The Power of Three (9 page)

She fell back down on the bed.
“That’s
all
?”

It was his turn to loom over her. His fingers
became busy unbuttoning her uniform jacket. He threw it to the
floor and started on her shirt. “Just give me a chance.”

She let him finish undressing her, and then
watched as he stripped off his clothes to display the perfection of
his body. “You won’t force me into making a decision?”

“
No.” He stroked his cock, which was
already erect again.

“
I’m only supposed to be on Pavlovan
for a year.”

“
If you decide to stay, we’ll make sure
you can.”

“
What if I only like you and not this
other man?”

“
Ash?” He straddled her and bent to
kiss her mouth. “Everyone likes Ash.”

He pushed his knee between her thighs and
settled himself over her, his cock throbbing between them.
“Please.”

She arched her back, bringing her
already-wet sex against the underside of his shaft and he groaned.
“
Please
.”

“
All
right
.”

He slid home and she wrapped her arms and
legs around him and held on. She had a suspicion that it was going
to be another bumpy ride.

* * * * *

There was a reception committee at the
spaceport.

For them. For
her
…

Soreya tugged nervously at the collar of her
uniform and tried not to look at Esca. After three days straight in
his bed, she could hardly bear to be even a centimeter away from
him. He stood with Trenx, just ahead of her, as the steps were
lowered and they all moved forward.

A tall man with faded reddish hair stepped in
front of them and smiled graciously. Was it Ash? Soreya felt no
vibe off him, but Esca was definitely smiling at the guy.

“
President Gowon. May I introduce
Private Soreya Lang of Etrusca?”

She suddenly found herself facing the
dignitary and just remembered to salute. “Sir.”

He took her hand between both of his.
“Welcome, Private Lang. We hope you will enjoy your year on
Pavlovan.”

“
Thank you for inviting me,
sir.”

“
It was the least we could do after
your act of courage in saving Major Esca.”

Soreya allowed herself to smile. “I think we
saved each other, sir.”

He winked at her and introduced his deputy,
his finance minister, the chancellor of the university system, and
the head of the Pavlovan military, who spoke to her at length about
his interest in her abilities. By the time he’d moved on, most of
the crew had dispersed leaving Esca, Trenx and her with the
reception committee.

She turned to see Esca approaching a slim,
fair-haired male who had obviously just arrived. To her surprise,
Esca went down on one knee and kissed the man’s hand.

“
First Male.”

“
Second.”

In less than a moment, Esca was standing
again and looking around.

“
Private Lang? I’d like you to meet my
First Male, Ash.”

She found herself moving forward, her hand
held out, her entire attention focused on the quiet face of the man
in front of her. She wanted to touch him, to see if she could even
attempt to understand the beautiful complexity of his shields, a
protection system that rivaled her own.

“
Private Lang.”

His voice was as quiet and refined as she’d
anticipated. He was nothing like Esca, and yet she could already
see why they were paired. It was definitely a case of extreme
opposites attracting, but where did that leave her?

“
Senator.”

She took his proffered hand and felt as if
she’d received a static shock. A slight widening of his blue eyes
made her think he’d felt something similar, but there was no break
in his shields.

“
Thank you for saving my mate’s
life.”

“
As I was just saying to your president
I think he saved mine as well.”

“
Then perhaps I should be doubly
grateful.” He turned to Esca. “Did you ask Private Lang if she is
comfortable staying with us, or did you just assume she would
be?”

“
It’s a separate suite. She can lock
the door if she can’t stand the sight of us.” Esca scowled at his
mate. “Shall we go?”

Ash turned back to Soreya. He was still
holding her hand. “He’s correct that it is a separate suite, but
you will have to see us if you want to eat or leave the apartment.
Would you prefer to be on your own?”

“
I think I’d like the company—if you’re
okay with that,” she added quickly. “I don’t want to
impose.”

His smile was beautiful. “Don’t worry about
that. If it weren’t for you Esca wouldn’t have come back. Whatever
happens, I’ll always be grateful for his return.”

Esca snorted. “He thought I was going to
die.”

“
You nearly did.” Soreya retorted,
aware of Ash’s amused glance on them. He walked toward the exit and
she followed him, Esca at her side into the V.I.P. area of the
spaceport. Ash moved with the air of a man used to being waited on.
He still made time to smile and thank the people who ran around
him, finding his vehicle, checking paperwork and generally making
their departure as smooth as possible.

The vehicle they were ushered into was large
and comfortable. Esca sat beside her, one arm across the back of
the seat, and Ash sat opposite them.

“
I hope you’ll both excuse me while I
attend to some senate business,” Ash said.

“
He’s always busy,” Esca grumbled. “I
have to make an appointment just to talk to him these
days.”

Ash ignored him, his fingers tapping over a
communications tablet, his thoughts flying so fast that Soreya
could hardly identify that he was transmitting information at all.
And that was unusual. She was usually better than anyone she’d ever
met. It was tempting to simply sit back and bask in his psychic
aura—the miniscule piece he let her access, anyway. His shields
really were exceptional.

* * *

Esca glanced from Ash to Soreya but he
couldn’t tell anything from their expressions. They both had an
annoying ability to look calm and uninterested that he lacked. But
he could still sense the tension in the air, the awareness that
fizzed between the three of them like lightening.

He was damn sure that he was right and
that she was their Female. All he had to do now was try not to frek
things up. When the limo slowed, Ash caught his attention.
“Can you show Private Lang around? I’ve got to
finish this call.”

“
Sure. By the way, her
name’s Soreya.”

