Crusader (Battle Born Book 1) (13 page)

“Oh, I see,” Erkott sneered. “We have a martyr on our hands. Then how about if I bend her over the bed and we’ll take turns riding her until you reconsider your position?”

Bandar responded in gruff Rodyte, but his gaze burned so brightly his
phitons
were visible through his contacts.

“How big is the safe?” Letos asked, his expression suddenly shuttered.

Erkott’s brow arched as he shifted his gaze to Letos. “Are you so damn squeamish you can’t stand a bit of bed sport, or are you really foolish enough to think you can keep her for your own private pet?”

“I thought we were in a hurry. Wasn’t it you insisting that ‘we don’t have time for this’ a few moments ago?”

“You’re right.” Despite his capitulation, Erkott was obviously pissed off by the logic. Nodding toward the closet, he snarled, “Yank, tear or cut the safe free. We’ll blast the thing open once we’re back on the ship.”

Ashley had been dying for a glimpse of a spaceship ever since Bandar admitted that he’d arrived aboard one. However, this wasn’t the
Crusader
and a glimpse was all she’d received. She’d been streamed, along with Bandar and the other four Rodytes, from her father’s cabin to the “security portal” on board the
Relentless.
The destination sounded a lot more impressive than it turned out to be. They materialized in a holding cell, separated from security guards and technicians by transparent walls. They were quickly scanned for weapons, harmful pathogens, and God knew what else before they were allowed out of the area.

Without explanation Letos took off, leaving her and Bandar with Erkott and his two guards.

Erkott faced Bandar, pulse pistol aimed at the middle of his chest. “Hand me your weapons, slowly. Then take off your armor.” His gaze drifted toward Ashley as he waited for Bandar to obey. Was she next? This jerk had been threatening to strip her naked, and worse, since he found her in her father’s cabin.

Bandar handed over a small pulse pistol and a conventional knife, but he drew his flexblade with obvious reluctance. “If anything happens to this—”

“You’ll sic your brother on me?” Erkott snatched the weapon from Bandar’s hand with a scornful laugh. “I’ve got a big brother too. Your tired threats don’t scare me.”

“Garin doesn’t fight my battles for me.” Bandar clenched his fists, likely keeping himself from punching the smug bastard. “Generals are bound by rules and obligations. I have far fewer constraints.”

Erkott looked as if he’d say more, then glanced into the distance and muttered several phrases in rapid Rodyte. Apparently, someone had just given him an order and he didn’t seem pleased by whatever he’d been told to do. “Take off the armor. Now!”

With obvious resentment, Bandar pressed his middle finger against the upper edge of the suit. A previously invisible seam appeared down the front. He pulled the sides apart then peeled the supple material down his torso and off his arms. It looked more like a wetsuit than armor, but she’d seen the material deflect a thrusting knife and absorb bursts of energy. She wasn’t sure it would stop a bullet, but it was obviously a lot tougher than it looked.

She tried not to gawk, but all Bandar wore beneath the armor were clingy undergarments. The tan material outlined every bulge and ripple of his incredible body. At a glance, he appeared naked and her body was reacting accordingly. Heat unfurled between her thighs and anticipation tingled across her skin. She felt almost lightheaded as desire swarmed through her system. What the hell was wrong with her? They were prisoners of war and she was thinking about sex?

After pulling his legs from the suit, Bandar kicked it across the floor toward Erkott. Tension rippled across Bandar’s shoulders and down his arms. He was clearly spoiling for a fight and Erkott looked more than willing to oblige him.

Erkott signaled one of the guards on the other side of the security portal and the guard triggered an opening in the containment. One of Erkott’s guards led the procession, Erkott followed Bandar and Erkott’s other guard followed Ashley. They didn’t go far. They walked down a short corridor and into a large open room.

“What is this place?” She moved closer to Bandar as Erkott broke formation. Bandar’s calm strength helped her maintain a brave façade. On any other day being captured by hostile aliens would have been enough to completely unravel her, but so much had happened in the past forty-eight hours that she was starting to feel desensitized by the upheaval.

