Desire's Prisoner Read online

  His shoulders shook with a single bark of laughter.

  She gasped when his teeth latched on, and he nibbled and swirled his tongue around the tip, until she pushed him to the other breast. This time, he fluttered his tongue against the nipple, frustrating her, denying her a deeper pleasure.

  Evena lowered her hands to his waist and tugged desperately at the fabric of his shirt, freeing it from the waist of his breeches. His skin was as hot as hers and firm. Hard muscle tensed. Plunging her hands beneath the cloth, she raked his back, reveling in his sharp intake of breath that told her he enjoyed her touch. I’ll make you burn, too. Then she pulled him down on top of her.

  Feeling his hips slam against her groin, she arched beneath him, tilting hers to rub the distended nub at the center of her pleasure against the fabric covering his cock.

  Despite the layer of his clothing, the shock of contact and the flowing-ebbing pressure from his rolling hips almost unleashed the storm threatening to break over her.

  Braced on his forearms, Adam rocked against the woman, watching the expressions on her face change from desire to pain when she neared the precipice. But he had no intention of balling her to paradise.

  Although his cock would gladly explode inside his pants, Adam needed this woman’s cooperation to peacefully acquire the mates he and his men needed. Abruptly, he rolled off her, determined to woo her slowly.

  The woman had other ideas and followed, spreading her legs wide over his hips. Leaning forward to nip his collarbone, she scraped her pubis against the long column in his trousers.

  She tempted him. Her breasts were a rare dessert—round apples covered in milk-white flesh tipped with puckered raspberries. They hovered above his mouth—ripe for picking. Rather than sucking them deeply into his mouth, he covered them with his hands and pushed her back.

  “What?” she asked breathlessly, her chest heaving. Her own hands rose to press his tightly to her breasts, encouraging him to massage, but he slipped his hands from beneath hers. “Why did you stop?” she demanded. “This is what you came for, isn’t it?”

  Chapter Three

  ‡

  She was exactly where he wanted her—so ready for release, she’d promise him anything. The scent of her arousal wafted around him. Now was the time to press his advantage.

  Trailing a hand from her breast to her hip, he paused, watching her eyelids drift closed. With one hand, he spread the lips of her pussy, and with the thumb of the other, he scraped the pad across the hard red pearl—once.

  Her breath caught, and she opened her eyes to glare at him.

  She’d beg for him to take her. He’d give her sweet release—after she granted his request. If he could resist her lure long enough to remember what the hell he was about. “Get on your back,” he ordered, not recognizing the gruffness of his voice.

  She scowled, but slid to his side.

  He rose on his knees and opened the buckle of his belt. He took a deep breath and willed his cock to obey his mind.

  Eagerly, she settled a leg on either side of him, raised her knees, and let her thighs splay wide. Rose-red petals parted. Wet with dew, they made a sucking sound as they opened, exposing the entrance to her channel.

  His hands shook as he slid the breeches past his ass, and his cock sprang free. He gritted his teeth against the urge to plunge inside her damp, waiting channel.

  She groaned and tilted her pussy toward him.

  An invitation his cock was eager to accept. The opening to her vagina pulsed and then released a thin trickle of cream. Her greedy hands reached for him, but he held them away, pushing them to the pillow beside her head. If she touched him now, he’d lose.

  Lowering his hand to her cunt, he rimmed her with his thumb before pressing it inside. Her hips rose, seeking deeper penetration. He pulled out his thumb and offered a second flicker across her clitoris.

  She bucked. “Finish this.”

  He placed himself at her opening and pushed forward, just far enough to sink an inch or so inside her heat. Christ, she was tight. Hot. Heaven. His balls tightened, readying for release.

  Placing both hands over hers on the bed, he held back, despite the quivering flesh that pulsed and milked the head of his cock. Her cheeks were red, her expression ferocious. His warrior woman looked ready to battle for his surrender. Oh, how she tempted him. “I want something from you, first.”

  She rolled her hips, inviting him to deepen his penetration. “It’s right here, dammit.”

