3013: CLAIMED (18 page)

“But we just assumed she would stay here with us,” Archer explained. “It’s not enough that we fixed up our suite to suit her. What she does saves lives, and we never even considered that.”

“Not just for the Alliance,” Arik added softly. “What she does ensures the safety of all our worlds.”

“Fuck.”

Regent Spartan sent his son a sympathetic glance. “Don’t worry. Over the years to come you’ll get used to it. I’m sure you’ll get plenty of practice.”

Jax glared at him. “Get used to what?”

“Groveling. I’d say you have some pretty fucking epic groveling to do.”

***

Chapter Eleven

The tension was so thick it could be cut with a blade.

Serra stared out of the window of their vehicle as they headed toward the Hall of Regents, where the Freedom Day Gala was taking place. She completely ignored the two men watching her with cautious eyes, like she was a bomb that was about to go off at any moment. She’d asked them not to speak to her until she had better control of her anger, and was grateful when they’d complied. She was still exceptionally irritated with both her bonded, although her ire had lessened a fraction since that afternoon.

She’d taken her time getting ready for the event, using the distance from Jax and Sully to consider exactly what she wanted to say to them. In truth, they each had a vital role to play within the Alliance. She had been blind to the consequences of her claiming, so focused on the joy of being with them again that she hadn’t thought about what it meant for their future. It had probably been the same for the men, but that still didn’t excuse their assumptions that she would be the one to give up her travels just because they declared it.

Her work—at least the creation part of it—could be done anywhere, and she’d be happy to move her lab and headquarters to the Capital to be with them. But she would still need to travel. No, it wasn’t just a need…she loved the quiet of space, the rush of being able to visit different planets and interact with other races.

However, the reality was that this decision was bigger than just what her preference was.

Serra was tasked with protecting millions of lives, not only within the Alliance territories spread throughout the universe, but also the races that Earth called allies. No one knew her creations the way she did, and it wasn’t something she could train someone to do. The shield components changed when it was merged with whatever system it was installed in, meaning each mainframe had to be calibrated differently.

She’d never forgive herself if someone was hurt because she didn’t do her job.

“Serra, this is killing me. You have to talk to us, damn it!”

Somehow she knew Jax would be the one to break first. He was an action man, and the silence had to have been setting his teeth on edge. Serra finally turned to look at her bonded. Jax and Sully both looked mighty tasty dressed all in black in their dress uniforms, the only color were the metal bars on their collars signifying their rank as commanders.

She was new to having a relationship, and having one with two men was even more confusing, but there was some comfort in knowing that she still wanted them even though she was pissed. Both men were looking at her with a mixture of anger and sadness. The anger she could deal with, but their sadness affected her. “I’m still angry with you.”

“We understand that, but nothing will get better if we don’t talk about this,” Archer pressed.

“True, but my question is this then. Can we talk about this, or will it just be the two of you telling me that you’ve already decided how things are going to be.” She held up a hand to stop them from speaking. “I understand that you’ve integrated me into your lives, and I appreciate all the changes you’ve made to help me adapt, but this isn’t something you can just dictate, then declare everything is settled.”

“We didn’t mean to do that, and I know it came out that way,” Jax hurried to explain. “What you want is important to us, Serra. We didn’t enslave you when we claimed you.”

“We’ll work this out. That’s a promise,” Archer said.

The conversation was put on hold when the vehicle came to a stop in front of the Hall of Regents. Archer got out first, then Jax, who turned to help Serra out. She took his arm and Archer’s as they walked toward the building, filing into the crowd of people also heading inside.

There was a sense of pride that filled Serra when she noticed how many people wanted Jax and Sully’s attention, and the respectful way other elites treated them. The Freedom Day Gala was the event of the season, and anyone who was anyone attended. The usually austere interior of the hall had been decorated in honor of Freedom Day with streams of red material and banners highlighting the red and black symbol of the United Federation Command Alliance. Large banners with the Dragon Warrior, D’Aire and Krytos emblems also hung as tribute to the allies that helped Earth defeat the Zyphir.

