Anin had a feeling she could curse Set up and down, and he’d either agree with her or grin at her antics. In the month she’d spent on board
Mara’s Light
with him and the crew, she’d been treated fairly by all. But only Set and Nu made her feel like a real woman. The others maintained a wary, respectful distance, as if aware of the power she constantly kept in check.
Created with the strength of a Ragga, the agility of the Mardu and the beauty of a Nebite, Anin possessed many more skills courtesy of Blue Rim’s genetic manipulation. Synster had called her his golden girl, the perfect woman because she’d been imbued with the best of every race in the System along with the need to submit.
Submission, she was learning, wasn’t simply about serving others. Watching the Fas brothers these weeks, she’d come to realise that submission also included a measure of trust.
She stared at the rough, scarred hands cleaning Set’s weapon. By the stars, Set couldn’t know how hard it had been to let herself go under his touch. To give herself over to her body, to a thing that she’d been taught had been built only for a man’s pleasure, was a huge step away from the meek prisoner she’d once been. For her reward, she’d been shown ecstasy the likes of which she’d never known existed. Coming while in Set’s arms was heaven, and she wanted it again. She couldn’t look at him and not think about having him inside of her. Everything about him fit her. His looks, his gentle manner so at odds with his rough exterior, the love he clearly felt for his brother.
He showed her how life with him could be...if Nu would stop avoiding her. As close as Nu and Set were, she couldn’t imagine being close to one of them without the other involved. Though Set claimed Nu’s avoidance to be a good thing, she couldn’t help feeling hurt. What would it take to make others see her as a woman, and not an abomination? She hadn’t asked to be made. So why did she bear the burden of so much distrust and fear?
“Anin? You seem agitated. Relax,
meena
.” Set put down his sword and held out his hands.
She gratefully dropped the book she was supposed to read and settled on his lap. His immense size should have threatened her, but within his arms, she felt nothing but safe. She almost felt loved.
“What’s wrong?” he asked in a husky voice and shifted her over his lap.
She smiled to herself, pleased at the erection he always seemed to have in her presence. It made her feel sexy while proving how much he was unlike her Handler. Though she and Set had certainly been intimate, he didn’t only make time for her body. He seemed to like talking to her, as if hearing her thoughts were important to him. A kind man who made her feel so good. She wanted to feel that joy again. Right now.
“When will we lure Nu to us?”
“To you.” Set kissed her lips softly. “You know, it’s amazing I’ve gotten anything done since you boarded our ship. All I can think about is sinking inside you,” he murmured. When she smiled and rubbed his cock with her thigh, he hissed through his breath. “I want you to work on Nu, like we practiced. When I take his watch, you start showing him you have a mind of your own. Tell him what you think when you think it. But you are not to accede to his wishes at all. Only mine.” His deep voice made her shiver, and her nipples hardened.
“Yes, Sir.”
Set clasped her hand to his chest. “You are so perfect for us,
meena
. Don’t give up on my brother, no matter how much he annoys you.”
“Nu could never annoy me.” She cast her eyes down, not wanting him to think she could in any way not care for his brother.
“Look at me.” He tilted her chin up. “Don’t look away from Nu. No matter how much he tries to dominate you, remember who you serve right now.” His raspy breathing told her how much he liked controlling her. The wetness pooling between her thighs reminded her why she loved dealing with Set. He made no apology for being dominant, nor did he want her to be anything but herself.
Her brother and sister chafed at their need to serve. Anin embraced it. She knew that with Set, and hopefully Nu, she could be the woman she wanted to be. A submissive, but an equal. A woman cared for and treated with respect. But in order to have Set, she needed Nu. She tingled at the thought of feeling him inside her, of taking his orders and bowing to his will.
She moaned and let go of her scent.
“Fuck.” Set put her from him. He scooted his chair back and spread his thighs. Opening his trousers, he showcased that mouth-watering cock, ruddy, hard and wet with arousal. “You’re a bad girl, Anin. I warned you not to release that perfume without permission, didn’t I?”
She nodded quickly, her gaze caught by his shaft.
“Come here.” He pointed between his legs, and she smiled as she knelt before him. Set ran his fingers through her long hair, every pass over her scalp a loving caress. “Suck me like a good pleasurer would. Give me relief,
meena
. And because you’ve been bad, you’ll find yourself as frustrated as poor Nu.”