  He fought his desire, sweat breaking on his brow, rolling to plop on her flushed breast. “Not what I meant,” he said between clenched teeth.

  She groaned and arched, circling her hips on his cock. “Talk later. Fuck me.”

  Yes! He ground his teeth and pulled back, until only the tight vagina muscles clenched around the ridge circling his dick’s head kept him from falling out. “Not until you agree—”

  “I won’t. Can’t think. Later. Fuck meeeee,” she keened.

  He’d pushed her too far. Miscalculated her rising desire. He’d have to take her first. Thank God. Cursing his weakened will, he pressed into her. Hot, steamy. Smaller than he’d expected. His balls were so taut he thought he might explode before he was fully seated inside.

  “Ahh,” she gasped, “wait.”

  His head dropped to her shoulder, and he held himself still. Every fiber of his being screamed for release. Instead, he drew in a deep breath and lifted his head, ready to withdraw rather than cause her pain.

  The woman’s expression stunned him. Fierce and determined, she stared into his face while she eased her legs around his back, clasping his body, and pulled him inexorably into her.

  A gush of warm liquid bathed his cock. Adam shuddered and withdrew before pushing back inside, cramming his dick into her tight passage. Again and again, he eased out and drove forward, each time inching farther inside until she sheathed him to the hilt. Faster and faster he pumped, his balls now banging against her ass.

  She lowered her legs and planted her feet firmly in the mattress, then lifted her hips to greet each stroke.

  He continued to pound into her, pistoning in and out so hard, so fast, her breath came in guttural grunts. Awash in her juices, each thrust was accompanied by sharp slapping sounds.

  Suddenly, she screamed.

  Then release was upon him. He roared as the tingling wave washed over his balls, tightening them hard as stones, moments before the explosive spurts of come drained him. He collapsed onto the bed next to her, dragging air into his starved lungs.

  After he found his breath, he glanced to the side to find her staring, her expression mirroring the stunned feeling inside him. He’d never had a ride like that.

  Evena struggled to catch her breath. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. She’d been swept into a vortex of sensation that had swirled and constricted until her only point of light had been his gaze. Then her body had convulsed around his cock. Pulsing, squeezing—every red blood cell in her body delivered to the muscles of her vagina to hold him inside. She’d never had a ride like that.

  Not that she’d had any recent experience to compare.

  No. She’d never had any experience like that to compare. And if memory served, no one had ever made her scream. She took another deep breath and glanced at her pirate.

  He stared back. Neither spoke.

  Perhaps he, too, was trying to remember how to breathe. Or maybe, she’d inadvertently let him see how powerful the moment had been. She swallowed, surprised by the burning lump at the back of her throat and closed her eyes, denying tears she refused to shed.

  It had been so damn long. That must be the reason her orgasm had been so powerful. It had wrung a primal scream from deep inside her soul. At times during the last five years, she’d despaired of ever feeling a man move inside her again.

  The one lying next to her could have been conjured from her fantasies. Hard, ridged muscles, whorls of black chest hair tapering to a line before flaring to fram
e his sex. Her gaze swept lower, and her eyes widened. Although shrunken and spent, she wondered how she’d accommodated his cock. It was enormous. Easily the width of her wrist, it was a purplish-red and still glistened with their combined come. While she watched it, his cock twitched against his leg and lengthened. She swallowed hard and slowly raised her gaze.

  His expression was thoughtful, assessing.

  No way would she let him think her vulnerable just because he’d made her scream. She lifted her chin. “Were you telling the truth before? You’re seeking wives?”

  His gaze became wary. “Yes. We’re offering transport from this prison to a planet on the edge of the galaxy. Far from the Dominion.”

  “For some of the women—” she replied thoughtfully “—this could be their only chance for freedom. If what you say is true, it’d be cruel for me to oppose you.”

  “And you, little warrior? Will you not seek your freedom with us?”

  Did he mean he wanted her for himself? Her heart thrilled, but she shook her head. “No. I’ll remain behind.”

