Authors: Natasha Moore
Besides, what princess would want an escapee from a tranium
mine as her prince? She deserved better than that.
The sun beat down on them, making him sweat. Jarrod was
beginning to get a little worried that they’d been found out. Why was it taking
so long? Finally the guard appeared, leading the six women chained together
between heavy metal collars. They were naked, their long hair mussed, their
faces drawn. Their eyes grew wide, however, when they saw the princess. Or was
it when they saw him? A few of them gasped, but the guard yelled out at them to
be quiet.
The guard handed Jarrod a manual key for the collars. Jarrod
took it and then reached for the lead chain. “The king thanks you for your
service,” he told the guards. Then, trying to appear casual, he turned, leading
the princess and her women away from the building. He hoped they could make it
out of the compound before he had to signal Micah to transport them. For that
matter, he hoped Micah had the
Galaxy
off the ground. As long as the
ship was in the air and they no longer had a roof over their heads, the
transporter would have them off this planet in a second. But it wouldn’t take
much to make everything go wrong.
Jarrod heard voices growing louder behind them. Was someone
questioning the release of the women? He didn’t look back, just began to move a
little faster. They cleared the gate and he brought them all behind a small
storage building just outside the compound.
“Hold hands,” he ordered. “We must all be connected to be
transported together.” The women circled around him, whimpering. The princess
took his hand with her small, soft one and murmured softly to the other women,
gathering them around.
He pushed the signal button on the leather cuff on his
wrist. And hoped Micah was there to get the signal. Jarrod turned to look at
the princess, who was gazing up at him with her wide green eyes.
“I didn’t know you could lie so convincingly.”
She frowned. “I haven’t lied.”
“Sure you did. When you mentioned
your Master
needed
the women.”
She just shook her head and looked away from him, putting
her arm around one of the other women.
Before Jarrod had time to think about her reaction, the jolt
of energy from the transporter knocked into him. “Hang on!” he called out. He
grasped tighter to the princess’s hand and rode out the brief wave of pain that
always accompanied a transport.
When they materialized on the
Galaxy
, the Vanyan
women began shrieking and crying, gathering around the princess. Their chains
rattled loudly as they moved as much as their bonds would allow them. One of
the women, also small and blonde, placed her hands on the princess’s cheeks,
tears streaming down her face.
“Hanna, what have they done to you?”
“I am fine, Your Highness, “the princess said, bowing before
the other woman, confusing Jarrod. “Don’t worry about me. Are you all right?”
Jarrod stared at the two women. What was going on? Micah
stepped into the transport room and threw a puzzled glance his way. Jarrod
frowned.
“We are fine, thanks to you,” the other woman said.
“Thanks to these men.” The woman he thought was the
princess, the woman whose body he enjoyed, whose flesh had turned red under his
hand, turned to him. There was no smile on her face, no sense of the joy she’d
shown him not so long ago. “Princess Serena of Vanya, these are your heroes,
Jarrod and Micah. They risked their lives to rescue us from Noria.”
Princess Serena smiled at Micah and then Jarrod. “We will
forever be in your debt.”
He looked at…Hanna, was it? “You’re not the princess?”
She lifted her chin again and stared at him. “No.”
“I don’t understand.”
She shrugged, but he could see the hurt in her eyes. “It
doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it matters.” He unhooked the heavy chain from her
nipple rings and tossed it away, the clatter loud as it slid across the floor.
If she wasn’t royalty, maybe they had a future after all.
“No. It makes no difference at all.” Her voice was so cold,
she sounded like someone else.
“Sorry to interrupt the reunion,” Micah said, “but Jarrod, I
need your help until we reach light speed. I think we should take a little
detour in case someone tries to intercept us.”
“Do you think they’ll come after us?” she asked. Some of the
women cried out in fear.
“It’s a possibility.” Jarrod handed Hanna the key. “Here,
unlock the collars and then go into the lounge.” He pointed to the short
hallway. “That way. Strap into the chairs and hang on. It could be a rough
ride.”
She nodded and turned away from him without a second glance.