High command elites and their families mingled with D’Aire, Krytos and visiting dignitaries from other worlds, and elaborate chandeliers created soft spotlights on all the magnificently dressed individuals filling the hall. Most of the elites wore the black dress uniforms, but women wore gowns in every color imaginable.

Once inside the main hall, Serra turned to give Sully her back so he could remove her cloak, and heard the harsh breath both he and Jax sucked in when her dress was revealed. The gown she had chosen to wear was a halter style that left her back completely bare, made of a dark crimson fabric that looked like shiny, wet plastic, but was as soft as silk. The dress showed off her tattooed arm, the deep red highlighting the mercurial black lines on her skin. The plunging neckline ended in a deep V between her breasts, and the
small heart necklace made of
xithradite
Sully had given her was her only adornment.

Tonight she had decided to make her own sort of statement as this was their first official outing since they had claimed her. She wanted everyone to see that together, they were a united force…a powerful force that represented the Alliance.

“Holy god,” Jax breathed out reverently as he looked at her. A tingle of excitement whipping through her blood stream as his eyes went to molten silver, searing through her with his heated stare.

Archer reached out a hand, stroking it over her hip as if to see if the fabric was as slick as it looked. “You look like a wet dream.”

She smiled, pleased with their reactions, then had to hold back her laughter as Jax growled at a group of elites that were eying her in appreciation. The flash of jealousy she saw in his dark eyes had an answering lust curling in her belly. The soldiers snapped to attention and quickly fled the area, a few of them even breaking out into a slight run to get away from Jax’s wrath.

“Ah, there you are,” High Commander Newgate said as he joined them. “Serra, you look absolutely ravishing.” She thanked him, then shook her head as both Jax and Sully maneuvered their bodies to block her from view. Roman Newgate coughed to cover his laugh. “Commander Archer. I’m sorry to pull you away from your chosen, but there is something that needs your attention.”

“Of course there is,” Archer said with a sigh. Leaning down, he pressed a kiss against Serra’s lip. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“All right.” She was going to suggest she and Jax get something to drink after they left, but was distracted when Jax gripped her hand in his and began pulling her through the crowd. “Jax, what are you doing?”

“We need to finish our conversation, and we can’t do it in here when all I want to do is punch every fucking man staring at you.”

She didn’t know whether to be pleased or annoyed by the way he dragged her out onto one of the terraces, into the cool night air. Jax started to move to the left, but quickly turned the other way as they heard voices coming from a group of people that had also escaped the crowd inside. She let him pull her into a dark corner at the far end of the terrace, behind a row of potted plants that shielded them from view.

Excitement whipped through her when her back hit the smooth surface of the wall as he pressed her back into the shadows against the side of the building. It felt like they were in their own little world even though the faint sound of voices and laughter from the other people on the balcony danced lightly on the breeze.

Serra was unsurprised by his caveman behavior. Jax always reminded her of a wild beast. He held that part of himself under tight control most of the time, but it was always there, just beneath the surface. She watched a myriad of expressions flicker over his face as she waited for him to speak, and simply admired the sharp angles of his handsome face in the silence.
There was an intensity about him that excited her, but she couldn’t give into her desire.

Not yet.

Anger, confusion, lust and a healthy dose of regret warred inside of Jax as he stared down at Serra. Cast in shadows, her beautiful face looked even more arresting. He hated knowing she was angry with him, no matter how much he deserved her ire. She made him feel…too much, and those unfamiliar emotions had him riding the thin edge of his control.

Earlier, he had wanted to go after her when she’d left the room, to try and explain why they had to stay in the Capital. When he’d become the commander of the Capital, he’d taken an oath, made a commitment that he had never faltered to execute to the best of his abilities.

But that had been before claiming Serra.

