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Authors: S E Gilchrist

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BOOK: Bargain With the Enemy
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And yet, she couldn't control the anticipation tightening her lower body. The door slid open to reveal a room Stephanie hadn't seen before.

Without waiting to see whether she'd follow him or not, Ivo stepped over the hob and entered.

Chapter 6

Unease and excitement caused her stomach to churn in a sickening dance. She swallowed hard and followed him inside, staying close to the door. ‘This is your compartment?'

Way to go, Steph. Another understatement. He must think I have the IQ of a gummy bear.

Wringing her hands, she looked about at the functional living room. It wasn't overly large. Even the most minute of area on ships was utilised zealously, however the room was definitely on a bigger scale than her own small cabin. The usual muted-grey coloured walls were unadorned save for three screens. All three depicted the scenery of a savage-looking landscape of towering jagged mountains and violet-coloured storm clouds scudding across the sky.

He slanted a glance over his shoulder as he strode across the room to the lone sofa and settled down. Indicating the screens with a brief nod, he said, ‘My home planet, Cerciron. Come and rest for a few sectons.' Stretching out his long legs he leaned his head back, giving the appearance of a man about to watch a game of football on the vid screen.

Step by cautious step and much in the manner of prey approaching the starving beast, Stephanie walked towards him. When he didn't so much as glance in her direction, she perched on the edge of the sofa, squeezed up against the furthermost arm. As the minutes ticked slowly by, she began to relax until she wriggled back and slumped into the soft cushions.

In Ivo's arms, Mia squealed and kicked vigorously.

The Darkon warrior holding her so carefully gazed down into the little baby's face, giving a quick smile now and then as the little girl waved her tiny hands.

‘Will she be too cold? She has kicked off the covering.' He sounded anxious as one-handed he attempted to re-wrap the baby only to the thwarted by Mia's vigorous kicking.

‘While she's jumping about like that, she'll be fine. You need to make sure she's covered though when she falls asleep which should be soon. She's been awake for some time now.' Stephanie slid a little closer, unable to be too far from Mia for long. She peered over Ivo's brawny arm, smiling a little at the sight of that precious face. ‘She's such a good baby. Janeen always bragged about how she sleeps through most of the night.'

He glanced up, his eyes sharp. ‘I would like to learn more of her and my brother. First, though, you have yet to tell your sign.'

‘I'm Stephanie Roberts. Most people call me Steph.'

‘Steph.' His brows drew together. ‘I do not like this, you will be called Stephanie.' He dragged out the syllables like musical notes and warmth bloomed under her skin.

The hard line of his mouth curved upwards. ‘Tell me about your life.'

‘Why?'

He shrugged. ‘My concern is wholly for my brother's offspring. How will I determine you are of good character?'

‘I think my actions speak louder than any dumb thing I choose to say to you,' she all but snarled at him.
Or does he think by learning everything there is to know about me he'll work out how best to control me?

His smile deepened and the sight was like a shot of tequila to her stomach.

I don't want to tell him I'm a widow. I don't want to remember. I don't want to feel guilty because I want another man.
Pressing her legs together, Stephanie mumbled, ‘There's
not much to tell. I'm a geologist and that means I locate rocks that contain important metals, groundwater, natural gas and other resources we so desperately need on Earth. My parents died a long time ago. I don't have any brothers or sisters. When the call went out for nurses to accompany the colonists, Janeen put her hand up. We'd been friends for years, so it was kinda natural I added my name to the list.'

He must surely know what happened next, it was fairly similar to almost every other person who'd left Earth on the Scaleen Traders' ships. Betrayed, sold; the men into slavery working mines, the women sold off at markets like cattle or, worse, shipped to Isla. Stephanie huddled on the sofa, not wanting to revisit a place that still haunted her dreams.

‘I discern from your expression you were one of those unfortunate females to be transported to Isla.'

‘We were more than unfortunate,' Stephanie said sharply.

Ivo inclined his head in assent.

