reception hosted by one of the leading Generals. Rina wore a black sheath, split to her thigh, and spiky heels that made her legs look impossibly long. Her breasts threatened the confines of the low-cut dress, and a necklace of sparkling Yelexian sapphires lay nestled between her cleavage. Every eye that night had been on her.

Ter closed his eyes. As if it were yesterday, he remembered taking her home on his arm, both of them a little tipsy from too many glasses of wine. He’d indulged himself in the fine barralberry wine offered, while Rina had drunk some bubbling Vandebian fruit wine. Once they were home, he had gently peeled the dress from her shoulders and kissed every exposed inch of her skin. In his trousers, his cock pulsed painfully, pulling him back to the present. With one hand, Ter unfastened his pants. His shaft sprang through the opening, its head a deep purple. He closed his right hand around it, squeezing gently as he shuffled the pictures with his left. From the middle of the pile, Rina’s military photograph slid to the floor. The frame clattered against the floor of the ship, a metallic sound. Ter let it go. He focused on some smaller frames, in which he’d put pictures of Rina and him from various military functions. Stroking his cock, he remembered getting ready for each event. Rina always hogged the bathroom, dressed in her bra and stockings, and he would work around her while he shaved and combed his hair. Of course, it usually got messed up again, and they arrived fashionably late no few times, but they arrived at the function… eventually. He pumped faster, rubbing his thumb over his swollen cockhead. Closing his eyes, he pictured Rina standing before him, her breasts cradled in soft, white silk. Her stockings ended mid-thigh, the garters forming a frame around her partially shaved cunt. He spun her around and leaned her against the bathroom counter. Parting her legs, Rina thrust her pussy at him, and he stroked it with a finger. Sopping wet. Her juices flowed over his digit, and he brought it to his mouth and sucked greedily. In the mirror, he watched Rina’s eyes widen.She turned so she faced him. He rubbed the pad of his finger over her full, lower lip, then dipped his head to taste her. She tasted of her own juices, salty sweet and the fruity flavor of her lipstick. Mmmm…so good. Rina wrapped her arms around his neck. She lifted her legs, until her ankles were locked behind his back and her pussy rubbed against his cock. “Fuck me, Ter,” she purred in his ear. “That’s an order.” “Yes, ma’am,” he replied, nipping along the column of her neck. He surged forward, burying his cock to the hilt inside her. Her pussy clenched around him, so tight and hot he forced himself to slowly withdraw, lest he come right there. Bracing her against the counter, he thrust forward once more. Her voice surrounded him. Breathy moans and mewing cries echoed off the interior of the small bathroom. The smell of sex filled his nostrils, and he slid into her with a harsh groan. He loved having Rina like this, all wet and wild on his counter, or in his shower. His ship boasted a water recycling system so they could twine themselves beneath the shower spray and feel real water cascading over their naked bodies. Rina clenched his shoulders, slamming her body against his. She fucked like she did everything else, taking what she wanted and not caring about the consequences. A groan rumbled deep in his chest. Ter thrust harder into his hand, squeezing his cock with ball-breaking pressure. The deeper he got into his fantasy, the more he wanted Rina. He wanted her naked before him, her feet on his shoulders while he fucked deep inside her sweet pussy. His balls tightened. His shallow pants filled the room. Groaning aloud, he remembered how Rina felt when she came. Her pussy squeezed his cock like a vise, shuddering around his body. She’d cling to him, sometimes biting his skin.

He stroked faster. The soft sounds of sex filled the room. His back bowed, and his orgasm rushed through him. Beneath his hand, his cock pumped, his come sliding over the edge of his fingers. With his eyes closed, he imagined being buried balls-deep in Rina, listening to her breathy moans as he came deep inside her. Yeah, that’s what I want. I want to fuck her until she agrees to come back to Yelexia with me, even if I have to throw her over my knees and spank her cute ass until she begs. It sounded like a good plan, though he doubted the major would ever let him do it. He waited while his breathing returned to normal. Rising from the bed, he crossed the few strides to the bathroom and cleaned himself up, tossing the towel onto the small stack of dirty laundry. He quickly fixed his clothing. He wanted a second look at Rina. A need to see her burned inside him, and with a last, longing look at the pictures on the bed, he readied himself to reenter the station. The nightlife shifted as only the die-hard barflies filled the bars and restaurants now. The patrons in the Fuzzy Neutron turned more towards drinking and carnal pursuits and loud music pulsed from the opening. Moragi’s Pleasure Palace was still open, he noticed with distaste, and wondered if Rina were behind those walls, fucking a slave right now. On his second circuit of the station he saw her. She stepped out of Moragi’s, her hair falling loose around her shoulders. Too far away to see her features clearly, he imagined the blush of lust across her cheeks, her lips bruised from hard kisses. She turned and saw him. He saw her pause, imagined that he saw the flare of recognition in her eyes, then slowly turned and walked away. Tomorrow he would pay a visit to her ship. Then, she would return to Yelexia with him, where she belonged.

***** Rina hadn’t intended on seeing anyone as she walked out of Moragi’s. I could have used the slave a few more times. He certainly was good, but I want to get up early in the morning. I want to depart. The sooner the better. She stepped onto the walkway to head back to her ship. Few other pedestrians filled the station at this time of night. She saw a tall man in a military uniform. Ter, she realized as she moved closer. At this distance, she had a hard time discerning his features, but she thought he looked haunted. Only Ter would torture himself like this. Let him ponder this little meeting. By tomorrow I’ll be gone. As much as I care for him, Ter is in my past. He has to stay that way.

Chapter Three Rina shifted restlessly in her sleep as the dream began to overtake her. She stood before Ter wearing only a dress in a shade of purple so dark it looked nearly black. The strapless bodice barely restrained her breasts, pushed up with layers of lace and padding. Ter’s eyes seemed glued to the twin globes rising above the rich fabric. “We have to leave in fifteen minutes,” she said, turning away from him to stare at herself in the mirror. With a practiced hand, she began to apply makeup, sneaking peeks at Ter standing behind her. He looked handsome in his suit pants. His shirt hung open over his bare chest. A recent boating trip had given him a burnished gold tan, and Rina forced herself not to lick her lips as she admired the rippling muscles beneath his tawny skin. When we come home from this party, he’s going to fuck me hard. She saw the bulge of his erection behind the pants, and her palms itched to circle around the thick shaft. Trying not to squirm in place, Rina finished applying her lipstick. Ter moved behind her. He stood so close she could feel the heat of his body radiating through the thin material of her dress. As he nuzzled her neck, he wrapped his arms around her and drew her tight against his body. His hard cock pulsed against her ass. Will I never get enough of this man? No other lover touched her as deeply as Ter. She wiggled her buttocks against him, delighting in the groan that rumbled from his chest. His thumbs unerringly found her nipples, tweaking them into an aching hardness through her clothing. Her pussy became slick with need. “If I fuck you fast,” he growled in her ear, “we can still make the reception on time.” His words inflamed her. Leaning forward, she allowed Ter to lift the skirt of her dress and wad it around her waist. She wore no panties beneath her garters. She never did. With a practiced finger Ter stroked her shaved cunt. Rina wiggled against his fingers. “Please,” she whimpered, her hands reaching back to touch him. Awkwardly, she brushed his rib cage, but she touched him and that was enough for now. Ter plunged a finger inside her. Her slick walls closed around his digit. He worked her easily. His thumb brushed against her clit drawing a long shudder from her. “Fuck me, Ter.” He disobeyed her order, and Rina wished she could invoke the authority of her rank to force him to shove his magnificent cock inside her. She ordered him, but they both knew it was play. Outside of military matters, she knew better than to pull rank. Ter nipped her neck. The sting of pain forced her pleasure to ebb, just as he had intended. He pulled his hands away and Rina heard the sound of his trousers sliding to the floor. “Do you know how much I want to put my cock inside you?” Ter asked. “Oh Rina, you’re so hot for me too.” He moved so his cock scarcely brushed her. Rina thrust back, wanting to fuck his cock. “Please,” she whimpered. Her pussy tightened. She wanted his fingers, his tongue, his cock—it didn’t matter—inside her.

Ter thrust forward. He buried himself to the hilt, deep inside her aching cunt. “Yes,” she hissed from between clenched teeth. Ter reached around her. He flicked his fingers against her clit. In his arms, Rina shuddered. She bucked on his cock, wanting the hard and fast rhythm that only Ter could give her. Yes. Oh fucking god, yes. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. The exquisite slide of Ter inside her body nearly made her orgasm. His fingers stroked her clit, never hard enough to push her over the edge. Her body hummed with a need for an orgasm— The thump of boots in the hallway just beyond her pillow forced Rina from the dream. She groaned, knowing that her dream of Ter had drenched her pussy. Her hand stole beneath the sheet, a light caress against her stomach, until the springy touch of her pubic hair stopped her. What am I doing? I haven’t thought about Ter in months, and then he shows up and bam! I’m masturbating over a dream. Reluctantly, she pulled her hand away and wiped her fingers on the sheet. Rina breathed deeply. If she wanted to get an early start, she needed to get out of bed. Usually she was awake before her crew… Damn, I should have fucked that pleasure slave a few more times. Stretching in the bed, she pressed her hands against the wall behind her head, her toes touching the end of her bunk. The sheet tangled around her naked body, and she reached down to throw it off with a harsh growl. Seeing Ter hadn’t helped her mood much. Instead it had rekindled old emotions she ’d long kept buried. “C’mon, Rina,” she said to herself, sliding her legs off the edge of the bed. “You have better things to do than moon over that bastard.” Sucking in a deep breath, she closed her eyes and pretended that her words were true. When she opened her eyes, she still didn’t believe. She stared across her small cabin into the mirror hanging on the wall. Her eyes, red-rimmed from lack of sleep, looked back at her unconvinced. Her hair, once down to her buttocks, now hung around her shoulders, a tangled mass of black strands that reminded her of the Gwrinns’ nests on Yelexia. The huge black birds tended to shred their feathers to make their nests, tangling the fibers together until they stayed. Taking a deep breath, she rose to her feet and walked unsteadily towards the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later she emerged dressed in a clean flight suit, her hair pinned back into a large clip carved from pale pink Eisha stone. Ter had bought that clip for her, she realized belatedly, yet she refused to take it out of her hair. Squaring her shoulders, she prepared to face the day. Her intercom buzzed, and Rina leaned over and punched the red button. “Yes,” she growled, thinking there had better be a damn good reason for the interruption. Her crew knew she didn’t like being disturbed so early in the morning. “Rina, I think you ought to come down here, “ Erstan, her first officer, said. Worry filled his voice. “Where are you?” “Pilot bay,” Erstan tersely replied. “Be right there.” She hit the red button again, then raced from her quarters. Erstan, having been a Free-lancer about as long as she had been alive, always meant what he said, and if he said that then she needed to be there. Although her ship, the Everdeens, boasted more room than some ships had, it still took her less than five minutes to reach