Not what she’d wanted, but Anin couldn’t bemoan the fact she’d get to swallow Set again. She put her hands on his thighs for balance and leaned forward. With eager lips, she engulfed his cock.
He rocked into her mouth and she accepted him, using her ability to enlarge her throat and surpass her gag reflex. She bobbed over him, loving it when he shoved her head down, forcing her to take more.
“That’s it,” he crooned as he grew thicker. “What a good girl. Your pussy’s wet, isn’t it,
meena
? So wet and needy, wanting a big cock to fill it up. But you’ve been bad, and you’re not going to get what you need, are you?”
She shook her head and continued to suck him. Running her tongue around his shaft, she pressed her teeth against him, relishing his groan.
“No, don’t play. Get me off, now.”
She let go of her pheromones and dragged him under a sensual daze. Sucking him deep, she cupped his sac and recognised the hardness in his balls. Set groaned as he came.
“That’s it. Swallow me,” he rasped as he surged. In moments he finished, tucked himself back into his trousers, and pulled her to her feet. “You’re too sexy for your own good,” he muttered and slapped her on the ass. “Now find Nu and torment him for a change. Bring him back here.”
Shaken with the need to feel him touch her once more, Anin gave Set a lingering glance before leaving with a sigh. Talk about a punishment. Her need to experience the pleasure she’d just given Set nearly overwhelmed her. But she deserved this discipline. A small part of her craved it. Set wouldn’t punish her if he didn’t care. He would never hurt her, and this small rebuke only emphasised their roles. She quivered with joy, finally submitting to a male worthy of her affections.
There was freedom in that. In the very ability to surrender herself and know she’d be cared for. Not having to constantly remain on guard filled her with peace...until she found Nu on the small bridge.
“What?” he barked as he stared at a monitor in front of him. “Set, dammit, I’m busy. Go back—” He stopped mid-tirade as he looked up and saw her standing in the doorway. “Oh. Anin.” He swallowed hard, his gaze absorbing her with intensity. “What do you need?”
Nu seemed more than frustrated.
The playful part of her personality, the one Set wanted her to give reign, reared its head. “I need
you
.”
Her bald statement provoked a dark look, one that made her cream even more. “
What?
”
“I need you to come...with me.” She put emphasis on the word ‘come’, knowing it would drive him crazy.
Nu didn’t disappoint. In seconds he had her backed against a wall. He leaned close, his orange eyes almost yellow with fire. “Be very careful, Anin, or I’ll give you what you’re asking for.”
She had to admit how well Set knew his brother. Teasing Nu was fun, and the big guy certainly danced to whatever tune she played. “
Confuse him. Tease him, then draw back playing the innocent. Knock him on his ass before he knows what’s hit him
,” Set had said.
“Nu?” She blinked at him innocently, inwardly laughing at his look of confusion. “What’s wrong?”
He leaned closer and she felt his hard cock brush her belly. A hint of her perfume leaked, and he breathed deep, as if enthralled.
“I, I...Anin?” He shook his head and stepped back, his fists clenched.
“Set needs to see you. He sent me to bring you to the berthing quarters,” she said quietly, wanting nothing more than to have sex—make love, Set often corrected—with the sexy Nu.
“Oh, right.” He cleared his throat and flushed, his muscles bunched with tension. “Why don’t you wait here?”
“I can’t. He told me to come back with you.”
Nu muttered under his breath before stepping around her to leave the bridge. She followed him, curious to see what he’d say to his brother.
They found Set putting his sword away. “About time you showed up.” Set glared at Nu.
“Dick. Hey Anin, honey, would you mind grabbing me a beverage from the galley? I have a few things to say to Set.”
“Actually, I would mind. No.” The first time she’d ever said it to a male. It scared her, and at the same time, it felt good.
Nu turned around to face her, his eyes wide open. “No?”
Behind him, Set winked and buoyed her courage.
“I said ‘no’. I’m not thirsty and I don’t want to go the galley. I have a book to read and I don’t want to leave.” To her shock, telling Nu what she wanted was addicting. The more she did it, the more she wanted to do it. Granted, Set had told her to say what she felt, but right now Nu was staring at her as if he’d never seen her before.
And maybe he hadn’t.
