Ruk sighed. “My people are fierce, but primitive. They have no interest in exploring life beyond their world.”
“We have people like that, too. They just want a simple life.” I shrugged, pleased with the way my shoulders rubbed against Mikos’s chest. I liked feeling him. All the time. Everywhere. I could envision enjoying a simple existence with Mikos. We could get a little house by a river or on a beach. All I’d need to be happy was an S-Gen machine, an oversized bathtub, a big, comfy bed, and him.
But that wasn’t to be. I had just signed on for an additional two years on my Coalition service contract. Two more years of fighting. Commander Karter gave me thirty days of leave, which meant he expected me to come back, rejoin my team, complete my service. I thought I was doing the right thing when I volunteered. Wanted to be useful, helpful, protect Earth and make the universe a better place to live.
Staring at Hyperion and Rogue 5, I wondered if I had spent my entire life exchanging one cage for the next. My parents’ home, while not cruel, had not been happy. Then years of my childhood sitting behind an uncomfortable desk memorizing data for tests I didn’t care to take. Then college. The military. The DEA. The Coalition.
When had my life ever been my own? When had I ever been truly free? Was anyone ever free to choose the life they wanted? If so, I’d never met them. We were all born into circumstancesbeyond our control, shoved into a system beyond our control, dictated to by rules, laws, and expectations beyond our control.
Earth was a cage, just like Hyperion. Beautiful, but still a prison.
I’d left Earth, but I’d taken the prison mentality with me. Rules. Orders. Laws.
Maybe the criminals had it right.
No. I couldn’t accept that. No matter how badly my greedy little pussy wanted me to. There was no future for me with Mikos. None that I could live with. Civilization and laws were meant to protect the weak, the children, those who could not protect themselves. I’d believed that my entire life, fought for it, watched friends and lovers die for it. I couldn’t turn my back on that conviction now for a few orgasms.
Mikos wrapped his arms around me and pulled me roughly back into his hard body. “When we arrive, we must go directly to Astra controlled territory. If we are lucky, we can slip through undetected.”
Shade scoffed. “With this crew? No. Even if they didn’t look like a walking army, everyone on Rogue 5 already knows you’re heading home with a female.” He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, his fangs resting on top of his bottom lip like a horror movie vampire. With jet-black hair that fell to his shoulders, black eyes and golden skin, he looked like a true monster sent to devour virgins. A gorgeous monster.
Although, if his bite was as pleasurable as Mikos’s, especially without the poison bit, I wouldn’t blame a girl for trying. Didn’t know what mix of alien species he was, exactly, but not the same as my man.
He was hot, in a mafia, dark lord, I’m gonna make your enemies bleed kind of way. I’d bet no female would turn him down, virgin or not.
Hell, I’d begged Mikos to bite me more than once, even though I knew that if I couldn’t get the antidote, every bite would hasten my death.
Worth it. I was dying anyway. Might as well enjoy the ri?—
An invisible fire dagger sliced through my midsection, leaving a trail of agony in my body before slowly fading to a dull ache.
Fuck.I gasped, would have fallen to the floor had Mikos not been holding me up.
Mikos picked me up and cradled me against his chest. I rested my cheek on his shoulder and tried not to panic. Thathurt.Over the years, I’d been shot, cut, punched and stabbed. This was worse. Whatever was happening to me, I felt like I was slowly burning alive from the inside out.
“Where is the ReGen pod located on this ship?” Mikos glared at Ruk first, then Sebastion. It was one of the Atlans who answered, Enzo.
“Follow me.” The warlord’s heavy boots made a stomping sound like I imagined a giant’s would as he walked to the exit. Everyone on board the ship was in this room, and every pair of male eyes was completely focused on me as Mikos carried me from the room.
Mikos followed him to what was once a supply room. In the center of the room, two ReGen pods waited, empty and silent. “I should have brought you here before. You did not tell me you were in pain.”
“We were kinda busy.”
His frown made me want to kiss the anger away from the corners of his eyes. “You will be punished, female, for keeping this secret from me.”
Punished? Was he serious? For not mentioning a few random aches and pains—that’s all they’d been until today—and choosing to enjoy being with him instead? I’d do it again. ReGenpods were great, but every second inside one of the healing pods was time lost.
Then again, did punishment mean more spanking? Because…yes, please. I loved the fire of his hand on my ass. Loved the way he fucked me with his fingers and made me feel completely dominated. Controlled. Possessed. I didn’t have to think when he bent me over and took control. I could just let go.
My pussy was wet and aching, but I moaned in pain when Mikos settled me on the soft pad, nearly burst into tears as the translucent lid slid closed, locking me inside, away from him. I pressed my palm flat against the clear covering and silently pleaded with him. I didn’t want to lose consciousness. I didn’t want to be alone.
I didn’t want to dream. The last few nights, wrapped in his arms, I’d slept without the plague of nightmares that normally cursed my nights with terror, a racing heart, and sweat soaked sheets. My body relaxed when I was with him. I felt safe. Truly safe.
As if he could read my mind, Mikos said exactly what I wanted him to. “I will be right here, Breanna.” He reached into the pocket of his pants and removed a strange looking object about the size of an almond. “And I will make sure no one can ever hide you from me.”
I had no idea what that meant, but it sounded good. As the ReGen pod worked its magic, pulling me under, I almost believed him.
Mikos
