Forbidden

Chapter Six

Mikkarn wasn’t far behind Kiril. The simple fact that Kiril had to maneuver through the crowded halls ensured that. When Kiril reached the door to the lounge, Mikkarn expected to be able to catch up. Instead, Kiril opened it and roared inside.

His battle cry was cut short by a loud BANG , and Kiril halted abruptly.

Mara screamed and lunged for Tamche.

“Mara! Don’t!” Mikkarn’s cry was frantic.

It was too late. Mara already held Tamche’s wrist above her head, struggling with the gun. Not waiting on the outcome, Mikkarn simply grabbed Tamche from behind with one hand and the gun with the other. Tamche struggled wildly and Mikkarn wasn’t sure how long he could hold her.

Before Mikkarn could decide what to do, Mara landed a punch to Tamche’s jaw, effectively knocking the kicking, screaming woman out cold.

“Kiril,” Mara whispered, and she turned deathly pale.

Turning around, Mikkarn watched as Kiril fell to his knees, his eyes wide, his skin pale and glistening with sweat. Blood oozed steadily from a wound to the right side of his chest. Mikkarn could hear a sickening sucking sound with each breath Kiril took.

Mara was at Kiril’s side in a flash. Pulling a small pair of bandage scissors from her pocket -- she had always insisted on carrying items she would normally have used if she were on Earth -- she cut away his shirt. Removing her lab coat, she wadded it into a ball and pressed it to Kiril’s chest. “Hold this.”

He activated the communication unit on the wall as he followed her instructions, cursing the need to remove his personal comm device when he’d entered the mainframe chamber that morning. They would have to wait precious seconds before help arrived.

Mara searched the room methodically until she found a sandwich wrapped in plastic. Carefully unwrapping it, she tossed the food aside and knelt beside Kiril. “Remove the dressing.”

Mikkarn did. Blood still oozed, but not in great amounts. The gurgling sound persisted.

Mara carefully placed the plastic over the small wound in Kiril’s chest. “Hold that by the edges.”

Again, Mikkarn did her bidding as she dug through those ever bulging pockets until she came out with a roll of tape. Tearing three long strips, she taped the plastic down at three edges.

“We need to get him to a healing tube,” Mikkarn stated as several Medical Command personnel entered the room.

“No, really?” Mara’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “I never would have guessed.”

“Are you always such a bitch in a crisis?”

“Only when people state the obvious.”

Kiril moaned and both bickering doctors turned their attention back to him. “If I make it through this, I’m putting you both over my knee.” Kiril’s voice was weak, but Mikkarn couldn’t help but smile.

Mara’s soft bark of laughter sounded suspiciously like the beginnings of a sob. “If I let Mikkarn make it through this, I’ll help you spank him.”

Mikkarn grasped Mara’s arm firmly, a gesture meant to comfort. “Let’s get him on the stretcher.”

* * *

“Faster! Move it!” Mara tried to hurry the three men who had responded to Mikkarn’s call for help into pushing Kiril’s stretcher faster , but they refused to listen to her.

“This hospital is full of people, Doctor.” One of them, a big, burly man, spoke calmly. “Commander Kiril will be fine when we get him to the healing chamber.”

“Where’s Mikkarn?” She had lost him after they’d loaded Kiril and started off with him. How dare Mikkarn abandon her and Kiril!

“He’s calling ahead to make sure the healing tube is readied,” the same burly officer explained patiently. He pushed the stretcher at the impossibly slow pace, as though he had all the time in the world. He sounded like he was talking to a child, which only annoyed Mara more.

“Do you even understand the seriousness of his wounds? His lung has collapsed, possibly both lungs, if the bullet ricocheted inside him. He could very well die without immediate intervention.” Mara knew she wasn’t getting through to the man. She only hoped nothing delayed them from getting him to a damned healing tube.

Gritting her teeth, Mara decided her best course of action was to go ahead of the stretcher and clear the way. They were about halfway to their destination when a sudden surge of panic almost brought her to her knees. The damn tubes are full ! Mikkarn’s intense emotion caught her up in the maelstrom and she screamed her rage, never questioning the certainty of what she now knew, or how she knew it.

“No! Fucking hell! I knew something like this would happen!” Mara stopped the stretcher and shoved it in the opposite direction. Toward the ER.

“What in the Universe are you doing, Doctor?” Big and Burly asked. “I thought you were anxious to get Commander Kiril to the healing chamber?”

“It’s full and he can’t wait.”

“What do you mean it’s full? There’s always a place for the very sick and injured.” He redirected the stretcher, again heading them in the opposite direction.

“Would you listen to me? We’ve got to get him to the Emergency Room. It’s the only place that has the equipment I need!” Mara was becoming desperate. Where the fuck was Mikkarn?

“This is not the time for you to play the hero, Doctor.” Big and Burly sounded impatient. “I’m sure you’ve learned much, but I will not let you endanger Commander Kiril with your barbaric medicine.”