pilot bay. She halted in the doorway. Erstan stood next to the controls, his face a mask of hate. Across from him stood Ter. Shit. “Thank you for calling me. I can take it from here,” she told Erstan, clearly dismissing him from the situation. No need for him to get caught in the crossfire. Erstan arched his eyebrow at her, but said nothing. Her old friend knew more than he let on, which was just fine with her as long as he kept quiet. He nodded once then disappeared back into the ship. Rina wasted no time in worrying on where he was going, or if he would tell the other members of their crew. Drexell and Kanise had been with her since a few months after her exile and could handle themselves. Rina turned her attention to Ter. He looked as handsome as he had last night, dressed in his military uniform. Within the better lighting of her ship, she tried not to focus on the pips and gold bar proclaiming him a captain major. So he no longer needs to pilot his own ship. He could stay on Yelexia and work with the High Council. Which probably explain why his gorgeous coffee-colored hair is curling around his collar. Her fingers itched to caress the silky strands, and she resisted the urge to ball her hands into fists. Her heart did a funny flip-flop just looking at him. Rina forced herself to breathe calmly. He looked unconcerned to be standing on her ship; she would endeavor to do the same about having him in her ship. Just forget the past. That’s all it is, the past. “Captain Major Terrastan Ilykianoiselle, what can I do for you?” Rina asked. Ter arched an eyebrow at her use of his full name. “Free-lancer Rinathallindera Corvalano,” he said, “or shall I call you Major Corvalano.” He wrapped his tongue around the impossibly complex Yelexian names, turning her unwieldy moniker into a caress. “Or maybe Rina?” His voice dropped a notch, and she fought an urge to close her eyes against the velvet slide of his voice across her nerve endings. She remembered that tone from long nights of lovemaking, whispered endearments spoken in the dark. “What can I do for you, Captain Major?” Rina asked again. She refused to be drawn into his game of cat-and-mouse. Ter had loved games; oftentimes they had ended a Ucellus match by making love, the victor getting to be on top. She usually bested him at the common strategy game—the thought brought a rise of heat to her cheeks. I have got to quit thinking of these things. That’s over now. When High Council forced me to make the decision I made, he refused to follow. His loss, not mine. “The High Council wants to see you, Rina.” “And you offered to bring me in?” She raised her eyebrow in disbelief. “How long has the High Council wanted me? Ever since I left?” She snorted. “You’ll have to come up with a better excuse than that, Captain Major. My cargo bays hold nothing illegal, you’ll find all my routes registered and affirmed. I’m doing nothing wrong, and I’m not allowed to go home. Remember?” He blanched a bit at her tone, quickly recovering his composure. “You’ve done things, Rina, that no Yelexian officer has ever done. You accepted your exile, but the

High Council wants you back. You will come home, Rina. If it isn’t with me, then it will be with someone else, but you are coming back to Yelexia.” “Bullshit,” Rina spat. “I owe the High Council nothing. They took my life from me.” She stepped forward, inches from Ter. “In fact, I think they owe me a hell of a lot. I didn’t ask for them to send me into exile, but I’ve made the most of it. I’m sorry your career was more important to you than—” She bit off the words that she had longed to shout at him ever since that day in the High Council chamber. She steadied herself. “Now tell me why you are here.” She growled at him, furious at him for showing up again at this station. A glance at the ship’s chronometer told her that she was scheduled to depart in twelve hours. Not soon enough. Hurt flashed across Ter’s features. “Power has shifted at home,” he said in a soft voice. “Emperor Kardenasillianolos passed away. His son has the throne.” Rina gasped, her mind drawn back to that night when she’d cornered the heir against a wall and watched the pistol go spinning down the royal hallway. She wondered if the emperor’s love for his son hadn’t caused his own death. Ter stepped forward. He dipped his head, and for a moment, Rina thought he might try and kiss her. Her lips tingled. She tried to pull her gaze away from his sensuous lips. “I volunteered to find you. I wanted it to be someone you knew, not a stranger.” Ter cupped her cheek, caressing the skin with his thumb. Heat seeped from his hand into her flesh. The movement of his thumb against her skin reminded her of other touches, softer touches that Ter had given her. Her lips parted. “I can’t believe he wants to bring me in front of the High Council,” Rina said, her voice barely a whisper. Anger spiraled through her, and she yanked her gaze away from Ter’s lips. “If I hadn’t foiled his assassination attempt on his father, someone else might have. The council should have been thankful, but instead they ordered me to leave.” Her voice rose. “I guess the emperor forgave his son for trying to assassinate him. I should have let him die, but no, I did my royal Yelexian duty, especially as a major, and this is what I have become. I’ll make no apologies for it, and the new Emperor Kardenasillianolos can fuck himself.” She balled her hands into fists at her sides. Fury raced through her, so forceful that her body shook. All thoughts of intimacy with Ter fled beneath the onslaught. Ter laid his hands on her shoulders. “I know why you feel that way. The emperor’s throne isn’t the only power that has shifted though. The High Council has changed. Secretly, some voice the very opinion you just did, that the former emperor should have killed his son. You have to come home.” “Why?” Rina snapped the word at him. “Because, if you come home of your own free will, then the emperor won’t send someone to kill you. The new emperor gave you one solar year in which to return. The year’s almost over, Rina, and a well-placed friend told me that the emperor plans to send the Quintnyia after you, and he’ll do it without the High Council knowing.” Rina forced her mouth to close. The Quintnyia were the highest-trained assassins that the Yelexian Empire had. For the new emperor to send them after her meant that he was worried indeed. Most likely worried that she would finish the job his father should have

done. Her hands trembled. “Damn it, Ter. I can’t subject my crew to that.” Rina released a pent-up breath and closed her eyes. “I’ll go. I’ll go. Just give me a moment to tell my crew, okay?” Ter nodded. “I’ll wait right here, and then I will escort you to my ship.” Rina looked solemnly at him. Without another word, she turned and walked away. Ter hadn’t said anything of how he felt. The tenderness of his touch seemed cruel in light of the reason why he was bringing her back to Yelexia. Does he still think of me like I think of him? With him standing before her, it seemed easy to let the years fade away. She swallowed hard and battled the fear rising within her. I never thought I’d go back to Yelexia again. I just hope the High Council hasn’t decided to execute me. It seemed a harsh sentence, but out in space, she felt so far removed from the political intrigues of her home world. They could very well be bringing her back just to kill her. Her crew met her halfway down the hall. “Is it really true?” Erstan said. He punched his fist into the palm of his other hand. “I’ll kill that bastard, Rina, I really will.” Rina laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. “No need to kill him, it’s the truth. I know what I did. They already sentenced me to exile. You all know that. I’m sure I’ll be back before you can miss me.” She forced herself to grin. “I’m going to put Everdeens into your capable hands. Keep her safe for me while I’m gone.” “I’ll take care of her for you, Captain. We all will.” Behind Erstan, her two other crewmembers nodded. “You do what you have to do. We’ll be waiting for you.” “Thank you,” Rina replied. Once inside her haven, she leaned against the door. Deep inside, she had known this day would come eventually. Taking a deep breath, she pasted on the emotionless façade she wore as a major and willed her grief to subside then began to methodically pack a travel bag. Her few belongings fit neatly into a carry case with room to spare, reminding her of all that she had lost. As a major, she remembered, her office had been full of mementoes taken from planets and star systems far away. Her medals, now packed in the pack she slung over her shoulder, used to hang in a lighted display case across from her desk. It’s time I go back. I want to go home. Squaring her shoulders, she opened the door and stepped into the hall. Her crew was nowhere in sight, a blessing that Rina silently appreciated as she made her way back to pilot’s bay and the man who waited to take her home. She hated long goodbyes. Home. Rina wanted to snort in derision, but she couldn’t. She had loved Yelexia like a child loves a mother, still did, and her love of country had brought her to this predicament. Closing her eyes, she longed to see the cyan sunsets and indigo skies of her home. Forcing herself to walk at an even pace, not too slow nor too fast, she stepped into the pilot’s bay. Ter waited. He still stood, his hands relaxed at his sides, and she wondered if he had stood there the entire time. Probably, she thought, remembering his sense of honor. He wouldn’t sit in the Captain’s chair of the Everdeens, not unless she invited him to. An image crossed her mind, of the two of them piloting this ship through space. They’d take what cargo they wanted, what orders they wanted, and when they didn’t, they could curl up in her bunk and make love.

She shook her head, ridding herself of the thought. Even if he would ever accept such a mission, her crew would never accept him on board. He was Yelexian military, everything she’d trained them to be wary of. I still care for him. What if it’s more? The thought filled her with dread. I can’t face another broken heart. I cannot let him hurt me a second time. “I’m ready,” she said, her voice softer than she intended. Ter looked up at her words. His gaze softened. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. “For what it’s worth, I really don’t want to do this, but it would hurt a hell of a lot worse if the emperor had you murdered.” He hadn’t given a declaration of his love, but Rina didn’t want one either. Not right now, anyway. Maybe later they could speak about their feelings. His gruff words called her attention to their shared past. Rina forced herself to smile. “I don’t have any intention of getting killed,” she said. “Though I am glad that it would hurt if I died.” “Let’s go,” Ter ordered, his voice gruff. Suddenly, her three crewmembers appeared in the pilot’s bay. They stood at attention, heels together, hand raised to forehead in salute. “Captain Rina, I’ll take good care of her for you,” Erstan said. Erstan hardly ever called her captain, and now he’d done so twice in one day. On board, she forced them all to call her by her name, just Rina, and now, tears stung her eyes anew at the honorific he had bestowed upon her. “At ease,” she said. “She’s all yours, Erstan. I’ll be back one day to claim her.” He nodded once, but Rina didn’t miss the warning glare he gave Ter. She stepped forward, towards the hatch, and Ter fell into step behind her. She felt his presence, a solid wall at her back daring her to turn around and rush back to her ship. As they passed through the open air lock, the currents of air teased his cologne to her nose, and she inhaled the musky scent, produced only on Yelexia. She wondered what it had cost him to bring a supply of it with him. The scent reminded her of nights making love, and of curling up with pillows, still infused with his scent, after he had left. Rina stopped at the end of the corridor, unsure of where to go. The Everdeens lay behind her, and she felt like she hovered on the edge of two worlds. Ter halted beside her. “My ship isn’t far from here. Follow me,” he said, then turned to the right. Rina followed him, noticing they were heading towards the part of the station that docked smaller vessels. That Ter would hunt her in anything smaller than her ship seemed out of character. As a captain major in the military, he would have had his pick of ships in which to track down the notorious Yelexian major. In fact, he now outranked her. She watched his broad back as he strode down the corridor, noticing that the military shirt emphasized his broad shoulders. The pants, although a loose cut, seemed to cup his buttocks, and the sight of his firm ass nearly made her groan aloud. In her mind, she imagined wrapping her arms around him. She’d slide her fingers over the smooth muscles of his back. Then, she’d reach down and grab his firm ass. Face it, Rina finally admitted to herself, you’ve been wanting to fuck him ever since you saw him in the bar last night. Hell, in your dreams, you did.