He stepped out of the opened limo door and
reached inside to take Soreya’s hand. Now she looked rather
apprehensive as she stared up at the modern glass and metal
building that housed Ash’s penthouse.

“
Here?”

“
I know, it’s hardly what we soldiers
are used to, is it?”

Her smile was uncertain as she followed him
into the private elevator. “Is Senator Ash not coming?”

Esca bit back his comment that if he had his
way Ash would be coming pretty damn soon and returned a more
non-committal answer. “He’ll be up in a minute.”

The door to the penthouse opened to reveal
Chase their housekeeper.

“
Major!” She exclaimed. “So good to see
you back!”

“
It appears that rumors of my death
have been greatly exaggerated.” Esca muttered. Chase looked
politely blank, but Soreya choked back a laugh. “This is Private
Lang. She’s going to be staying with us for a while.”

“
Private Lang.” Chase shook Soreya’s
hand. “It’s great to meet you. Let me show you to your suite.” She
glanced up at Esca. “Unless you want to do it?”

“
How about we do it together?” Esca
studied Soreya’s face, and caught the edge of her exhaustion. “I
think Private Lang needs her privacy and a good long nap.” He
smiled. “
Without me waking her
up
.”

“
I don’t
mind
.”

He took her hand and led her into the
three-roomed suite, which was identical to his own and to Ash’s.
“There’s a sitting area and workspace, a bedroom and a decent-sized
fully-stocked bathroom. You should find everything here, but if in
doubt, call me or Chase and we’ll get you what you need.”

“
Thank you.” Soreya was staring at all
the space. “Are you sure this is all for me?” She swallowed hard.
“Since I was ten, I’ve never even had my own bedroom.”

“
Then enjoy it.” Esca touched her
shoulder and felt the tension running through her. “If you wake up
and want company, come through into the central atrium. Chase will
be there cooking dinner, or later you’ll find me or
Ash.”

“
Great.”

He hesitated by the door of the
bedroom. “
I need to check in with Ash. Are
you okay with being left alone?
”

She smiled brightly at him.
“
Of course. You go ahead. I’ll see you
later
.”

Frek, he hadn’t thought about the
ramifications of bed-hopping. He’d have to talk to Ash who was sure
to know how to manage everything gracefully

Chase was busy checking the drapes were
closed and turning down the bed. “Would you like something to eat
before you take your nap, Private Lang?”

“
No, I’m fine, thank you.” She pushed
her brown hair away from her forehead and straightened her spine.
“I’ll take a quick shower and then I’ll go to bed.”

“
Thanks, Chase.” Esca smiled at the
housekeeper.

“
You’re welcome, Esca. I’ll get your
lunch after I’ve showed Private Lang how the shower works.” She
patted his ass. “Now get along with you.”

He hesitated. “
Soreya
?”

“
I’m fine, Esca—really. I’ll
see you later
.”

She didn’t sound fine, and even he knew that
when a female said ‘fine’ she rarely meant it. But he did need to
see Ash…

“
Okay
.”

Okay, he was a big fat coward. He escaped
into the kitchen and noticed Ash’s door was now open. Walking
through, he caught sight of Ash stripping off his formal attire. He
kept walking until he had his mate pinned against the wall and his
mouth on his.

“
I’m
back
.”

“
I
noticed
.”

Esca reached between them and cupped
Ash’s already-erect cock. “
And you’re
pleased to see me.”

“
I’m always—”
Ash groaned as Esca gripped him through his pants.
“
Shouldn’t you be
resting
?”

“
But I need this.”
Esca started on the buttons of Ash’s fly.
“I need to be fucked hard.”

“
Haven’t you been fucked
enough?
”

Esca stared into Ash’s blue eyes.
“
No
.”

His lover opened his mouth to argue,
and Esca kissed him again. “
Fuck
me
.”

He turned around and headed for Ash’s bed,
shucking off his clothes as he went. Just as he reached the bed,
Ash came up behind him and pushed him down on his stomach, his cock
pressed against Esca’s ass.

Esca groaned and arched his spine, felt the
cold trickle of lube against his ass and the oiled flick of Ash’s
probing fingers.

“
Yeah, now give me your
dick.”

He always forgot how big Ash was until that
first push made him widen his stance and breathe out slowly. Gods,
he loved the way his mate stretched him, made himself fit, made
Esca so horny he’d take everything the man wanted to give him.

Ash wrapped a hand around Esca’s cock
and squeezed hard enough to make him yelp. “
You’re sore. I hear you spent three days with Private Lang in
your cabin
.” He pulled back and slammed forward until
he was deep inside again, not relinquishing his grip on Esca’s
cock.

“
That’s right, I
did.”
Esca paused. “
Why?
Are you
jealous?
”

Ash went still and then started pounding into
his ass until Esca didn’t have any words left to give him, just
moans and gasps and endurance as his body shook and shuddered with
the onslaught of pleasure.

“
Perhaps I’ll make you as
sore as she did. Take my belt to you.”
Ash bit Esca’s
neck hard enough to hurt. “
Make you unable
to fuck anything or sit down for a week
.”

“
Do it.”

Esca started to come his seed barely making
it out between Ash’s tightly clenched fingers covering his cock.
Ash gathered himself and shoved deep one last time before climaxing
in thick, pulsing jerks. Then he rolled to one side, taking Esca
with him.

When he finally pulled out, Esca winced.

“
I’m sorry, that was
inexcusable
.” Ash tentatively touched his shoulder.
“
You’re injured.”

Esca covered Ash’s hand with his own.
“
And I asked for it.
I wanted to get a reaction out of you.
” He
chuckled. “
It’s good to see that you still
care
.”