“Rather than fixed holding cells, the newer ships have gone to a grid system,” Bandar told her in a low, tense voice. He might appear unfazed by their capture, but she knew better. His gaze took in every detail of their surroundings, analyzing each advantage and searching for opportunities. “The energy grid can be arranged in a variety of formations, depending on the crew’s needs at any given time.”

“But there are no solid walls. What happens if the ship loses power?”

“Rodyte ships have redundant power systems. Total power loss is virtually impossible.”

“And even if the impossible were to happen,” Erkott interjected, obviously following their conversation. “The detention area is secured by physical barriers, so the only people the detainees would have access to would be other detainees.”

She shivered, suddenly glad she and Bandar appeared to be the only detainees.

Erkott guided them to the back corner of the open room. “Move over,” he told Ashley.

When she didn’t immediately comply, one of his guards urged her to the designated position and kept her there at gunpoint.

“If she is harmed in any way—”

Erkott interrupted Bandar’s threat with a backhand, but Bandar easily dodged the predictable blow. Erkott drew back his arm, ready to try again, then something or someone stopped him. His features tensed and he muttered a sharp stream of Rodyte to the unseen speaker.

Finally, with anger burning in his gaze, he motioned Ashley back to Bandar’s side. “He wants you two together.”

Bandar held out his hand toward Ashley, his gaze still boring into Erkott.

Thrilled by the development, Ashley rushed to Bandar’s side and wrapped her arms around his waist. He spanned her shoulders in a protective embrace. It shouldn’t make sense—she’d only known Bandar for a day—but somewhere along the line he’d become her haven. When the world stopped making sense, which was becoming a frequent occurrence, all she had to do was wrap herself around Bandar and she felt safe again.

“Keep her warm for me,” Erkott sneered. Then to Ashley, “I’ll see you soon.” When Bandar only glared, Erkott strode from the detention area, followed by his guards.

The outer door shut with a metallic
clang
and then the energy grid engaged. The vertical fields were transparent and colorless, surrounding them on three sides. Only a faint hum and a mild visual distortion told Ashley where the barriers were. A bunk lowered from the wall, like an ultramodern drawbridge, and a sink/commode combo unit slid outward as well. This was basically a jail cell, so she hadn’t expected creature comforts. Still, the absolute lack of privacy was horrifying. They would be on display during every minute of every day.

“We have to get out of here.” She turned into his embrace and pressed her face into the warm curve of his neck. His scent surrounded her, calming her, as his arms pressed her securely against his chest.

“They’re required to bring us blankets and a pad for the bunk. I’ll use a blanket to shield you from view whenever you require privacy.”

His offer was sweet, but answering nature’s call with him standing right in front of her wasn’t much of an improvement. Rather than dwell on the humiliations ahead, she savored the warmth of his arms. “Why were we allowed to stay together? That was obviously not what Erkott had planned.”

“I’m not sure, but don’t forget they can see and hear everything that goes on in these cells.” He looked into her eyes to make sure she grasped the significance of his casual statement. “Only Akim has the authority to dictate to Erkott, so it must have been Akim who gave the order.”

“There has to be a reason. Why would Akim want us in the same cell?”

His features tensed and his brows drew together as if he was searching for just the right words. “I think he’s hoping our need for each other will build to the point where we don’t care who’s watching.”

She couldn’t deny being attracted to Bandar, but his words implied something more than casual interest, something she didn’t understand. Rather than arguing with him, she kept her answer vague. “It doesn’t matter how much I want you. There’s no way I’ll perform for an audience. Akim is destined for disappointment.”

“Gods, I hope you’re right, but I can feel the heat rising already.” Without warning, he took her face between his hands and kissed her deeply.

She tensed, gave a surprised yelp, then relaxed into the unexpected kiss. Reluctantly, she closed her eyes and let his urgency wash over her. She only had two choices, shove him away or trust that there was a reason for his bizarre behavior. She chose to trust him.

His tongue brushed back and forth against her lips until she opened for him. She wrapped her arms around his back and rocked to the balls of her feet. Their bodies pressed together, her soft curves yielding to his hard muscles. If only they’d been truly alone, the kiss would have been perfect. She wanted this, and yet the experience was tainted, cheapened by their audience.