  His gaze shuttered. “Because you don’t believe in me?”

  “Because I’m going back to Earth,” she stated firmly.

  He drew a deep breath. “Then what of the other women? Do you trust that I will deal fairly with them?”

  “I’m not sure, yet. We’ve only just met. And our first meet wasn’t exactly conducive to rational thought.”

  He exhaled and rose on one elbow to look down at her. “How can I convince you?”

  Gazing upward, she couldn’t help the desire that tightened her belly and brought heat to her face. Dark and hard and bearded, he was the embodiment of her most secret fantasies. Am I letting my fantasies rule my heart and mind? She wanted to believe him.

  She crooked her arm around his neck and pulled his face close to hers. “I don’t know,” she said truthfully. Only time will tell me the truth. Don’t let me down. “Perhaps you’ll have to show me some milk of human kindness,” she quipped.

  His lips twisted in a smirk, and then his shoulders began to shake. “And perhaps, I’ll wring sweet cream from you.”

  Her mouth stretched into a grin, and she reached up to kiss him. She’d barely touched her lips to his when she heard the slide of the door opening.

  “They’re in here,” a man’s voice shouted. “See? He didn’t kill her.”

  The pirate sounded exasperated.

  “Evena? What are you doin’ without your suit? Do I have to go an’ kill myself a pirate?” Mary Grogan’s outraged voice preceded her into the room. A sharp grunt was followed by a low whistle. “Damn, girl. I see why you’re takin’ your time.”

  Evena looked over her pirate’s shoulder to see Mary staring at his dick. She didn’t blame her friend one bit. “Um, Mary. I’m fine. This is…” Color flooded her cheeks when she realized she didn’t know the name of the man she’d just fucked.

  “Adamarik. Call me Adam, Mary.” The pirate smiled and extended his hand.

  Mary shook her head. “Uh-uh. I know where that hand’s been. Later.” She nodded to Evena. “The women are gathered in the atrium. This one…Darak—” she said with a grimace at a man wearing a peacock blue shirt, “says his captain—the man who’s playin’ with your tit, by the way—will tell us what they’re doin’ here.”

  Evena noticed the younger man standing behind Mary for the first time. He was handsome—dark hair, blue eyes, with dimples that creased his cheeks on either side of his smile.

  Her pirate, Adam, nuzzled her neck. “I’ll be there shortly, Darak.”

  “Looks like you’ve already been, Captain.”

  Adam growled, tickling her neck.

  Evena understood Adam’s frustration. She wasn’t ready to face anyone, either. “Mary, we’ll get dressed.”

  “I’ll wait outside, and so will you.” She shoved a grinning Darak out the door.

  Once the door slid shut, Evena pushed at Adam’s broad chest until he lay flat on his back then crawled on top of him, aligning her body with his. Folding her hands on his chest, she rested her chin atop them to look into his face. “I think we missed a step or two, somewhere.”

  “Big on following the directions, are you?”

  “Yes. Sometimes.” Her face grew serious. “Don’t give me a reason to regret not killing you.”

  He snorted. “You never stood a chance. Our arms are far superior.”

  “And where is your weapon, now?” She smiled sweetly.

  He glanced at the floor toward the clothing heaped beside the bed to find his sword. He smiled, but his eyes held suspicion. “Do you really think you could take me?”

  “Let’s not find out.”

  “So, what step did I miss?” he asked, tucking a hand beneath his head. “I began my journey in the north and worked my way south. Don’t think I missed anything in between. X marked the spot—I dug for treasure.”

  “You’re a pirate.” Dropping her gaze, she combed his chest hairs with her fingers. “How do you know you arrived at the correct destination, if you didn’t start in the right place?” she asked, darting a glance at him.

  His eyes narrowed.

  “Never mind,” she said, exasperated. Funny, she’d forgotten how tree-trunk dense men could be. She pushed up, intending to get dressed.

  His hands anchored her at the waist. “If you want a kiss, why not just ask?”

  “I don’t, anymore. You can let me up.”