After a few moments of silence while they watched the baby, both careful to avoid the other's eyes, she added, ‘Janeen and I were two of the lucky ones. We weren't there that long before Lord Tarak arrived.'

‘He did the honourable and right action by destroying the facility.'

That surprised her. ‘Really? I thought as a Traditionalist you would be in agreement with that madman Rajan's ideas.'

‘My family has long followed the Traditionalist calling but I am not so blinded by my upbringing to realise many of the old ways are not in the best interests of the Darkon people. I believe in the honour and integrity of our race. Rajan violated both when he arranged for the facility to be built.'

‘Did you know about it?'

‘Negative. There were whispers of course, but I was second-in-command of a battle-cruiser and our orders kept us from Darkos for great periods of time.' His voice sounded weary.

‘I'm glad you didn't know about it,' said Stephanie slowly.

‘If I had known, I am uncertain what I would have done.' Ivo turned his head and met her gaze unflinchingly.

She gave a shaky laugh. ‘At least you're honest, I give you that much.'

‘I admit the thought of you in such a place causes me great discomfort.'

‘It was a lot more than discomfort, pal. I'll never forget it.'

‘And yet you and your friend fought for our cause.'

Discomforted by the sharpness of his gaze, Stephanie shrugged. ‘We figured you guys were the lesser of two evils. Especially, once Tarak rescued us and bombed Isla into a million pieces. Man, was that an amazing sight.' She grinned.

‘You are indeed a strange species but one I find commands my respect. Your resilience in the face of terrible hardship astounds me.'

‘We have a long history of fighting for what we believe is right. And we're drawn to the underdog.'

Ivo raised his eyebrows, looking completely mystified.

Too hard to explain, she decided. ‘After we landed on Verrilous, sickness swept through our camp. Janeen became ill. No one had any idea how to treat it and soon she could barely walk. Two days before the attack, she insisted I take Mia and leave. Both Neo and her were terrified their daughter would also fall ill. Janeen was so sick and Neo wouldn't leave her.'

‘And so you took your friend's name to ensure no questions were asked regarding the child.'

‘Yes. I couldn't risk some official taking it into his or her head to remove Mia from my care. The plan was that Janeen and Neo would meet up with me after the battle but then I read Neo's name listed amongst the fallen together with an unnamed Earth woman. I knew I was on my own. I made a promise, Ivo. One I intend to keep.'

‘I understand now, why you are so determined to care for little Mia,' he said thoughtfully.

I more than care for her, Ice Man. I love her.
She hesitated a moment before her intense curiosity about him and his life drove her to ask, ‘What about the attempt to oust Tarak from power? Were you involved in it?'

‘I knew Marn had a plan, but it is not one I agreed with. Lord Tarak has the right. And he is a just leader. He has granted several concessions to some of the old laws and this has negated the discontent many Traditionalists harboured to his rule.'

Desperately wanting to know whether he was as ruthless as he appeared, she asked, ‘Would you really have turned me over to the authorities as a deserter?'

A wry smile twisted his lips. ‘I admit it was a bluff. The war has lasted for far too many cycles. There has been enough suffering by all people not only my race.'

‘It was a good bluff. You fooled me.'

‘Did I?' The way his intent gaze snared hers and seemed to search for something he hungered for, caused all sorts of crazy ideas to manifest inside her mind.

Swallowing, Stephanie looked away. She soothed a gentle finger over Mia's soft hair, smiling as the baby's eyes drifted close. ‘Look, she's falling asleep.'

Lowering her voice, she said, ‘You have no desire to follow your brother's example and ditch those weird ideas of no emotional or physical connections?'

‘Gratification of the desires of the flesh has some merit.' His eyes locked onto hers again, sending her heart into freefall and her body temperature skyrocketing at the scorching fire in their dark depths.

Talk about bedroom eyes!
His mouth curved into a sinful smile that promised all sorts of mouth-watering delights.

‘I do not take liars lightly.' So saying, in one smooth movement he rose to his feet, towering over her, baby in his arms, and holding her startled gaze with the intensity of his own.