If she’d never been his, why did he feel like he’d lost her?
* * * * *
If the Norians sent anyone after them, Jarrod and Micah
never caught sight of them. Jarrod took them light-years out of their way
before charting a roundabout course for Vanya. Their journey would take an
extra day, but would be well worth it.
After they decided they could relax, Micah leaned back in
his pilot’s chair. “So our little slave isn’t a princess after all.” Jarrod
didn’t like the leering smile on his face. “Interesting.”
“She’s not our slave,” he growled. “She’s
my
slave.”
Micah shrugged. And there was that smile again. “She might
have something to say about that. She didn’t sound too happy with you.”
No, she didn’t. “She’ll get over it.” Wouldn’t she?
Micah stared at him. “That’s it? You’re just going to sit
there and hope she gets over the fact that you told her you didn’t want her
around?”
Damn, had he actually said that? “You gave her a weapon! I
was trying to protect her.”
“Maybe you should tell her that.”
“Tell her?” That thought sent a nauseous panic through his
system. He’d never been good with words. His actions should speak for
themselves. Didn’t he rescue her from the slave station? Didn’t he get the
other women out because she asked him to? That should tell her how he felt
about her.
Hell,
he
didn’t even know how he felt about her.
“But if she’s not that special to you,” Micah went on,
“maybe I’ll go talk to her.”
Jarrod lunged out of his chair and loomed over his best
friend and partner. Micah just laughed.
“Yeah, she’s got a body worth enjoying,” Micah went on, his
voice smooth and annoying. “So tight and hot. And with all that slave jewelry,
she’ll please a Master even more.”
Jarrod pictured his hands strangling the jerk until he
stopped smiling. “I can fly this ship too, you know. I could kill you now.”
Micah sighed. “Talk to her. Tell her how you feel. Tell her
she’s not useless.”
Damn, had he said that too?
“I know there’s something special between the two of you,”
Micah went on. “I felt it, even when we were both enjoying her.”
“You know, you’re never touching her again.”
“I know.” Micah propped his feet up on the seat Jarrod had
just vacated. “Go talk to her.”
* * * * *
After the initial burst of speed when the ship left Norian
airspace, the ride smoothed out. Hanna grew restless and began checking out the
doors leading from the lounge area. The large room seemed to be the hub of the
ship, furnished with chairs and retractable tables.
Hanna found a closet with a shelf stacked with black shirts.
She slipped one over her head. They were huge and the hem fell past her knees.
She passed one out to each of the women and they were happy to finally cover
their nakedness. Hanna had become so used to it, that even though the fabric
was soft, it felt restricting.
The soft blue on the walls was soothing and the women seemed
to relax after their ordeal, most of them curling up and falling asleep. Hanna
couldn’t relax that much. She explored a little further, trying to keep her
mind off Jarrod and the hurt and the anger and the need she felt.
Princess Serena joined her in a long hallway. “Hanna. You
should rest. You look exhausted.”
Hanna shook her head. “I’m fine. I was looking for a kitchen.
The women will be hungry.”
Serena placed her hand on Hanna’s shoulder. “It’s not for
you to serve us. Sit.”
“But I’ve always served you, Princess. Haven’t I?”
“I suppose you have. But I never thought of it that way. You
were my best friend.”
“You were mine.”
“I’m so sorry for all you went through in my stead.” The
princess ran a finger over the cuff circling Hanna’s wrist. “We’ll have these
removed when we get back to Vanya.”
Hanna shook her head. “They can’t be removed. Ever.” And
strangely, she was glad for that. Or would be if she had the right Master to
utilize them. A Master she would be proud to serve. Her heart broke a little
more.
“Tell me about the dark one,” the princess said. “He looks
dangerous.”
Dangerous to her heart. “Jarrod. I suppose he could be
dangerous. But I think he is brave and strong. He risked everything to rescue
us.”
“There’s something in your voice when you speak of him. He
is special to you?”
Hanna paused. He
had
been special to her. He’d been
her Master, the one who showed her what her body craved, who taught her how to
please and receive pleasure in return. But she obviously wasn’t special to him.