  “What if I ask for one?”

  “Not in the mood.”

  “You’re a stubborn wench.” His hand cupped the back of her head and forced her downward.

  She thinned her lips and scowled.

  “Then again, I could start in the south and work my way northward…”

  “For fuck’s sake.” She kissed him, intending to give him only a quick, non-passionate smack—just something to get the lummox to let go. But his lips moved. And she was lost again.

  The sound of the door whooshing open couldn’t pull her attention from his delicious kiss.

  “Dammit, I told you we shouldn’t leave those two alone, again.”

  *

  As they neared the atrium, the roar of several hundred voices raised in animated conversation could be heard. Evena paused in the corridor and turned to face Adam. “The women will be offered the choice to go with you, right?” Misgivings about the pirate’s offer soured her stomach.

  Adam’s gaze didn’t waver. “We’ll take no unwilling women.”

  “The ones you leave behind may riot. How do you intend to prevent that?”

  “I won’t announce the names until the last day. And I’ll make it clear from the beginning that I’m taking only a hundred women. We’ll set up an orderly interview process.”

  Mary stepped close to Evena. “This situation could get really ugly when you leave. Your boys better be gentlemen.”

  “Too late for that,” Darak said, peering around the corner.

  Mary joined him. Her eyebrows pulled into a ferocious frown. “Damn horn dogs…”

  Adam grabbed Evena’s hand. “Trust me. I’m offering a hundred prisoners a second chance.”

  Evena hoped she wasn’t letting her hormones lead her astray. She steeled her back and walked toward the entry. “Mary, let’s get some order here.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Mary followed. Placing two fingers in her mouth, she blew and issued an ear-splitting whistle. “I may as well have pissed in the wind,” she grumbled when the noise didn’t abate.

  The large atrium was usually a place for serene contemplation. The high-ceilinged room with its moist, humid air and terraced planting beds was the living center of the prison ship. It teemed with trees, grass, flowers, and plants that provided life-giving oxygen, food, and beauty to soothe the prisoners’ feminine souls. By unspoken agreement, the prisoners spoke in whispers and moved slowly about their gardening chores—but not so tonight.

  Tonight, men were in the ship. Handsome, colorfully dressed, sweet-smelling men.<
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  The pirates never stood a chance. Most had lost their shirts and shoes, stripped from them by laughing women. Not that they looked concerned. Most were laughing right back, at least those whose mouths weren’t otherwise engaged.

  “Attention!”

  The loud male roar from behind her made Evena jump, but it was effective. The room grew still in an instant.

  Her dark pirate strode down the flagstone path to the central patio, hands on his hips, looking unbelievably sexy and stern in his black clothing and even blacker expression.

  Evena noted the interested stares of the women, devouring him with their gazes, stripping him mentally and measuring his masculinity. She wanted to step in front of him to cut off their avid gazes. He’s mine.

  Mine? Jealousy smacked her in the face. She tried to shake it off—she didn’t have a right to that emotion. Sure, she’d fucked him, but he belonged to the woman who would be his wife. And that woman certainly wouldn’t be her. Her pardon was in the works.

  But, Evena hated the woman already. She would have him for life. This unknown woman would hold his body, bear his children—own his smiles and hot loving.

  “Ladies, if I may have your attention, please.” Adam’s voice was a rumbling baritone. “Men, take your seats,” he said more firmly.

  His voice vibrated down her spine. By the shivers she witnessed from the women in the audience, Evena could tell his voice had the same impact on them.

  They seated themselves on the ground before him.

  “You may be wondering what interest pirates have with a prison ship…” he said, with a smile curling one side of his mouth, “…not the obvious one that comes to mind, now.” He waggled an admonishing finger toward the crowd.

  The women tittered in laughter as he had intended, Evena was sure.

  “My men and I are weary of our lawless ways. We’ve captured many a Dominion ship, pillaged their cargoes…” he raised a single black brow, “…pleasured their women, and thumbed our noses at the Dominion all the way back to our ship.”