Ter turned again, and Rina found herself walking down one of the long docking arms that stuck out from the station like a pin in a cushion. Only the smallest of vessels docked here, ships that held one, maybe two people at the most. Rina’s heart pounded in her chest at the prospect of being in such close proximity to him. About halfway down the arm, Ter stopped. “Here we are,” he said, “the Oderis.” He quickly typed in an access code on the panel beside the door, and the airlock rushed open. She followed Ter inside, then waited for the door to close behind them. The door to the ship opened, and Rina stepped inside. At first glance, the Oderis looked larger than most single-man vessels. A rich green carpet stretched before her, and she saw the pilot’s controls to the left. To her right, three silver doors stood in a semi-circle, leading most likely to the head and sleeping quarters. The decor looked standard, as if Ter hadn’t had time to personalize the ship yet. “She yours?” Rina asked. Most Captain Majors owned their own vessels for vacation trips and personal use. She doubted Ter would be any different. The only reason she had owned the Everdeens was sheer luck and a good bargain. “On loan from a friend. My ship only has one bedroom.” For a moment, she wished he’d brought his ship instead. Trying not to let the disappointment show in her face, she said, “That was very nice of you.” Ter stepped closer to her. He stared down at her, desire burning in his eyes. “I didn’ t want to be courteous,” he said, his voice a husky rasp against her sensitive nerves, “but I did want to keep my balls.” He reached down and caressed her cheek. Rina tried not to turn into his touch, didn’t want to close her eyes to savor the feel of his skin against hers once again, but she did. The instant his flesh touched hers it felt like coming home. Her lips parted, and Ter rubbed the pad of his thumb over her lower lip. Without thinking, she touched it with the tip of her tongue. Ter gasped. “Damn it,” he growled, though Rina wondered if he chastised himself more than her. His thumb slid away, only to be replaced by the hot pressure of his mouth. His lips settled on hers as if he owned them, and perhaps he did. She had fucked many men, but none had held her heart like Ter still did. With his tongue, he traced the outline of her lips, then slipped inside her mouth. At the first touch of his tongue against hers, Rina moaned. For the moment she didn’ t care that he had come to take her back to Yelexia. Ter kissed her. After three and a half long years, Ter kissed her like he’d never left. She leaned into him, one hand on his chest. Beneath her palm, his heart raced. Her nipples pebbled against his chest. Ter swept his hand down her back, cupping her hips and drawing her even closer to him. His hard cock pulsed inside his trousers, pressing against Rina’s belly. Rina cupped the back of Ter’s neck. She held him to her, afraid that if she let go he would leave her again. Pressing her body against his, desire thrummed through her veins. She wanted to wrap her legs around his waist and have him fuck her right there in the entryway. The thought sobered her. She pulled back. “Ter?” she asked hesitantly, still not quite believing that after all those years he still kissed her with the same passion he had shown while they had been

together. She brushed her thumb across his lips and heard a groan deep in his chest. “Gods, Rina, it’s been too long,” he said. “I’ve been a fool thrice over, I swear. Do you know how many times I’ve sat in my office, remembering the feel of your sweet body around mine.” He dragged his fingers through his hair. “I wanted to come and get you, to find you, but something always stopped me.” “What?” Rina asked, her voice soft. His words sounded as if through a fog, and she couldn’t quite believe what she heard. “You chose your career, though.” “I know. Damn it, how I know. Do you know how I made rank so fast?” Rina shook her head, mute. “I volunteered for the most dangerous missions. I put myself in the line of fire more times than I’d ever care to count again. As long as I was focusing on trying to stay alive, I couldn’t think about you.” Rina gasped. His words evoked images of him risking his life in firefights that would make a seasoned solider blanch. The thought of him in such danger sent a stab of pain through her. “Do you know what it did to me, Ter, last night, when you didn’t recognize me in the bar?” Ter shook his head. “I recognized you, honey. Then, I saw you walking out of the pleasure slave house. I thought you didn’t recognize me.” He chuckled harshly. “If I had asked you come back to my ship and fuck me instead of that slave, would you have?” Rina squeezed her eyes closed. “Yes,” she said. Ter crushed her to him. His arms wrapped around her, pressing her against his chest. Rina inhaled his warmth, the spicy scent that belonged to him. She hugged him back, her palms flat against the strong muscles of his back. She knew the exact number of months it had been since she had run her palms along his bare back, feeling the muscles flex as he plunged his cock into her. She shivered. “I don’t know what the future holds, Rina,” Ter whispered. “But will you make love with me?” His husky voice caressed her ears, her heart. “Yes,” Rina said, not caring about tomorrow. Right now she wanted to relish being in Ter’s arms again. Later, she would worry about what it meant and if they really had a future together. Ter kissed her then, his lips full of passion and hunger. His kiss reminded her of their early days together, then his hands skimmed her sides until he cupped her breasts and she remembered how good his touch felt. With his thumbs, he caressed her nipples, turning the tight peaks into aching buds. He kissed her everywhere, her forehead, her nose, her eyelids, her cheeks, and her lips, but mostly her lips. He worshiped her mouth, using teeth and tongue to raise the tide of her passion. Her pussy ached to be filled, seeping wetness into her pants. Ter pulled his lips away. “The bedroom,” he said. His ragged breathing filled Rina with a sense of power. His hard cock translated the depth of his hunger for her, and Rina reveled in the feeling. She nodded, and Ter stepped away long enough to lead her towards one of the three doors. Ter opened the door, revealing a standard ship bedroom. A bed, big enough for two, filled one corner, while shelves and drawers built into the opposite wall provided space for clothing and possessions. A smaller door leading into a small bathroom sat opposite of them.

Ter led her to the bed. He remained standing, his fingers playing along her shirt. “I don’t want you here if you don’t want to be here,” he said. Rina looked up at him, noticing the worry in his eyes. He wanted her, his arousal and his kisses told her that much. She didn’t know for sure, but his words made her wonder about his intentions. He had been the one to leave her before, not the other way around. But now, he spoke from something more than the heat of a one-night stand, something more like love. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be,” she said. “And I’m not just here because the emperor might send people to kill me. There are many ways to foil assassins, and mind-drugging sex with you isn’t one of them. I’m here because I want you.” She didn’t mention that she couldn’t promise him tomorrow, only right now. “Thank god,” Ter replied. He swept Rina into his arms, pressing her against his body. He kissed her, his lips devouring her. Rina moaned against his lips, her hands stroking the contours of his back and sides. She slid her hands down to his buttocks and squeezed them gently. Rocking herself against him, she felt the hard length of his cock pressing against her thigh. She caressed his hip, working her hand closer to his erection. Rina cupped him through the fabric of his uniform pants. Beneath her hand, his cock twitched. She squeezed gently, drawing a moan from his lips. She pressed a kiss against the hollow of his neck, licking him gently. Ter unfastened the buttons of her blouse. Looking down, Rina realized that his hands shook and the thought that he was as moved by their lovemaking as she sent a fresh wave of pleasure through her. As he bared her skin, he pressed kisses to it. He nibbled her flesh, his teeth and tongue toying over the skin revealed by her open shirt. At last, he shoved the tails of her shirt out of the way, and Rina let her arms fall to her sides so he could shove the garment off her shoulders. Ter reached around her. He unclasped her bra, letting the material fall forward. Slowly, he drew the straps down her arms, then watched as it floated to the floor. He reached out and caressed her nipples with his thumbs. “Beautiful,” he breathed, stroking first one nipple then the other. Instantly, her nipples hardened into twin peaks that ached to be touched. Ter cupped her breasts, gently squeezing, and Rina fought hard not to fall forward into his embrace. Liquid warmth filled her pussy. Ter sat her on the bed. He moved between her parted thighs and knelt. Rina looked down at him. Ter parted his lips, his tongue darting out to caress the end of her finger. Rina gasped. Ter circled her digit with his tongue, and Rina felt the touch all the way to her cunt. He reached up and took her wrist, lightly pulling her hand away. Leaning forward, he kissed her stomach, pressing light kisses against her flesh. His lips moved over her, his tongue darting out as if to sample the flavor of her skin. Threading her fingers through his hair, Rina could only hold onto him. The force of her desire held her immobile under Ter’s ministrations. She moaned as his teeth scraped along her skin. Her pussy responded with a flood of moisture, and she knew that Ter must smell her arousal. The musky aroma tantalized her nostrils. Ter unfastened her clothing, slowly parting the fabric to reveal her panties. Rina leaned back on her elbows.

Ter paused. He looked up at her, tugging at her pants. Raising her hips, Rina helped him to undress her, and soon, she lay naked before him. It feels like I never left. Goose bumps rose on her skin. Matured by the passage of time and battles fought, he looked like Anvolinisinite, the Yelexian God of lust and war. In all the statues of the deity, he was portrayed standing spread-legged, his cock at attention, a great sword in his hands. A primal urge filled her, and she licked her lips with anticipation. Lust coursed through her body. Her blood pulsed heavy through her veins, her body pounding to a beat that only Ter could create. He lightly stroked her outer lips, the silken slide of his finger through her moisture enough to make Rina close her eyes. She parted her legs further, offering her pussy to him. Ter slid his fingers inside her cunt. He parted her labia, stroking along the length of her sex. He traced a path around her clit, his fingers never quite touching the most sensitive part of her. Rina moaned in frustration. Her vaginal walls clenched against his fingers, then Ter slid them lower. He paused at her entrance. “Do you want me inside, Rina?” he asked. “Yes,” Rina answered. Her breath hissed as Ter circled her opening with his fingers. First one, then a second, slipped inside her. Rina moaned. Ter stroked rhythmically, his thumb working counterpoint against her clitoris. Rina lost herself to the sensations. Her world narrowed down to the hand in her pussy, working her furiously towards orgasm. Waves of pleasure radiated through her body. Her nipples tightened even further into little peaks, begging for Ter’s mouth to pleasure them. She arched beneath his hand, tiny moans of pleasure erupting from her mouth. “Come for me, Rina,” Ter said. His whispered words scraped across nerves already raw from passion. He worked his hands faster, inserting a third finger into her vagina. “Yes,” Rina moaned. Her hips bucked off the bed, driving his fingers deeper inside her. He stroked the sensitive flesh just behind her pelvic bone, and a long shudder darted through her body. Reaching up, she cupped her breast in her hand, rolling the nipple between her thumb and forefinger. Another shudder raced through her. “Yes!” Ter pressed her clit harder. He massaged it directly, using flicking motions of his fingers to drive Rina wild beneath his hand. She tightened her muscles around his fingers, not wanting to come quite yet. Ter flexed his fingers inside her, giving her no choice but to surrender to the pleasure as it washed over her. Coming, she moaned, her hips bouncing on the bed. Her muscles spasmed, one long release that had her keening his name. Slowly, Ter withdrew his hand. He undressed. Rina watched as he bared his body, still lean and muscular. Soft whorls of chest hair ran between his pectorals, narrowing into a line that directed her gaze down to his cock. It was as large as she had remembered it, rising from a nest of dark brown curls. Not even last night’s pleasure slave had been as exquisitely rendered in flesh as Ter. She licked her lips. Her gaze caught his, held it, until he devoured her body with a single look, just as she had done his. He stepped from his pants, then stood naked before her. “My memories didn’t do you justice,” he whispered.

