Gabriel withdrew his fingers and moved out of the way as Patrick urged her forward. With her head down and her ass in the air, her body was positioned perfectly for a hard, fast fuck. Patrick held her hips firmly and pulled nearly out of her clingy heat. He took a deep breath then thrust his entire length back into her willing body. She braced her legs and clutched the bedding, but her gasps and cries of pleasure assured him that she was fully surrendered.
He wasn’t intentionally scanning her. Even so, flashes of emotion kept surging across his empathic receptors. Anger and frustration were still present, but she ached for the sort ofconnection only enjoyed by bonded mates. She was surrounded by friends who had found happiness with multiple hybrids. Was it really surprising that she wanted the same?
Was that what he wanted? Was he ready to put the past behind him and claim her as his mate? Gabriel had been ready to claim her shortly after he met her, but Patrick still had misgivings.
Forcing the temptations aside, he focused on physical pleasure. He pumped into her steadily, enjoying the firm grip of her snug passage. Her supple body was folded in half, ass lifted for his pleasure. Her submission soothed his darker impulses, making him feel peaceful and nearly content.
Gabriel stood beside the bed vigorously stroking himself.
“Finish in her mouth,” Patrick suggested. “She needs to get used to pleasuring both of us.” Patrick fisted the back of her hair and urged her upward.
She unfolded her arms and raised her head.
Gabriel crawled onto the bed and sat facing her, legs bent to either side of her body. His cock pointed straight up, clearly waiting for her attention.
Heather wrapped her hand around Gabriel’s shaft and guided him to her mouth. Her head began to bob, so Patrick resumed his thrusting. This felt better, more natural. A true mate should be able to pleasure both her mates at once. Patrick shook away the thought. Heather was a potential mate. That didn’t guarantee they would claim her.
Needing to drive away the tender emotions, he fucked into her more aggressively. She was his enemy, his tormentor. He would use her luscious body to exorcise his pain, but he would notallow himself to care for her! He slammed into her over and over until his balls finally expelled his seed. His fingers dug into her hips as his cock bucked in her ass. He shuddered and groaned, then pulled out and turned his back to the bed.
Gabriel’s cries of pleasure filled the cottage as Patrick quickly tugged on his clothes. His emotions were raw, his thoughts conflicted. He desperately needed the sky. Without a backward glance, he threw open the front door and disappeared into the night.
Tristate Spaceport, Arlington, United Virginias
Earth
Three days later…
“There are two passengers who have yet to check in, but everything else is ready for launch,” Captain William Megoni of the starshipAzrithalstated proudly. “It wasn’t easy, but we got it done.”
“That’s wonderful.” Natalie smiled at him, thrilled by his efficiency and friendliness. The ship was sleek and modern, provided by one of the Rydaria Project’s many corporate sponsors. It had been her responsibility to locate a dependable captain, and she immediately thought of Will. He was a burly man in his mid-sixties, with graying hair and sharp blue eyes. He had retired from the Planetary Defense Force seven years ago, but his bearing still reflected decades of service. “I know this entire thing has been horribly rushed and I appreciate all your hard work.”
“Anything for Charlie’s little girl.”
Her father met Will Megoni during boot camp and the two had been inseparable until her father’s death four years ago. “Give the stragglers until six-thirty tomorrow morning and then leave without them.”
“I’ve got no problem with that, little lady. The sooner I depart, the sooner I can return and enjoy a hefty payday.”
“Well, I’ll leave you to it. I just stopped by to make sure there were no last-minute complications.”
Something behind her caught Will’s attention and his expression hardened. “What does that sonofabitch want?”
Natalie glanced over her shoulder and found Senators Sanderson and Collins striding toward them. To her knowledge, Will didn’t know Avery Collins, so the sonofabitch must be Hector Sanderson. “They’re probably just checking in,” she told Will, then turned to face the approaching pair.
“How many of the volunteers actually showed up?” Sanderson asked, not bothering with a greeting.
“Fifty-eight,” Natalie said proudly. “And all of them have been thoroughly vetted.”
“Good.” Sanderson eyed the ship for a moment as if he could see into the holds and passenger cabins. Then his gaze shifted back to Natalie. “You’re planning to accompany the recruits, aren’t you? I expect you to supervise the transition personally. Unlike the original exile, my fingerprints are all over this.”
Natalie shook her head. “I don’t think it’s necessary to?—”
“I don’t give a shit what you think,” he insisted. “I say it’s necessary, so it is necessary.”
Natalie swallowed hard as she fought for composure. He wasn’t asking her to visit a different city. He was sending her to another planet.
“There is no need for Ms. Morgan to accompany me,” Will insisted, squaring his shoulders and straightening his spine. “I am fully capable of supervising the transition.”
“No. Natalie goes or I withdraw my support.”