“Anin?” Nu stepped close and tilted her chin up to better meet her gaze. “Honey, are you all right?” He glared over his shoulder at Set, wondering how the hell this peaceable woman had turned into a termagant. Had to be Set’s doing.
She tugged her chin away. “I’m sorry if my being on the shuttle is such a trial, Nu. You’ve avoided me for days and now you’re suddenly ordering me around. Why? Because I was created to serve? You want a slave?”
“No, no. I just wanted to—”
“What? Put me down because you don’t like submissive women?”
“No.” He frowned. “That’s not it. I just don’t want you to hear—”
“That you can’t stand me. I know already. Look, Set and I are friends, and we’ve come to an understanding.”
“I’ll bet you have,” Nu muttered.
“Set said that as long as I’m on board, I have free run of the place. So if you want me to leave the room, you’ll have to jettison me from the shuttle.” She said her piece in a soft, but firm voice. Then she sat her pretty little ass down on the bed and resumed reading.
Baffled, Nu didn’t know what to think. Gone was the quiet, pleasing Creation he’d known all month aboard
Mara’s Light
. In her place sat a gorgeous, vibrant creature who showed a fierce independence. He stared at her, aware she deliberately ignored him.
The damned woman wasn’t afraid of him anymore.
His cock spiked.
Set drew his attention. “Take your break, Nu. And while you do, understand that Anin can come and go whenever she wants. In another day we’ll hit Ragga, and then we’ll hash this out if you’ve still a mind to.”
“Oh, I can’t wait.” Nu seethed, knowing his brother was up to something. He wasn’t stupid. He’d heard Set fucking her for the past two days. They made no effort to keep their voices down, and Anin’s scent wafted over the ship when she was aroused. Hell, he’d masturbated more this past jaunt than he had the first week of his coming of age celebration, when a Ragga’s lust spiralled out of control.
Set wasn’t helping. He wanted them to all be together. Set hadn’t changed his mind about bonding, and Nu could only reason that he’d done something to force Anin’s new obstinacy. Still, Nu wouldn’t have thought she had such temerity. This new Anin confused the shit out of him.
Did Anin plan on seducing him? Did she somehow know how much he wanted a challenge? He’d never told Set what he really liked in a woman. Even Lita had been calm and a bit afraid, as were most of the females they shared in trysts. None of them were anything like Anin. Even at her most meek she’d possessed a core of silent strength that attracted him. By the War God, she’d overwhelmed him easily enough a few days past. His body shook remembering her mouth over him, how right she’d looked sucking him off.
“Don’t be more of an ass than you can help,” Set drawled. He pulled Anin to her feet and kissed her, long and deep. Cupping her breast and rubbing it, he drew out a deep sigh from her. “Ignore Nu if he gets a bug up his ass.”
Anin laughed and shot Nu a look. “I will. Have a nice shift. I’ll see you later.”
Set left without a backwards glance. And then Nu and Anin stood in silence. Alone. Together.
Before Nu could speak, Anin flounced back on the bed. Set’s damned shirt slid up her thigh, and he could see a hint of her pussy as she shifted to adjust the material.
“Why the hell are you still wearing that?”
She blinked at him in surprise. “Set gave me four of his shirts, though they’re more like shifts. I rotate them through the laundry to keep them clean. They’re soft and comfortable, and they cover me adequately.”
Depends upon your definition of adequate.
Nu took the offensive. “Look, Anin. I need some sleep. What I don’t need is a hungry female crawling all over me. So how about you join Set on the bridge?”
Liar! You want nothing more than to feel her crawling all over you.
Anin shocked him with a laugh. “Relax, Nu. I’m not the needy female I was a few days ago. Your brother’s been helping me to open up. I admit I was scared of the crew when I first boarded. But during the weeks I’ve been with you, I watched and learned. Knowing you won’t hurt me is liberating. I can tell you to go fuck yourself if I want, and ‘bad boy’ Ragga that you are, you won’t touch me. Women are precious to you, aren’t they?”
“Go fuck myself? What the hell has Set been teaching you?”
“Oh, about how Raggas hate the idea of harming a female. That although you’re as big as a mountain, you’re mostly bark and no bite.”
“He’s full of shit.” Nu ran a hand through his hair before he was tempted to wrap it around her throat. He could all too easily imagine pinning her down on the bed while he fucked her, keeping her in place with one large, tight grip.