The soft words filled Rina, wrapped around her heart and threatened not to let go. She moved so she lay lengthwise on the bed, thighs spread, waiting for him. “Make love to me, Ter,” she answered. “Oh yes,” he said, “that I will do.” He lay down on the bed, moving to the cradle of her thighs. Bracing his weight on his arms, he looked down at her. With gentle lips he kissed her. His lips moved softly across hers, never demanding only asking. When his tongue slipped between her parted lips, she moaned, and only then, did he press the tip of his penis against her. Ter slid into her wetness. He moved slowly, delicately, as if he thought her a rare flavor to be savored. Rina arched against him, drawing him deeper into her pussy. She clenched her muscles around him, holding him tight. He thrust his full length into her, then stilled. Rina opened her eyes. Above her, Ter hovered, poised on his arms, careful not to crush her. Buried inside her cunt, his cock felt like heaven, and for a moment, Rina cared not where she went, only that Ter impaled her once more. She tilted her hips, delighting in the groan he made. He pulled back. Just as slowly as he had entered, he slid his length out of her. Rina cried out at the emptiness in her cunt, her hands digging into his back, trying to hold him inside her. Ter smiled, then thrust forward once more. He plunged into her, each stroke harder than the last. Rina clutched at him, her body rising to meet his, begging for a release that seemed just out of reach. She wanted to come, wanted to feel Ter coming inside her, so when the first ripples of her orgasm washed over her, she went joyously, crying out his name. He pounded into her, and Rina felt as if she were drowning in the swirling vortex of his passion. Rina clung to him, her body shuddering, even as his strokes ignited her passions once more. “Yes,” he cried out as the tremors subsided. He slowed, then looked down and pressed a kiss to her lips. “This time, we’ll do it together.” He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, and followed the motion with his lips. Lying beneath him, she looked thoroughly and well fucked. He tasted her, tongue delving deep into her mouth. She clung to him, as to a life raft, and far inside her body, his cock twitched, fully hard once more. Without waiting for a reply, he began to thrust again. She matched him stroke for stroke. He groaned at the sensation of her hot, wet pussy enveloping his shaft. Rina pumped her hips beneath him, grinding her mons against him. Ter cried out, a hoarse, wordless shout. Oh god, I want to make this last. Hang on. Just a little longer. The first shudders of Rina’s orgasm raced through her, and she pressed herself against him, clamped her cunt tight around him. “Oh Ter,” she moaned as her pussy began to tighten again with the beginnings of another orgasm. Ter stiffened. He buried his cock deep inside her, his balls tight with pressure. His release burst through him, forcing swirls of color to dance before his eyes. With a low growl, he let his orgasm ride him. His cock pumped hot seed into her, igniting another series of spasms from deep within her. Rina pressed her face against his chest, then collapsed against the bed. Moments later, Ter collapsed next to her, his body still joined with hers. He lay there, thinking about the woman in his arms and how he never wanted to let her go

again. Ter didn’t feel a need for words, and apparently Rina didn’t either, for she didn’t speak. Gradually, Rina’s breathing returned to normal, and she lifted her head to look at the man who had haunted her dreams for many years. Inside her, he hardened once more, his body telling her eloquently that it had been too long for both of them. “I won’t abandon you this time,” he said softly. He reached over and brushed a lock of her hair from her forehead. “I promise you that.” Rina exhaled. “Thank you,” she whispered, then bit her lip to keep from speaking further. Where do we go from here, she wanted to demand, but didn’t. She took a deep breath and released it. “I’ll resign if I have to, but I won’t let them harm you. You did what was right. I see that now. The High Council will see it too.” Rina nodded, afraid to speak. No words of love had passed between them, though it seemed that he had come to terms with what had happened so long ago. She turned to Ter, gliding her hand down his chest. “For now, Ter, just make me forget.” Through the hull of the ship, she felt the vibration from a nearby ship’s thrusters. Coming or going, she didn’t know. She pressed her lips to his, content to be lying in Ter’s arms once more. Later, she’d deal with her return from exile. Later, she’d deal with the High Council.

Chapter Four Rina couldn’t take her eyes off the planet in the distance. Yelexia. Home. In the three days it had taken them to reach here, neither she nor Ter had broached the subject of their relationship. With the ship on autopilot, they spent most of their days in the bedroom, getting to know one another once more. Ter never seemed to tire of her. A single glance and his cock stood at attention, hard and ready, just as a single glance from him could make her pussy wet with desire. Rina tried not to think of the future. From what Ter had said, once they arrived on Yelexia, she would be shown to her quarters. The following day the High Council would convene to discuss her fate. Only this time, the emperor looking down at her from the dais behind the council would be the heir she’d once accused of treason. Shivers darted down her spine. The emperor had died of natural causes. She reviewed the documents carefully. The coroner’s report showed a massive heart failure, something his line had been known for. No drugs were present in his system, and he died alone in his rooms. It certainly appeared that there had been no foul play at the time of the emperor’s death. If he had been assassinated, it had been discreet. Clouds swirled in the cyan atmosphere. The land, a dark metallic gray and rich in minerals, also created a beautiful counterpoint to the sky. Tears stung Rina’s eyes at the thought of being home again. Ter stood behind her. He rested a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. “You know, no matter how many times I come back, the sight of our planet never fails to move me.” Rina nodded, not trusting her voice to speak. “We should be landing in a couple of hours. I’ll let you know when its time to strap in, but if you feel like it, you can always come up to the bridge.” “Thanks,” she said. “I think I better go back.” Something to keep her hands busy, so she didn’t think too much about what would happen once they landed. Ter seemed to understand. He brushed a soft kiss against her lips, then turned and walked back to the small bridge of the ship. Rina watched him go, trying to quell the trepidation in her heart. What have I done? Her muscles ached from their frantic lovemaking the night before. It had been almost as if they both knew that the end was near. Swallowing hard, Rina turned and walked into their shared bedroom. The second bedroom sat undisturbed. She glanced at her small case. Almost everything was packed. She lingered over folding her clothing, creating a pile that would have done the military proud. Taking her time, she stowed the precisely folded articles in her travel bag. Closing her eyes, she paused in the middle of the room. From the bathroom, she smelled the faintest trace of Ter’s cologne, a reminder that he had been on this ship longer than she. Better get this over with. She opened her eyes and squared her shoulders. She walked toward the bridge. She wanted a full view of Yelexia as they approached. After all, it might be the last view she’d ever have. On the bridge, Ter nodded to her, then motioned her towards a chair. A smaller

bank of controls sat in front of her, the blinking red light telling her that Ter hadn’t activated her console. He didn’t need to. He had flown larger ships by himself, she was sure, yet it stung a bit that he wouldn’t welcome her help in landing the craft. She’d been in the military, had the same training as he did. Did he not trust her? She tried to ignore the question swirling in her mind, yet found she could not. Rina watched as her home world grew larger on the screen. Sudden tears pricked her eyes, and she furiously blinked them back. I will not cry. Not over Yelexia. She drank in the sight of the world that she’d not dared get close to during her exile, even though the council never said she had to stay away, merely that she couldn’t live on its mineral-rich soil. Only now, with Ter accompanying her, did she feel like it was time she returned. At the time, she wanted to get as far away from the council and the man who had betrayed her. The Fuzzy Neutron on the Caprinian Station had been as physically close to Yelexia as she had gotten in the years since her exile. The ship’s communications crackled. “Oderis, you are cleared for landing on field five. Please remain in your ship and await further orders.” Rina stiffened at the words. The Yelexian government took no chances. “Understood,” Ter replied. He turned to Rina. “I’m sorry.” “It’s okay,” she lied. She didn’t expect a warm welcome, though the near hostility in the flight controller’s voice startled her. Without waiting for orders, Rina buckled the safety harness around her. Ter began the descent into the atmosphere. The view screen blinked out, leaving Rina without the ability to see her home world. Beneath her chair, the ship bucked as it came through the atmosphere, and although she had flown for most of her life, it still unnerved her. Although it felt like hours, it couldn’t have been more than a few minutes before the ship leveled out. The view screen returned, giving Rina a glimpse of her home. Beneath the ship, mining towns and camps scattered throughout the mountains gave the first hint of civilization. The capital, Yelenin, rose on the horizon, a cluster of buildings that could be seen for miles around. Rina’s stomach lurched. She tried to attribute it to the descent, though Ter piloted the ship with textbook perfection. Trepidation filled her, and she tried to keep her thoughts positive. The slight bump of the ship landing jarred Rina’s thoughts back to the present. “We’re here,” Ter announced, though the sudden loss of motion could have confirmed that for her. He signaled the flight controller that they had landed safely and unbuckled his harness. Rina followed suit. “It will be okay,” Ter said. He rose to his feet and crossed the bridge. “Will it?” Rina asked. “You don’t know why the council wanted me back. If you did, you would have told me.” Ter sighed, his bluff called. “You’re right, I don’t know what the council wants with you, but it will be all right. Whatever happens, it will be all right.” “Not if they execute me.” “Do you think they really would do that?”

Rina shrugged. “I don’t know. The emperor is supposed to be a figurehead, what if he was able to sway enough members of the council? You said yourself political climate had changed.” Ter shook his head. “It isn’t—” The whoosh of the door opening cut off his thoughts. Rina turned to see intruder. Three Yelexian soldiers stood in the doorway. If they wanted to overpower they should have sent more than three men.

but the

the me,

“Captain Major Ilykianoiselle, thank you for bringing the exile back to us,” the foremost soldier said. By the insignia, she saw he was a Captain, just one rank below her. He turned to her. His salt-and-pepper hair made him look old for his rank, and Rina immediately pegged him as an officer who would never make higher without something sensational. Having an exile return and then “attack” certainly would be sensational enough to boost his career. She had to give him no reason to provoke anything. “Thank you for meeting us, Captain. Please show us immediately to our quarters. I have much I need to discuss with High Council,” Ter ordered. Rina tried not to start at his words. What could he have to discuss with High Council, other than their heartfelt talks and mind-blowing sex? She pursed her lips, then quickly relaxed her expression into one of neutrality as the Captain looked in her direction. “Beg your pardon, Captain Major, but I have orders to escort only the exile to her quarters.” Ter looked at her. He could insist on accompanying them, she knew, but to do so would undermine the Captain in front of his men. Besides, Ter might not want anyone to know the extent of their relationship. Surely, people remembered, but since he’d risen in the ranks so quickly, apparently their relationship had been conveniently forgotten. “As you wish. I assume someone will bring my baggage,” she said, not looking at Ter. “Yes, Major,” the Captain said. “Very well then.” Head held high, she walked towards the Captain and followed him out of the ship. She didn’t look back at Ter. Once she knew what would happen to her, she would think about their relationship. Not before. Taking a deep breath, she focused her mind on where she was going. A suite of rooms in the palace. The last time she’d been there, she had been exiled. She couldn’t help but wonder what would happen now.

***** Ter watched Rina leave with a sinking heart. She didn’t even say goodbye, merely squared her shoulders and walked out of his ship. His life, too? No, she wouldn’t do that. Not to him. He waited until she’d left then sank into the captain’s chair of the ship. What have I done? Already, his body ached for hers. In his heart, he’d opened doors he’d wanted to keep closed. After tasting the pleasures of her body, he doubted he could ever let her go again. Ter rose to his feet again. He crossed the ship and grabbed his two bags out of the bedroom. He stared for a moment at Rina’s bags, wondering if he should take them, but decided against it. Someone would be back for her belongings, the Captain had said,

and he didn’t know which rooms were hers. He’d find out, as soon as he got settled. The bags would be a good excuse to find her. Ter shook his head. He didn’t need excuses to find Rina. Tonight, he would come to her and she would realize how he felt about her. Swinging his bag over his shoulder, he disembarked. Now that he stood on terra firma again, he took long moments to take in the beautiful sky. White puffy clouds looked painted on the cyan sky. In the distance, the rolling red and brown hills that comprised the start of the mines towered over the flat ground on which the palace was built. Other ships sat on the landing fields, mostly smaller personal vessels. Ter started across the field. The sun warmed his hair, and he wished he could just lay in the sunshine like a big furmarup. The furry house pets were known for curling up in the closest available beam of sunlight. Instead, he had work to do that would likely keep him inside the palace walls until well after sundown. Ter frowned. He’d brought Rina back. That’s what the High Council wanted. Why they wanted her back, he didn’t know. Not even the highest-ranking Generals were privy to the reasons behind the High Council’s actions. Could I have betrayed her a second time? He forced the thought from his mind. He refused to believe that was the case. I will do everything within my power to protect her. His long strides carried him across the landing field and to the guard station that blocked the entrance to the palace. He stopped beside the view screen image of the guard and the retinal scanner. “Captain Major,” the guard said in recognition. He gestured to the scanner. Ter recognized the soldier as a young lieutenant from his home district. He nodded, knowing that until the scanner identified him, he wasn’t allowed to say anything to the guards. He looked at the shimmering red light as the scanner confirmed his identity. “Identity confirmed. You have a good flight, Captain Major?” “I did, yes, Lieutenant Wenistarillion. Everything going well for you?” “Yes, sir, it is. Thank you.” The door whirred as the locks were released. “Have a good day, sir.” Ter nodded once more to the young soldier, then disappeared inside the palace. The doors clanked shut behind him, almost reminding him of a prison. He stopped at the desk just inside the door and obtained the location of his suite of rooms. He didn’t ask about Rina. Most likely the servant manning the desk wouldn’t know. He had other ways of finding out. He started towards his rooms, satisfied to have the suite he preferred when he visited. Not too far from the landing fields or from the main governmental offices, he seemed to always be in the middle of things. It would make it easier to sneak out and visit Rina too, as the corridors outside his rooms were always crowded with people, even late at night. Another retinal scan let him into his rooms, and Ter set his baggage down just inside. A light on the communications console just inside the door blinked steadily. Haven’t even been here an hour and already I have a message. Trying hard not to frown, Ter punched the button. General Ascending Manatanillion’s face looked back at him. “When you arrive, Captain Major, please reply to this message. I wish to speak with