Bandar took the kiss deeper. She absorbed his taste, savoring the agile slide of his tongue over and around hers. She dug her fingernails into his flesh and moaned into his mouth, wishing she could just let go and forget that they were being watched.

Suddenly a hot needle stabbed into her brain. She gasped then froze, more surprised than frightened. The pain faded quickly, leaving a defused sting. Her thoughts scattered and uncertainty rippled through her composure. Reality swam around her, undulating as if her senses weren’t in focus. She tried to open her eyes, but found she couldn’t move. Fear surged, partially clearing her mind as her limbs began to tremble violently.

Easy, love. I’ve got you.
Bandar’s reassurance sounded very far away. Then the connection came online with a sudden jolt and he crushed her against him, supporting her quaking body as she struggled against the unfamiliar sensations.
Stop fighting the link and it will stabilize. The pain will fade.

What is… How are you doing this?
Gradually she surrendered and the connection locked into place. As he promised, the pain faded and her surroundings came back into focus.

I passed you a team of my nanites. They’ve established a direct link between our minds. We need to talk and we can’t let Akim or his men hear what we’re saying
.

But Erkott heard you in the cabin. He must be telepathic.

Bandar gentled the kiss, as if trying to soothe and calm her now that she understood what was happening.
That was instinct. I pushed the thought across a communal link. It was unprotected. This is private, heavily shielded. They can’t hear what we’re saying.
She pressed in closer and allowed her lips to grow pliant under his.
Are you all right now?

Far from it, but the fire in my brain went out.

She felt him smile against her parted lips.
I’m going to keep kissing you unless you can think of a better distraction.

Eagerly burying her hand in his hair, she let the thick strands caress her. Only a man this blatantly male could get away with hair this beautiful.
I can’t think of anything right now.
The husky purr in her tone revealed more than her words.

He grabbed her hips and held her in place as he stumbled backward and sat down on the bunk. Her thighs parted and her knees bent as she settled astride his lap. He slid his hands up from her hips, slipping under her sweater until he found bare skin.

His groan was audible as well as telepathic.
Gods, you’re soft. And warm. I knew you’d feel like this.

She didn’t want to think, just wanted to enjoy kissing him and being touched by him. But this was a distraction—for Akim’s crew, not for them.

How did you know his name was Erkott?
Bandar’s question forced her to concentrate on something other than the ache throbbing between her thighs
.

Letos told me.

Letos.
He pulled away and looked into her eyes, clearly shocked by the revelation.
My shadow claimed to be Letos?

She offered a subtle nod.
Who is Letos? Who is Erkott, for that matter? Letos said you’d understand the significance of the names.

Rather than return his mouth to hers, he peppered her face with kisses, slowly working his way from her ear to her throat. She arched, offering him her neck as her fingers lightly tangled in his hair.

Erkott is Akim’s youngest brother,
Bandar explained.
I’d only seen him once before, but I was pretty sure I recognized him. Letos is a notorious spy. No one knows his real name. Many believe he’s a technomage.

What’s a technomage?

I’ll explain later. There are more important things you need to understand right now.
He reached the base of her throat and lingered in the hollow where her shoulder met her neck. Her hands wandered over his ba ck and arms, her touch every bit as hungry as his.
Sleeping in my arms left my scent on you.

Her hands stalled for a moment then continued along their wandering path.
But we didn’t have sex.

When a Rodyte male is aroused, his entire body emits pheromones. The scent is strongest in his semen, but it’s also in his saliva and sweat. Each time my lips brush your neck,
he paused to demonstrate,
my scent is transferred to your skin.

Did this explain why she had the irrational urge to devour him every time he was close enough to touch? She’d noticed that there was something different about his scent, indefinable, almost intoxicating. Love at first sight. The elusive phrase had been flitting around in her mind, offering one possible explanation for her irrational reaction to him. Had he just offered another? Love at first
smell
? Were Rodyte pheromones driving her insane?