Stephanie tensed. ‘I had my reasons,' she mumbled.
Maybe I should I mention I've been married, how much I longed for a family of my own.
Before she could decide, the moment passed.

‘You have caused me considerable, shall we say trouble, Stephanie Roberts, and are one I intend to keep under my control.'

Oooh! Exactly what does he mean by control?

He glanced down at Mia. ‘She sleeps.'

‘Time to put her to bed then.'
And way past time I put some space between us while I've still got my wits about me.
Stephanie also rose to her feet and held out her arms.

‘I think not. Both Mia and you will reside in my quarters. I have a special bed prepared for her.' He strode across the room and passed through a doorway into the room beyond.

And me? Where do I sleep?
Wringing her hands, Steph hurried after him to find herself in his rack room, a relatively compact area with a massive double bunk bolted to the floor and a much smaller bunk with raised sides wedged into the corner of the room. A quick
glance round revealed little in the way of personal effects. And even less of any indication of his personality. But it did reveal her backpack and holdall residing neatly on the floor. By the way both bags looked deflated she realised someone had unpacked her few possessions.

She swung round to find Ivo placing the sleeping baby into the smaller bunk. When she reached his side, she tucked the thick, soft coverlet around Mia. Leaning down, she pressed a gentle kiss onto the baby's silky soft curls.

‘Now, for your total submission,' said Ivo in a deep voice.

His hands closed over hers and he drew her away from the baby's bed to the double bunk.

‘What do you mean?' Her heart stuttered, while she played for time knowing instinctively within a few minutes she'd be down and dirty with Ice Man himself.

I could say no. I could run from the room. He'd never force himself on me, he has too much integrity.
But she didn't move.

Instead she remained exactly where she was, breathing faster, heart thudding, her body tingling with anticipation. The word “submission” kept bouncing about like a ping pong ball inside her mind.

She'd heard of subs and doms.

One of her friends back on Earth often visited a special establishment that catered for people who craved that type of intimacy. Although invited as a couple more than once, her husband had refused. Older by ten years, he'd been unable to push past his conventional upbringing. Stephanie had always suspected he'd had no taste for anything more than the
missionary
position.

Whilst she'd loved him and their marriage had been a healthy one, she'd sometimes fantasised over what it would be like to submit completely to a man, to allow him all the control, for him to do as he wished with her.

Now it looked as if her secret dreams were about to become reality.

Maybe it was also time she stopped mourning a dead man and take advantage of the fantasy Ivo offered.

‘What do you want me to do?' She poised on the tips of her toes, her gaze seeking his then flinching at the heavy frown creasing his forehead.

‘This is not a game. You will be taught total submission to me.' He wagged a finger in the air and Steph had to physically restrain herself from rolling her eyes. ‘You will accept me as your master and obey my every demand.'

Dream on, Ice Man, but the submission part sounds good.
I'll do anything to ease this damn need to feel your cock inside me.
Demurely, Stephanie lowered her eyes and waited. She could almost feel his suspicious gaze boring into the top of her head.

He clicked his tongue and strode off to the counter running the length of one wall. Peeping from under her fringe, Steph watched him rummage inside a drawer, quickly removing her gaze when he turned round.

His fingers touched her hair then he slipped a thick cloth over her eyes, effectively blinding her.

‘Wait. What…?' She gasped as the memory of being trapped flooded her mind.

‘Silence.'

And he administered a hard slap to her bottom.

Spanking! He's going to spank me? Hell no!

‘I'm not seven years old,' she blustered, beating down her panic. ‘Don't you dare smack me again.'

‘You,' he murmured close to her ear causing her hair to drift against her face in a tickling motion. ‘You do not give the orders.'

Her hands went to the blindfold only to be thwarted when he captured them and pulled them down again.

‘Be still.'

‘But…'

Suddenly, Ivo stiffened. ‘Are you frightened?'

‘No. It's only that for a moment, I remembered Isla, when I was strapped down in that tube waiting for the research to begin,' she admitted in a choked voice.

BOOK: Bargain With the Enemy
4.21Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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