you.” The message cut off. Ter sighed. I didn’t anticipate hearing from him so soon. He punched the button to return the message, not caring that his bags still sat around his feet. What he wanted was to have himself a flute or two of the fine barralberry wine that he always had waiting in his rooms. The visage of General Ascending Manatanillion filled the screen. “Captain Major,” he said. “Congratulations on a successful mission.” “Thank you,” Ter replied. “What can I do for you?” “Please come to the Oval Room at your earliest convenience for debriefing.” Ter masked his sigh. He’d known he’d be debriefed, didn’t expect less from the Yelexian military, but to have the summons come so soon felt heartless to him. “I will, under one condition.” “Yes?” the general asked. “Where is the major being kept?” A sly smile curved the general’s lips. “Suite B9, and I made sure you had access,” he replied. “I’ll see you in the debriefing room.” Without waiting for an answer, the general disconnected the conversation. Ter smiled. Her suite wasn’t that far from his, meaning that once he finished debriefing, he could shower, change and be at her room in less than half an hour. “At least the general made it worth my while,” he muttered to himself. Tossing his bags on the couch, he turned and headed for the Oval Room. At least he was on the friendly side of this mission. He wouldn’t have to tell them everything.

***** Rina looked around at her chambers in disbelief. She expected a holding cell, not a small suite of rooms that looked more posh than the ones she’d shared with Ter a lifetime ago. A single sitting room and bedroom, along with a bathroom made up the suite of rooms, but what it lacked in space it made up for in riches. The tub looked deep enough to seat three in comfortably, and a separate shower stall stood in one corner. Her sitting room overlooked the main flower garden, resplendent right now with purple and red blossoms. A small patio outside provided a quiet, beautiful place to sit. It all appeared so normal, so comfortable, but she didn’t doubt for a second that the room was bugged. She didn’t care. A soft chime announced the arrival of the servants with her bags. She opened the door to them, taking her two small packs from the young man without letting him inside. He turned and darted down the hall. Rina stared at the room, trying to decide why the government placed her here, instead of in a holding cell. It would be easier to keep watch on her, plus it would probably cost less in surveillance. Rina shook her head. At least she had a nice room, for however long it lasted. A part of her wondered where Ter was staying. She forced the thought from her mind. He’d done his duty. Let him leave her in peace. It wouldn’t hurt her so much that way, and if the council executed her, it wouldn’t hurt him as badly either.

***** Ter showered and dressed in record time. Standing before his mirror, wearing a pair of black leather pants a girlfriend whose name he no longer remembered had bought for him, he combed his hair away from his face. He shrugged into the matching vest, and on

any other night he would have said the look was too much. The man staring back at him from the mirror looked as if he could order the moon on a platter, and tonight, he would. A small military restraint pack bulged the back pocket of the pants. Ter smiled. He added a dash of his favorite cologne and decided to go find the major. He turned heads in the hall as he walked to her suite. He noticed them out of the corner of his eye, not really paying attention. He saw a few raised eyebrows too, and he inwardly chuckled at that. Tonight, he would make Major Rinathallindera Corvalano completely and utterly his. He paused at the door to her suite, letting the scanner admit him. Stepping aside, he forced the trepidation he felt away, secure in the knowledge that Rina wanted him. The soft sloshing of water caught his attention. A feminine sigh filled the room, followed by the lapping of water against the sides of a tub. She couldn’t be. The image of Rina lying naked in the bathtub hardened his cock. For a moment, he allowed himself the tantalizing thought of her surrounded by frothy bubbles, the pearlescent orbs hiding her body beneath the water. Or would she forego the bubbles so her flesh lay wet and naked beneath the water. Ter stifled a pained moan. He walked towards the source of the sound, quickly catching a glimpse of her through the open door to the bathroom. She lay so her back faced the door, her head tilted back on a soft pillow. One hand clenched the side of the tub, the other out of sight beneath the water. Soft waves danced on the top of the water, where no bubbles floated. What was the hand doing? He had to know. Stepping forward, he stopped just inside the door. He used the soft splashes and the rugs on the floor to muffle the sound of his boots. Ter peered into the tub. He nearly groaned aloud. The black curtain of her hair fell over the edge of the tub. Over her shoulder, he saw her hand moving between her parted legs, her fingers stroking her labia. Rina moaned. Ter swallowed hard. His cock threatened to explode in his expensive leather pants, but he dare not call attention to himself. Not if it would make her stop. Her fingers moved faster. Beneath the water, he watched her hips buck, her fingers sliding in and out of the slick folds of her pussy. Her breasts bobbed in the water, the entire image making her look like a famed watanylia, a seductive siren who lived in the rivers and lured men to their deaths. Rina’s lips parted in a silent invitation. Just a few moments longer. He wanted to savor the image of her. She came. A low moan erupted from her throat, her body shuddering beneath the water. Ter watched, certain he had never seen anything so beautiful in his entire life. After long moments, she stilled, a contented sigh rolling from her lips. “You’re beautiful,” he said, his voice husky from desire. Rina gasped and whirled to face him.

***** Recovering from one of the best orgasms that she had ever given herself, Rina laid her head against the edge of the tub and released a happy sigh. The bath, along with her leisurely masturbation session, had completely relaxed her, and she knew she would sleep well tonight. The communication had already arrived with the particulars for

tomorrow’s meeting. “You’re beautiful.” She could have sworn she’d just heard Ter’s voice, but she was secure in her suite of rooms and hadn’t authorized anyone else to have access. Rina’s heart leapt into her chest. Still, she’d know that voice anywhere. She gasped, whirling around to see Ter standing in the doorway. He looked magnificent. A short leather vest covered his broad shoulders. Snug leather pants covered his legs, and an impressive erection bulged against the fly. Those pants couldn’t be comfortable. The look ended in dark, military boots. Rina’s mouth went dry. She’d dreamed of seeing Ter like this. Her pussy clenched and her nipples beaded as if she hadn’t just masturbated herself to completion. “How’d you get in here?” Her voice sounded less steady than she would have liked. “I have my ways.” Ter shed his vest. His hands paused at the waistband of his pants. He kicked off his boots and shed his pants. He strode towards the bathtub. Rina watched him walk towards her, a figure of male perfection. Soft tufts of hair started between his pectorals, then arrowed down over a ripped abdomen, erupting in a nest of curls that surrounded his massive cock. His erection nearly touched his stomach, and Rina went molten inside to think that she caused it. Allowing her gaze to slide over his strong thighs and muscled calves did little to cool her libido. From head to toe, Ter was the finest male she’d ever seen. She started to move away from the edge of the bathtub. Ter grabbed her arm. “I’m not going to let you get away,” he said. He stood so close that she turned around and smiled at him with a cocky little smile. “Who said anything about leaving?” She pressed her lips to the underside of his cock. Ter groaned, then gently pulled her head away. “Don’t do that, baby. I want to make this last.” He knelt with an ease that reminded Rina of the tweaks of her old war injuries. Caressing her cheek, he leaned forward and kissed her. His lips moved across hers, a soft caress of flesh against flesh. Rina wrapped her hands around his biceps, feeling the muscles tense beneath her palms. Control radiated from him, an iron will that could make rank privates drop and give a hundred… or drive her mad with desire. Against the cool tile of the tub, her nipples pebbled. Ter showed no sign of ending the kiss. Beneath his touch, she parted her lips. Ter’s tongue swept across her full, lower lip, dipping inside to taste the sweetness of her mouth. He tasted of barralberry wine. Rina never liked the sweet berries, unless they were on Ter’s lips. He must have had a glass before coming here. Courage, maybe. The idea that Ter would need courage to come and see her made her care for him even more. He doesn’ t want to lose me. She swallowed hard. I don’t want to lose him either. Deep-seated caring rushed through Rina. Rising to her knees in the tub, she ran her hands over his arms, up his shoulders, until she could cup the back of his neck. She worshipped his mouth with hers. Her tongue stroked his, an invitation to further exploration. Her fingers tangled in the silken strands of his hair. Rina moaned. “Please,” she whimpered as she pulled her lips away from his to gulp much needed air.

Ter rose to his feet. He stepped into the tub, then seated himself against the back, his long legs stretched towards hers. Rina smiled. Moving to him, she straddled him, her pussy hovering over his cock. She reached down and wrapped her fingers around his cock. Ter groaned. He leaned back, the needy sound that emerged from his lips touching Rina to her core. She stroked him, her fingers touching him from base to tip. “Oh Rina,” he whispered. Reaching for her, he cupped his big hands on her waist. He caressed her hips with feather-light strokes. Rina wanted him to touch her pussy. It burned for him, her juices mingling with the water of the bathtub. She wriggled against him, but Ter’s hands on her waist kept her in place. He leaned forward. Ter fastened his lips on her nipple, sucking it greedily into his mouth. Rina tightened her hold on his cock as pleasure coursed through her veins. With his tongue, he teased the bud into a tight point. Her other nipple pebbled, and Ter palmed it with his hand. Rina shuddered. He hadn’t even touched her cunt yet and she felt like she was going to come. Her hips rocked back and forth, her pussy clenching on empty air. With fingers and lips, Ter drove her mad. She snaked a hand over his chest, feeling his nipples harden beneath her touch. She wanted to touch him everywhere, wanted to give him as much pleasure as he gave her. Sliding one hand between his legs, she fondled his balls, rolling the sac gently in her palm. With one finger, she stroked the sensitive skin just behind and was rewarded by Ter’s low moan against her breast. He pulled his lips away to kiss the top of her other breast. “Fuck, I thought I could wait.” He grabbed her waist and settled her over his erection. Thrill spiraled through Rina. Slowly, she lowered herself so that the tip of his cock pressed against her swollen flesh. He reached between them and flicked his fingers against her clit. Rina could wait no longer. In a single motion, she sheathed herself on him. Inside her, he pulsed, hard and ready, and she squeezed her muscles around him. Ter growled. “Keep that up—” She silenced him with a kiss, her tongue invading his mouth like his cock invaded her body. She began to move. Rotating her hips, she lifted herself off of him a little at a time, until Ter wrapped his hand around the side of the tub. She saw his white-knuckled grip, felt the control in every rigid line of his body. He wanted to fuck her hard and fast. She wouldn’t let him. Not yet anyway. Right now she wanted to be in control of the situation. Strategic moves in a battle of lust. Slowly, she trailed her fingers over his chest, pausing just above his cock. He stared at her fingers. His harsh breathing echoed in the bathroom. Rina trailed her fingers back up his chest and smiled. She lowered herself over him once more. The slide of her skin against his nearly took her breath away, and in that moment, Ter wrested control from her. He clamped his hands on her waist, sending his cock surging into her with a tilt of his hips. He set a pace that left her gasping. Small tremors, a precursor to her orgasm, darted through her body. Rina closed her eyes. She leaned forward, taking him deeper. Whatever happened