And she refused to ache over someone who didn’t want her. “No.”
“Hmm.” Serena led Hanna back into the lounge, brought her
over to a short sofa and they both sat down. “What about the blond giant? He is
very handsome.”
“Micah. Yes, he is handsome. And nice. He and Jarrod are
friends. Partners. He is just as strong and brave as Jarrod.”
“But he doesn’t hold a special place in your heart.” It
wasn’t a question.
“Of course, he does,” Hanna was quick to say. “Micah always
will for what he risked to rescue us.”
Serena placed a hand over Hanna’s. “But not like Jarrod?”
She couldn’t lie to her princess. “No. Not like Jarrod.”
Serena grinned. “Good. Because I think I’d like to get to
know this Micah a little better.”
“Really?” Had the princess also been yearning for the touch
of a man, as Hanna had been just a short time ago? Hanna wondered if she should
warn the princess about Micah’s dominating side, but decided Serena should
learn that for herself. Who knows, maybe Serena would learn to appreciate it as
Hanna had.
Hanna closed her eyes, suddenly tired. She remembered the
way Jarrod’s touch had made her body come alive. How beautiful and strong he
made her feel. Would she feel that with any other man? Would she find another
Master who could challenge her? Who could take her to that place where pain and
pleasure combined to create ecstasy? Who she could please and receive pleasure
in return?
Even with her eyes closed, Hanna could sense the moment
Jarrod entered the lounge. The very air in the room changed, became thicker and
full of energy. She found it hard to breathe. She opened her eyes.
How did he get more handsome, harder, larger every time she
saw him? His gaze was focused on hers, his expression as blank as always. No,
not always. Not when she was his slave. Hanna fought the sudden urge to drop to
her knees before him.
He stepped into the room. Serena stood and held out her
hand. “Jarrod. I’d like to formally thank you for rescuing me and my women. My
father will reward you richly.”
“We don’t want a reward, Princess. I’m glad you are all
safe.” He nodded at Serena, then shifted his glance to Hanna. She hadn’t moved.
She couldn’t without betraying her need. His dark eyes burned into her. If not
for his words earlier, she’d think he wanted her. Cared for her. Finally, he
released her gaze and looked over at the women sleeping in the chairs nearby.
“There are bedrooms down that hall. You are welcome to any of them.”
“Thank you,” Serena said. She gathered the women and herded
them down the hall and out of sight.
Hanna still hadn’t moved. Hadn’t taken her eyes off the man
she would always think of as her Master.
“May I speak with you? Hanna?”
Stupid tears sprang to her eyes when he spoke her name for
the first time. After all they’d done together over the past few days, why
would that simple thing tug at her heart? She shrugged and looked away before
he could see the glittering on her lashes.
He cleared his throat and sat down beside her. He was close
enough that she could feel the heat of his body but he didn’t touch her. She
resisted the urge to lean into him.
“Tell me how you came to be mistaken for the princess.”
Hanna swung her gaze back around to Jarrod. “It was my
duty.”
“So you were some sort of royal decoy?
Why did he sound so angry? “Exactly.”
“You could have said something before things went too far.”
He traced his finger along the cuff on her wrist. “You didn’t have to go
through this.”
“Of course I did. Besides, would I have been any better off
being one of the many sold at auction?”
He dropped his hand into his lap. “Probably not. Still your
bravery amazes me. Most would not have gone through what you did for someone
else.”
His praise warmed her. Softened her heart, even when she
wanted to keep it hardened. They sat side by side in silence for a moment, then
Jarrod breathed a deep sigh.
“Where I’m going is considered a new frontier. There aren’t
a lot of settlers there yet. It’s liable to be lonely. But we’re hoping to
change that. We’re hoping to make Ceylon 7 a good place to stop off for
supplies. Perhaps a good place to settle down as the established planets get
too crowded.”
Why did her dominant Master look so unsure, so nervous? It sounded
as if he had his new life all planned out.
“It will be a hard life,” he went on. “Nothing like what
you’re used to.”
“What does it matter what I’m used to?”