He was glad he’d heeded the advice of the other men, and given Serra the space she had asked for. Needing time to think himself, Jax had retreated to the gym on the lower level so he could work off some of his own anger and frustration. After a few minutes of hitting the bags, Jax felt his annoyance dissipate under the weight of his shame. So what that they had changed the colors of the suite or reminded her to eat a few meals? They’d fucking claimed her while she had been passed out, and at what cost? She had been free to choose for herself, and they had taken that choice away from her.

She loved them, he knew it. Just as he knew they could make her happy, but not if they asked her to give up her purpose and her pride. When he’d finished his workout, he’d turned to see Archer sitting on the bench, waiting for him. Together, they discussed what Jax had figured out while he had been working out.

Nothing mattered more than Serra.

Jax knew that the gala wasn’t the right place to discuss this, but he couldn’t stand the distance between them any longer. “Fuck. I’m sorry, Serra.”

Shit, he didn’t mean to just blurt it out like that, but when she looked up at him like that, with those gorgeous green eyes so bright and clear, he lost his fucking mind.
She was so fucking precious to him.
Her lips twitched, and he felt some of his tension ease. He could deal with her amusement better than her disappointment. And she had been disappointed in him. In both him and Archer, but the majority of the blame rested on Jax’s shoulders.

“I need more data to decide whether or not that constitutes a forgivable declaration of contrition. What exactly are you apologizing for again?”

Damn it. It wasn’t fair for her to look so fucking sexy while putting him in his place. His eyes narrowed. “I’m sorry for being an ass.”

One of her brows lifted. “That’s still not telling me much, Jax.”

That startled a laugh out of him. Lowering his head, he rested his brow against hers, needing that connection to her. “I’m sorry for what I said earlier. I don’t think my position is more important than yours. You save lives, Serra. What could be more essential than that?”

“You’re a leader, Jax. I know the people in the Capital need you—”

Jax lifted a finger and pressed it to her lips to stop her from continuing. “They may need me, but no one is more important to me than you. We’ll work something out. If you’re willing to remain in the Capital most of the time and use it as a base of operations, then Archer and I will trade off going with you when you travel.”

She opened her mouth, then closed it again. As ungrateful as it sounded, she wanted both of her men with her when she traveled, not just one. She nodded slowly as she considered what he’d said. “It isn’t the best situation, but it’s a starting point. I have to apologize as well. I shouldn’t have just left earlier. I should have stayed so we could discuss it, but sometimes I do better when I have some time to process what’s happening before I respond.”

“I understand, sweetheart. This is new to all of us, including Archer.” He brushed his lips lightly over hers. “Am I forgiven?”

“Yes. I have it on good authority that men have stupid moments that need to be forgiven often.”

Jax pulled back to frown down at her. “And who told you that?”

“I spoke to Alexis earlier.” She shrugged. “She’s my only friend that is bonded…or mated, in her case. I don’t know how she handles four mates. It’s difficult enough with the two of you, if I had two more of you, I think I’d end up killing someone.”

“You only need two of us to keep you busy,” Jax growled. He kissed her harder this time, let the heat seep through so they were both breathing hard when he pulled back. “Come on. We have to get the hell out of here before I take you against this wall.”

He started to move, but she jerked at the jacket of his uniform, holding him in place. “We could do it…out here?”

He went hard as stone hearing the intrigue in her voice, and groaned. “Serra, you can’t say shit like that to me.”

“Like what? You’re the one who brought it up.”

When she tried to push past him, he shoved her back against the wall. Her eyes widened
as he pressed closer, allowing her to feel his steel-hard cock against her stomach.

“Do you feel that?” he demanded. “Push me a little more and I’ll be inside you. Right here, right now. Understand?”

She tilted her head, looking up at him thoughtfully. “Why are you angry?”

His steel-gray eyes softened instantly, and his hand lifted to cup her cheek. “I’m not angry at you, but damn do you push my control. Do you think I want to take you out here, where anyone can walk over and see us?”