tomorrow, she wanted to keep this. The feel of his hard cock inside her, the sounds of their mingled breathing, all of it surrounded her and filled her with warmth. Ter changed the angle of his thrust, brushing against a sensitive spot inside her. The realization came crashing down on her. She loved Ter. She had loved him, still loved him, and would always love him. Tears, quickly banished, stung her eyes. Turning her head, she pressed tiny kisses along his neck and jaw. Her breath hitched. Her body tightened around his. A few more quick thrusts, and Rina came. She bit her lip to keep from crying out, her body convulsing around his. “Oh, god, Ter,” she gasped. As her orgasm washed through her, it didn’t matter that Ter hadn ’t said he loved her. He cared. She knew he did from the touch of his body. His lovemaking spoke more eloquently about their relationship than anything. Ter thrust once more, then stiffened beneath her. With a low roar, he found completion. His hot seed filled her, and draped against his shoulders, Rina relished the feel of his orgasm as it moved throughout his body. They sat twined together for a long moment. Slowly, Rina raised her head and brushed her lips against his. “What do you say we try and make it to the bedroom?” She kissed his cheek. “That is if our legs will support us.” Ter’s grin was all the answer she needed. Rina rose to her feet. Water sluiced over her body, and to Ter she looked like a water goddess come to life. As she stepped out of the tub, he reveled in the view of her naked body. He groaned softly as she wrapped a large, fluffy towel around her body, then handed one to him as he stood. He draped the towel around his hips. He glanced down at his pants lying on the floor. The military restraint pack had slid partially out of his pocket. A smile quirked the corner of his lips as he bent under the guise of drying off his legs and tucked the restraint pack between the towel and his skin. Rina didn’t even notice. He watched her bend over, his gaze following the lean curve of her back over her rounded buttocks and down her long legs. Her pussy peeked from behind a nest of black curls, and his cock twitched at the sight of her plump pink lips. Rina stood, then reached between her legs with the towel. “Let me,” Ter said walking up behind her. He wrapped his hand around her, then slowly moved the towel over her stomach. Leaning against him, Rina closed her eyes, and he heard her soft moan of pleasure as the towel dipped between her legs. He stroked her pussy, working the soft towel in circles over the black fleece hiding her sex from view. Working the towel farther, he stroked her lips, then slipped between them to brush the nubs of fabric over her clit. Rina gasped. She grabbed his wrist, stilling his hand. She didn’t say anything, just lifted his hand away from her sex. Turning, she stroked the bulge in his towel and grasped his hard cock through the material. She squeezed gently, her hand never straying from his cock to the restraint pack still tucked into the waist of the towel, then sashayed out of the bathroom. Ter followed her right into the bedroom. Grabbing her wrists, he turned her body and pinned her against the wall. The towel fluttered to the floor, revealing her naked body once more. Ter thrust his knee between her legs, forcing her to spread them. He nipped tiny kisses along her shoulder blades. Keeping one hand on her wrist, he unfastened the towel, bringing the military restraint pack to her hands. He flipped it

open and quickly fastened a tie around her wrists. “Now,” he growled in her ear, “you’ re mine.” He rubbed his cock against her ass for emphasis. Rina looked over her shoulder and smiled. At the first clasp of the restraints around her wrists, she suppressed a shiver. To give herself over to Ter and his ministrations seemed the perfect way to forget about the High Council meeting tomorrow. Whatever happens, at least I’ll give him this memory. She wiggled her ass against him, feeling his hard cock jerk against her. Ter led her towards the bed. Even in restraints, she draped herself across the coverlet, looking up at him through half-lidded eyes. His gaze lingered on her breasts with their upturned nipples. She parted her legs, tempting his gaze to lower, so he could see her pussy, wet with desire for him. He moved closer to the bed. Rina sat up, then leaning forward slid her lips over the length of his cock. She sucked greedily, swirling her tongue around the head and probing the tiny eye with it. Resting her bound hands against his abdomen, she pulled away long enough to slip them beneath his balls and fondle him. Ter’s husky groan echoed in the bedroom. “You—have—to stop,” he gasped out. In her hands, Rina felt his balls tighten and knew his release was close. She smiled around his shaft, gave him one final lick, then pulled away. “Anything you want… master.” Her nipples hardened even more as she said the words. Rina licked her lips. Ter shuddered visibly. His cock jumped. He stared at her for a long moment, and Rina knew he couldn’t believe she’d just called him “master.” During their relationship, she never had done so, though there had been plenty of give and take in their sexual play. Rina parted her legs as wide as they would go. Her pussy ached to be stroked, and she clasped her restrained hands together, then leaned back on the bed with them stretched above her head. Get a look at this. Ter did. He tossed the restraint pack on the bed beside her. It landed with a soft thump. Rina glanced at it, before raising her gaze to clash with Ter’s. Heat sizzled along her nerve endings. With one hand, Ter flipped open the restraint pack. He removed a small silver disk, activating it with the press of this thumb. The disk began to hum, and Ter laid it gently between her breasts. Rina closed her eyes. Pleasant warmth seeped into her from the disk, the slight vibration against her skin drawing her attention to her breast. She tried to lift her hand, and found she couldn’t. Panic flared in her eyes. “What is this?” She swallowed hard and tried to raise her torso. From the shoulders down, she couldn’t move. She thought she recognized the device as a prisoner stabilizer, but how or where Ter could have gotten one eluded her. “It’s a prisoner stabilizer,” he said, confirming her thoughts. “I did a little MP work trying to ferret out a bad officer.” He shrugged. “I never turned my kit in. Figured it would come in handy someday.” “You’ll take it off if I ask you to?” Rina said, her voice shaking more than she liked. Somehow, being rendered immobile on the eve of her meeting with the High Council scared her more than she wanted to admit. Ter nodded. “Of course, and I won’t do anything to hurt you. You know that don’t you, my loderie?”

Rina nodded, and at the use of the Yelexian word for beloved, her fears relaxed somewhat. “Good.” Ter crawled onto the bed between her knees. His cock jutted before him, and Rina couldn’t keep her eyes from the thick shaft. Her pussy ached. Fear and the Prisoner Stabilizer held her immobile, and she wondered what Ter would do. Leaning forward he pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. “See,” he said, “that wasn’t bad at all.” Then, he scooted to the end of the bed. Picking up her right foot, he held it in the palm of his hand. With the tip of one finger, he traced the contours of her sole, pressing hard enough so he wouldn’t tickle her. The gentle ministrations soothed Rina, and some of her fear began to ebb away. Ter massaged her foot gently. He took care to work along the arch of her foot, then between her toes. Raising her foot, he pressed his lips against the bottom. Shivers rocketed through her. She never would have thought her feet would have erogenous zones. Ter ran his tongue along the undersides of her toes, swirling it into the sensitive skin between. Rina swallowed hard. The slight tickle from his tongue only heightened her sensation. Slowly, he drew her big toe into his mouth and sucked. Rina let her head fall back. Pleasure hummed through her body. If Ter wanted to make her forget about tomorrow, he was well on his way. The draw of his lips on her metatarsals tugged at her pussy, and it answered with a rush of moisture. Ter slid her toe from his mouth with a soft pop. Then, he picked up her other foot. He repeated his actions, until she wanted to writhe in ecstasy. The touch of his lips and fingers on her feet seemed too much, yet not enough, all at the same time. He started to crawl on the bed, and Rina caught a glimpse of his still-hard cock. How did he manage it? He looked ready to explode. The fact that he put his pleasure aside for her only aroused her further. Ter nibbled on her ankles. He swirled his tongue around her anklebone, a ticklish spot, and had she been able to move, Rina would have pulled her leg away. He caught it, then began to lick and nip a trail up the front of her shins. He dipped his tongue into the hollow from when she had smacked her leg on a space shuttle when she was small, pressing firm kisses against the reminder of the wound. Lifting her leg in the air, he traced a path up her calf with his tongue, lightly biting the firm muscle. He licked the back of her knee, drawing a tortured gasp from her. She couldn’t move, not unless Ter moved her, and the fact that her entire body lay at his mercy burned inside her. He released her leg, then started up the other one, the slow, methodical ministrations bringing her close to orgasm. Ter reached for the restraint pack again. He grabbed a contraband probe, the kind that was used for full-body cavity searches. Telescoping it, he placed the rounded knob against her pussy. Rina cried out. She longed to clench her vaginal muscles around the smooth shaft, dying to feel anything inside her. Slowly, Ter pushed it inside her, bit by bit. Rina whimpered at the exquisite torture. “Fuck me, Ter,” she moaned. “Please, just fuuuuuck me.” Ter shoved the probe in a bit farther and chuckled. Finally, he buried the device inside her, the control knob on the end pressing against her labia. He flipped a switch and the probe began to widen.

Rina tried to buck her hips against the invasion. She still couldn’t move. Her breath came in tiny pants. Ter thought his cock would explode. Watching Rina try to move against the probe turned him on so much he worried about having an orgasm right there. He turned a dial on the end of the device, watching as it began to vibrate inside her hot, tight cunt. Rina screamed. The sound echoed in the room, and with a hoarse cry, she came. He wanted to feel her pussy clench tightly around his cock, but instead, watched her shudder. He’d done this to her, and he wanted to do it again. He doubted she thought much about the High Council meeting, but he wanted to drive every thought except him out of her mind. Leaving the probe inside, he trailed his lips over her stomach. Dipping his tongue inside her navel, he stabbed at it twice. He reached between her thighs and pressed the probe tight against her body. He swiped his tongue along one distended nipple. “I can’t take much more,” Rina gasped. Rigid shudders shook her body once more, and he knew she was going to come again. He pulled her nipple into his mouth. He sucked hard against it, tapping his tongue against her nipple in a steady tattoo. With his other hand, he cupped her breast, palming it. God he wanted to fuck her. He rubbed his cock against her mons, then lower, until the probe vibrated against both of them. A low moan rumbled from his chest. He bit lightly on her nipple, laving it immediately afterwards with long strokes of his tongue. He wanted to be inside her so bad he ached. Rina thought she was going to die. Unable to raise her limbs, at the complete mercy of Ter and the contraband probe inside her, she cried out as wave after wave of her orgasm washed over her. Ter pulled away. He turned off the probe, then slowly pulled it from her sopping cunt. Moisture dampened the blanket beneath her ass, and she shuddered again to think how thoroughly Ter aroused her. Ter spread her legs wider, forcing her pussy completely open to his gaze. She watched him drink in the sight of her, then reach out and slowly rub his fingers along her outer lips. “Are you ready for me?” Rina nodded. Ter moved over her. His cock brushed against her, her labia parting to enfold him. He sank into her wetness, groaning at the sensation of his pussy wrapping around his shaft. Rina wanted to move. She whimpered, unable to even wrap her arms around him and hold him tightly against her. Buried deeply inside her, Ter flexed his hips. He pulled out, slowly, until just the tip of him rested inside her. “Release me,” Rina said. “I want to touch you.” Ter reached between them and turned off the stabilizer. As soon as she was released, Rina wrapped her legs around him, her heels digging into his buttocks. Arching her hips, she sheathed him inside her. Ter groaned. “I… want… to… make… this… last.” He punctuated each word with a thrust of his hips.

Rina matched his pace. They moved together, two bodies so lost in each other that they became a single entity. Contracting her muscles around him, Rina wished she could hold him inside her forever. They came together, over and over again, until Rina clamped her hands on his shoulders. She shuddered, her entire body quaking with the force of her orgasm. “Ter,” she cried out. He stiffened above her, his cock pulsing deep inside her cunt. Rina clung to him as she sucked in gulps of air, trying to calm her racing heart. She noticed Ter doing the same and pressed a kiss against his lips. Dragging Ter down beside her, she nestled into his arms. With her ear pressed against his chest, Rina listened to the sound of his heart beating. She thought she’d never heard a more wonderful sound, and lulled by his presence, fell into a deep sleep.

Chapter Five Another stiff-backed chair, another council meeting. Rina tried not to let her mind flash back to that fateful day a little over three and a half years ago, but her memories refused to be steered from that track. Then, as now, the viewing seats were full of spectators wanting to see the return of the infamous Major Corvalano. Before her sat the five members of the council. Of those that she had seen before, only General Ascending Manatanillion and Lady Abanathiana remained. Three new council members, two women and one man, sat before her, and Rina only knew the name of one of the females, a military officer, General Lyrianaisolla Bahdaraniaselle. She noticed that the general wore a coveted Star of Glory, a medal given for exceptional valor that saved many lives. Rina thought it a good sign. Her own Star of Glory sat in the case of medals back in her suite of rooms. She should have worn them today, but hadn’t. I’m a civilian now. The council has access to my military records. The other two looked like civilians. Behind her, she felt Ter’s gaze on her back. They’d spent a long, exhausting night making love. Ter had left shortly before dawn, telling her she needed her sleep and he’d only distract her. He spoke true, even if it did sting to watch his back as he slipped from her bedroom. The click of her suite door sounded ominously loud. He’d given her an encouraging look when she’d entered the chamber though, which was more than he had done before. She took a deep breath and promised herself that when this was all said and done, she would talk to him about her feelings, about them. So long as he doesn’t choose his career over you again. The taunt in the back of her mind voiced her worst fears. Ter could easily choose his career again. He was a captain major now, when they next met, would he be a general? She didn’t want to think about it. Behind the Councilors sat the emperor. Androillellis Kardenasillianolos sat behind the councilors. Unlike his father, he dressed opulently, in the expensive robe of office. In addition to the signet ring, he wore enough jewels to rival Lady Abanathiana. His blond hair, always worn long, curled around his face in an effeminate style that Rina didn’t think was becoming on an emperor. His doll-like face looked painted, and he looked bored. The emperor glared at her, and Rina resisted the urge to glare back. Just remember that he’s a figurehead. He didn’t hold much sway with the Councilors, though he could speak on her behalf if he wished. Fat chance of that happening.

***** She looked brave. Ter sat behind Rina’s left shoulder, watching the proceedings. They had just returned from a lunch break, before which the Councilors spoke about precedent and why they had exiled Rina in the first place. It turned his stomach. The last time he had sat in this room, watching Rina before the High Council, he’d only thought about his career, how much he would lose, but Rina had lost more. She’d been a major, by now she definitely would be a general, if not the higher-ranked general ascending. The Yelexian military rewarded bravery and there wasn’t a braver person he knew than Rina. She looked calm, dressed in a black pantsuit that she must have worn to official functions before. She’d swept back her hair in the twin amber combs he’d given her during their return to Yelexia. Her major’s ring graced her hand, the only military insignia she wore. He glanced down at his own ring with its captain major’s band just

above it. He never thought he’d ever wear one of these, but he didn’t want it if it cost him Rina. After this, he had a meeting with his immediate commanding officer. He had no doubt as to the content of that meeting. They want to talk me out of renewing my relationship with Rina. I’m sure rumors of our reunion have already spread. He frowned, but quickly smoothed his face into indifference. That wouldn’t happen. He wasn’t a naive lieutenant captain anymore. He’d retire from the military before giving up his relationship with Rina and the brass would just have to accept it. As soon as she’s finished here, I’m going to tell her. He allowed himself a moment to remember their lovemaking last night. After he released her from the restraint pack and they’d recovered their strength, she’d made love to him so tenderly that he almost worried that it was a good-bye. Her lips had kissed every inch of his body, and when she’d taken his cock into her mouth, sucking him deep, he’d thought he would die of pleasure right there. Somewhere between when he picked her up on her ship and now, her feelings had shifted, definitely for the better.

***** General Ascending Manatanillion focused his gaze on Rina. “Now,” he said, “we come to the crux of the matter. Major Corvalano, as you know, the council did not make the decision to exile you lightly. Neither did we make the decision to reconsider our actions lightly either. However, in light of some new information that has come to our attention, we wished to reconsider the matter.” The emperor scowled. Rina wondered what new information, thinking perhaps that the Intelligence Division finally found hard-core evidence of the emperor’s plots against his father. It would not surprise her to learn this, only that the council might be willing to reconsider its actions. Lady Abanathiana looked dismayed. Surely she wouldn’t want to have any of her decisions reconsidered. The other general had a soft smile on her face, and Rina wondered if she might have been behind the push to reconsider her exile. If so, then Rina wanted to meet this woman. “Major Corvalano, should the exile be lifted and you were allowed back on Yelexia, what would you do with your life?” Manatanillion asked. The question startled her. Could this be a test? Perhaps checking to see if I would want my old rank and position back? She thought for a moment. “General Ascending Manatanillion, first please let me tell you that I would welcome returning to Yelexia. She is my home, and I have longed for her during my exile. “As you are probably aware, I have established a small shipping company, transporting small, valuable goods. I would continue my work. I cannot abandon the crew that even now watches over my ship. Although I regret the loss of my military career, I do not seek to return to it. Not only would this bring confusion among the ranks, which I will not abide, but it is a life that is closed to me now. I would seek opportunities elsewhere.” Rina hoped her words pleased the council. She hadn’t really thought about what she would do, but once she began speaking, the words flowed. Truly, she didn’t want to return to the military, not with them knowing that she was a returned exile. It would only bring further difficulties. She loved her planet enough to leave it; she loved her military career enough to let it remain in the past.

“Thank you,” the general ascending said. “You would not wish to return to the glory of your career?” Lady Abanathiana demanded. “You were a major. I hardly believe that it be true.” Rina raised her head. “Believe what you will, Councilor Abanathiana.” She nodded slightly. “I know the harm it would cause not only my superiors, but those who would carry out my orders. I will not bring such disorder to the Yelexian Military.” The female general nodded slightly. The other two Councilors looked bored, and Rina wondered if they had even been brought into the discussion at all. “But I never—” Lady Abanathiana said, her words cut off by the emperor, shuffling his robes behind her. The emperor rose to his feet. “Lady Abananthiana is right. I cannot believe that Major Corvalano would reject her military life so readily. Is that not a greater crime than the treason she perpetrated against me?” Murmurs of agreement rose from the crowd behind her. Rina stiffened. A chill darted down her spine. “Our emperor has spoken true. Not only has Major Corvalano wished our emperor harm, but now she rejects the very institution who gave her the skills she now uses to haul cargo.” The sneer in Lady Abananthiana’s voice made it abundantly clear what she thought of the cargo hauled by the Everdeens. Manatanillion slammed his gavel on the table until silence reigned in the council chamber once more. A scowl marred his face. “Lady Abanathiana, you have made your opinion on the subject abundantly clear.” He turned his attention back to Rina. “I’m sure you are aware of the dilemma we face now. Please retire to your suite and await our decision.” Rina nodded once, then rose to her feet. Keeping her back completely straight, she walked towards the door that would lead her to the hall outside. There, she knew guards that had stood in front of her, nearly invisible during the hearing, would escort her to her suite of rooms. She didn’t want Ter to see that. Now, they flanked her as if she were a common criinal ready to bolt. Rina ignored them as she strode towards the door. Once outside, two more guards fell into step in front of her and led her towards her suite of rooms. Dread unfurled in her stomach. Why so many guards if they don’t wish to harm me? Swallowing hard, she hoped that whatever the verdict, she had a chance to speak with Ter before it was carried out. Ter watched Rina leave. His heart ached to go to her, but he knew that wouldn’t be allowed. Not until the verdict had been announced. As soon as Rina left, the Councilors filed out of the room, followed by the emperor. Ter sighed. He wouldn’t learn anything staying here. He had a meeting with his commanding officer.

***** Rina stared at the garden outside her patio doors. She remained inside, the guards gently telling her she wasn’t allowed outside until the verdict had been read. What if it’s execution? Will they let me outside to smell the Yelexian air one more time before they kill me? The thought made her somber. She’d packed up her belongings, then with nothing further to do stared outside,

pointedly ignoring her guards. In the gardens, two military officers walked together. The two men must be having a heated conversation, for they both spoke with their hands, making quick gestures. The elder of the men, his hair shot through with silver at the temples, shook his head. The men turned. Rina gasped. She had been sitting backwards on the chair, leaning against the back as she stared outside, and now she gripped the back of the chair in a tight grip. The heavy scrollwork in the metal hurt her fingers. She didn’t care. Ter walked with what could only be a higher-ranking officer, and they argued. Ter shook his head, an almost violent scowl covering his face. I can’t put him through this. I can’t. The communications console chimed. Her decision formed in her mind, one that made her blink back tears as she rose from her seat and walked over to the communications console. If she lived, she’d leave. She had to for Ter’s sake. It couldn’t have been more obvious that they were arguing about her. They could have been arguing over a hundred different topics from personnel decisions to troop movements, but Rina highly doubted it. No, the only reason why he argued with a superior so soon after the council meeting was because they spoke about her. Because she loved him, she would leave. Rina hit the button on the console. General Ascending Manatanillion’s visage appeared on the screen before her. “General Ascending,” she said with a brief, crisp salute. “Major Coravallo,” he replied. “The council has reached its decision.” Rina’s heart pounded. “So soon?” Her exile decision had taken less than an hour. She’d been waiting not much longer than that. Sweat glistened on her palms, and she fought the urge to wipe them on her trousers. Her mouth, suddenly dry, refused to form any more words. “Fear not, Major. The council has decided to rescind your exile. There will, however, be conditions that will need to be met.” “Anything,” Rina breathed. In the space of a heartbeat all her dreams came true, except one. She couldn’t share this with Ter. As much as she might want to, it would only hurt him in the long run. He would never forgive her if this decision cost him his career. “For a period of one year, you will be monitored with a small tracking device. I have taken the liberty of sending a physician to your suite with the injector. He should be arriving shortly.” Rina sighed. She should have expected something like this. Even though they rescinded the exile, her government still didn’t trust her. That fact galvanized her decision to leave. “Thank you, General Ascending.” “It’s the least we can do, Major. I’m very sorry you ever got caught up in any of this. I am aware that your ship is still docked at Caprinian Station. If you like, I could have a small military shuttle ferry you there, unless you have other arrangements. I’m afraid that given the circumstances, we can’t give you a small transport ship to use.”

Rina nodded. The Yelexian government kept small transports available for visiting dignitaries to use. If they loaned her one of the smaller vessels, it would be endorsing her actions, which the government would never do. “I understand. Thank you. I’d like to leave as soon as possible.” The general ascending looked thoughtful for a moment. “Very well, then. I’ll make sure a ship is on standby. Once the physician has administered the injection, your guards will be dismissed. Good luck.” “Thank you again. This means a lot to me.” She hoped he thought the tears that stung her eyes were tears of happiness. Rina wiped them away as she went to grab her bags. Piling them in the middle of the room, she waited for the physician. He showed up a few minutes later, dressed in a long, white coat over a white shirt and trousers. In his arms, he held a small, sterile case, inside which, Rina knew was the injector. He looked her up and down. “Major Corvalano,” he said, a slight frown on his lips. “Yes, sir,” she replied. “Sit over there.” He gestured to the chair she had vacated. “This will take just a minute.” Rina sat, rolling up the left sleeve of her shirt. The physician removed the injector from the case and pressed it against her bicep. A slight sting, then he was returning the equipment to its case. He waved a small wand over her arm, nodding to himself when he heard a steady beeping tone. “You may feel sore for a few days, but the transmitter is working already. In a little over a year, it will dissolve in your system and be passed through normally.” Without waiting for a dismissal, he picked up his case, turned and left her suite of rooms. The guards followed shortly thereafter. Rina sat in the empty room. She sucked in deep gulps of air, steadying her nerves. In the gardens outside, Ter still spoke with the officer. He shook his head, not looking happy in the least. “I love you,” she whispered at the window. Hitching her packs on her shoulders, she pressed her hand to the window. Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, but you don’t deserve the stigma of being with a former exile.” Sniffing, she turned, and walked out of the suite. Her eyes had dried by the time she reached the landing fields, and a young lieutenant escorted her onto a ship. She stowed her gear in a secured cubby designed for such things, then sat in a seat and fastened her harness. Ter had taken his time returning her from the station, she knew. This trip should take a little under a day, and she would spend most of her time secured in her seat. She’d spent many a mission strapped into her seat, leaving only to use the facilities. Through the headset one of the crewmen loaned her, she listened to the gentle banter. With a wistful sigh, she closed her eyes. I did that once, so very long ago. Of their own volition, her thoughts turned towards Ter, and she wondered how he would take the news of her leaving.

***** Ter’s wrist communicator chimed, and he raised a hand to cut off the general in mid-sentence. “I’m sorry, but I have to get this.” He flipped the lid on his communicator.

The face of General Ascending Manatanillion stared back at him. “Captain Major,” he said. Ter saluted. “General Ascending, how may I help you, sir?” “I thought I would let you know personally of the council’s decision. We have rescinded Major Corvalano’s exile. She will be monitored for a year, but is free to visit any part of Yelexia she wishes.” Ter released a breath he’d been holding. He had hoped, prayed even, for this decision, but to hear it come from the Councilor directly filled him with relief. “Thank you, General Ascending. It means a lot to me that the council has made this decision. Do you know where I could find Major Corvalano to convey my congratulations?” He spoke carefully, sure that the general ascending had an idea of their relationship. To his left, General Ascending Monrovianaisscowled. “I’m afraid she has requested transport to the Caprinian Station. A ship is waiting on standby for her.” “Thank you, General Ascending,” Ter replied. The councilor nodded once, then disconnected the transmission. Ter turned toward the general by his side. “I regret, General Ascending Monrovianais, that we cannot continue this conversation. You know my decision on the matter of Major Corvalano. I will not discontinue our relationship just because some people aren’t comfortable with a captain major consorting with a former exile. I love her, General Ascending. That hasn’t changed since I was a lieutenant. I loved her then, and I sure as hell love her now. “You know as well as I do that the major was a hell of a soldier. She saved many lives, and if the military cannot look past an error in judgment by our High Council, then I may need to reconsider my position within it. Now, if you will excuse me.” Without waiting for an answer, Ter sketched a salute in the air and bolted for Rina’s suite. He found it empty. He cursed, the Yelexian words foul and pithy. Please let me reach her in time. He turned and raced for the landing fields. Each step, he prayed that the ship hadn’t left yet. Just give me a minute to tell her how I feel. His heart weighed heavy in his chest as he turned the corner to the landing field. Each moment that passed was agony. He had to reach her, the gods couldn’t be so cruel as to take her away now that he’d found her. Ter skidded to a stop beside the guard station. “Is Major Corvalano’s ship still here?” he demanded. The guard consulted his list. “The ship that was carrying her departed five minutes ago, sir.” “Fukin,” he growled. “What kind of ship did she leave in?” “A Class A personnel transport, sir.” “As a captain major, I requisition a Nova Flyer. Have it ready for me immediately.” The small Nova Flyers were used to ferry diplomats. The ships came with full offensive battlements and were capable of much greater speeds than the Personnel Transport ships, even a Class A. “I’m sorry, sir, but the only ships we have available are Nebula Fighters.” “Even better. I’ll take one to depart immediately.” He grinned, imagining Rina’s face

when she saw him chasing her down in an elite fighter. The Nebula could easily overrun the personnel transport, even if it took another hour for it to be ready. “Fighter bay K8 Red, sir.” The guard saluted. He punched in commands on his console. Ter returned the salute, then took off at a dead run towards the fighter bays. He didn ’t care who saw him as he raced across the landing fields. He had a woman to catch. Hang on, Rina. I’m coming. ***** Loss formed a lump in Rina’s throat. She refused to cry in front of the soldiers, but that didn’t stop her from staring out the small observation window at the form of Yelexia growing smaller and smaller in the distance. Why did I have to do the noble thing? Why couldn’t I have said the hell with Ter’s career and thrown myself at him? She knew why. Because if anything happened to his career, she would never forgive herself. I’m making the right decision. I’m making the right decision. She repeated the words in her mind, trying to convince herself that it was true. It had to be. Leaving Ter on Yelexia was probably the hardest thing she’d ever done in her life. What she wouldn’t give right now to be in his arms. It would never be. She should have seen that from the start. He was a captain major, on track to continue his illustrious career. She’d already seen how the High Council had reacted to her. Most of the young soldiers on the ship seemed polite enough, but she suspected that was more out of deference to her former rank, than any personal feelings. One of the first things any young soldier learned was how to be polite to higher-ranking officers, even when they were hated. The headset crackled. “Nebula fighter closing fast. Shall we take evasive maneuvers, sir?” The pilot spoke to the Captain who sat just a few feet away from her. Could it be Ter? The thought almost made her bolt upright, but she forced herself to remain seated. Not in a Nebula Fighter. More likely a training mission that doesn’t even concern us at all. “Just make sure we stay out of their way, Lieutenant,” the Captain replied. “Yes, sir.” Silence reigned in the ship, and Rina fought back a bitter wave of disappointment. Once I get back on the Everdeens, I think I’ll take us far away from this. Ambassador Lordin of the Rinyan people offered me a job ferrying some precious cargo they had. Maybe I’ll take him up on his offer. It would get us far away from Yelexian space, anyway. “Sir, fighter asking for permission to dock. Apparently we’re harboring a fugitive and a traitor.” He turned to stare at Rina. This time Rina sat straight up. Her heart hammered in her chest. She shook her head to deny it, but the Captain leveled her with a glare. “Don’t say a word, Major. I didn’t like playing nursemaid, but you have a good record. Don’t blow it now.” Rina clamped her lips shut. Bile rolled in her stomach. It burned to think that the council had reneged on their decision less than a day after they had made it. She wouldn ’t trust them ever again, the slimy bastards… If she lived. “Permission granted,” the Captain replied. “If you’re not flying this ship, I want you on guard duty.” Seven soldiers turned to face Rina.

She swallowed hard. Beneath her, she felt the ship decelerate until it stood dead in space. Rina tried to keep her heart from pounding. She glanced at the exits. There has to be a way out of here. Not far from her chair, a pry bar sat fastened in its cradle next to the auxiliary door. One weapon. Not good against ten soldiers with long-range weapons, but better than nothing. A soft clank filled the air, and their ship lurched. Rina reached for her safety harness. “Don’t,” the Captain ordered. A hiss filled the compartment as the seal between the two ships pressurized, then a soft whir as the door opened. The Captain turned and saluted the incoming soldier. “Captain Major, you may take the prisoner.” Rina flicked open the safety harness. Captain Major? Why would they send one soldier, of such high rank— She gasped. Whirling in her seat, she watched as Ter strode down the corridor. “Thank you, Captain.” He didn’t even look at the other soldiers, only at her, sitting in the chair. Rina bolted to her feet. “Ter,” she gasped. “What are you doing here?” He said nothing, merely walked with that sexy stride of his until he stood in front of her. She saw he wore his full military uniform, complete with medals. “I won’t let you get away a second time,” he said. Cupping her cheek, he pulled her lips to his. He kissed her, his tongue delving between her parted lips to stroke her own. Slowly, she caressed the hard planes of his back. I can’t believe he’s here. Pulling him against her, she kissed him back. Salty tears of happiness ran down her cheeks. He did come back for her; he really did. Ter dragged his lips from hers. “I love you, Rina. I will not let you walk out of my life a second time.” He pressed his lips against her forehead. “Please tell me you’ll stay with me. Please tell me you’ll be my wife.” “Your what?” She pulled back and looked into his deep, blue eyes. “What about your career?” “If you don’t mind being married to a captain major soon to make general, then I don’t mind.” He grinned. “Please say yes.” “Oh, yes. Ter, yes!” She flung her arms around his neck. “I thought you wouldn’t want me. That I’d be bad for your career.” He kissed her deeply. “I made that mistake once. I won’t make it again.” He turned to the Captain. “Thank you for taking care of her, but I’ll make sure this mission is completed.” Behind them, ten soldiers cheered.

Epilogue Rina ached. It had been two long months away from Yelexia while she hauled some top-secret cargo for Ambassador Lordin. She didn’t even know what she ferried. The boxes all sat secured in her cargo hold, temperature controlled and padded against just about every bounce and jostle a space flight could offer. At last, the freight had been unloaded at Caprinian Station. She’d passed Moragi’s on her way to the Fuzzy Neutron. I don’t suppose I’ll be visiting her place anymore. She felt fond nostalgia in her heart for the pleasure slave dealer. Inside the Fuzzy Neutron, she sat at a table with her crew. Erstan sat across from her, with Drexell and Kanise taking either side. They shared a bottle of vintage Vandebian wine. “You know I’ll take good care of the Everdeens,” Erstan said. “I promise not to work the boys here too hard.” Drexell laughed good-naturedly. “Yeah right. You were hell when the Captain, here, was gone.” He smiled, revealing the dimples in his cheeks. Kanise, the quiet one of the bunch, chuckled softly. “I promise I’ll check in on you, okay? Besides, it’s only for a few months. You can depart from Yelexia after the wedding. I have some real cushy jobs lined up for you during the honeymoon. We’ll touch base then, all right?” Rina said. “You’ll have to pry her from my side first.” The deep voice could only belong to Ter. Rina looked up. “How’d you know… ?” Across the table from her, Erstan grinned from ear-to-ear. She glared at her first officer. “Erstan!” Squealing with joy, she threw herself from the chair to wrap her arms around Ter’s neck. She kissed him, opening her mouth to the caress of his tongue. His strong arms wrapped around her and hauled her against his body. His hard cock pressing against her stomach inflamed her further. At last, she pulled her lips away. “I’ve missed you so much,” Rina said, when she could breathe again. “I know.” He pressed a kiss against her forehead. “If your crew doesn’t mind, I think I’ll return you to Yelexia on my ship.” Drexell snickered. “We could probably stay here and drink for a week, boys, and we ’d still beat them there.” The three men around the table laughed heartily. Rina flushed and felt the tips of her ears turning pink. “They do have a point.” He brushed his lips across hers. “You’ll find your bar tab is paid for tonight,” he told Erstan. “I trust you can keep them entertained.” “Yes, Captain Major,” he said, saluting his Captain’s fiancé. “Good.” Without waiting for a reply, he wrapped his arm around Rina’s waist. He bent his head low, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine. “You and I have some catching up to do.” He punctuated his sentence with a flick of his tongue against her earlobe. Rina snuggled against him as Ter led her away from the bar. Behind her, the crew

made ribald comments and catcalls at her, but she didn’t mind. Finally, she had returned from exile.