Mara didn’t even bat an eye. She picked up the first object she saw -- a chair -- and swung it with all her might at the hulking guard. The other two guards immediately moved to subdue her but Mikkarn’s authoritative voice commanded them to stop. “You will bloody well do what she tells you to! More than half the tubes are down for upgrades and there is no place to put Kiril.”

“It’s about fucking time!” Mara snapped. “Help me!”

“You two --” Mikkarn indicated the remaining two guards, “-- see to him. Get him to the ER as quickly as you can.”

Kiril was deathly pale, his lips taking on a faint bluish tinge. Mara led the way, as she and Mikkarn heaved the stretcher into motion. When they wheeled Kiril into the ER at breakneck speed, several nurses turned to Mikkarn for instructions.

“Get Dr. Jensen whatever she needs.” Mikkarn hooked Kiril up to various monitors as Mara cut away the rest of his clothes to look for more injuries.

“I need the chest cart.” Detaching herself from everything but her patient, Mara didn’t glance up. She needed to know exactly what she was dealing with, and she needed to do it effectively. No distractions of any kind.

“What’s she going to do, Doctor?” The fresh-faced nurse watched in fascination as Mara gowned up.

“Just do what she says. Seconds count.” Mikkarn was actually wondering the same thing. He couldn’t fault the nurse for asking.

“Okay.” Mara turned to Mikkarn. “Here’s the deal. Kiril’s most obvious injury is an open pneumothorax. The bullet caused an opening in the pleural space and his right lung has collapsed, making adequate air exchange impossible.”

“I know what it is, Mara. How do we fix it?”

Mara felt her face heat up in her embarrassment. “Sorry.” Moving to a cart in the corner of the room, she started looking for the supplies she needed. This archaic equipment was the only thing that could save Kiril now.

“We have to drain the air and blood, if there is any, so the lung can fully expand again.”

Mikkarn rolled his eyes skyward. “Again, that’s obvious. How do we do it?”

“Lighten up! If you had paid attention to me when I built this damned cart, you’d know,” Mara snapped. Taking a deep breath, she rolled her shoulders to relieve the tension. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m a bitch in a crisis.”

Mikkarn smiled. “Just tell me how to help you.”

“I want a thirty-eight French chest tube. I think there is only a pneumo, but if there’s blood in the pleural space, the larger tube will be helpful.” Turning to the nurse at Mikkarn’s side, Mara said, “I need some Betadine, size six sterile gloves, and a local anesthetic.” She pressed a button to raise the stretcher to a comfortable level for her to work. Leaning close to Kiril, she brushed her lips to his. “Hang in there. This will hurt, but when I’m through, you’ll be able to breathe easier.”

Kiril managed a weak smile. “I trust you. Do what you must.”

A rush of tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She absolutely could not lose this man. Looking to Mikkarn, she realized the same was true of him. She would be lost without either of them.

Taking a deep breath, Mara spoke to the nurse again. “Do you remember how to ready the Pleur-evac? I’ll need you to do that while Mikkarn and I put in the chest tube.”

The nurse nodded her head and pulled out the sheet of instructions, fumbling with them as she tried to set up the equipment. Thank God the English to Gothe’maran translation had been included in the package. Checking for the correct amount, the nurse filled the atrium with sterile water and hooked it to the suction device.

Mara nodded her head in satisfaction. At least someone had paid attention to her.

“Raise your right arm over your head, Kiril. Mikkarn, glove up.” Mara put on her gloves as well and carefully cleansed the proper area, explaining herself to Mikkarn as she went. “Imagine there is a line from the very center of his armpit running the length of his side to his waist. We’ll call this the mid-axillary line. We want to make an incision horizontally slightly in front of this line. Count the spaces between his ribs. You want to go into the sixth space, which should be at about nipple level in a man.”

“Would you two please stop talking about me like I’m a piece of meat?” Kiril looked annoyed, felt annoyed. “I’m not some cadaver for you to practice on, Mikkarn. Let Mara do it.”

Mikkarn chuckled. “What? You don’t trust me?”

Kiril snorted. “Sure I do. But I trust her more at this instant.”

Mara tested the syringe of anesthetic. “You’re going to feel a stick, then a stinging sensation. This will numb you locally. Once I make the incision, you’ll feel some discomfort as the tube goes in, but it should be bearable.”

Kiril nodded. His breathing was becoming more labored and his oxygen saturation was dropping slowly, but steadily.

Mara made her cut. Quick, clean. She carefully broke through the subcutaneous tissue over the rib and punctured the tissue inside with her clamp. She swept just inside the incision with her finger to check for organs or adhesions in her immediate path. Taking the plastic-like tube in her clamp, she inserted the blunt end until about half the tube was inside Kiril’s chest. In a few seconds, condensation formed inside the tube and Mara released a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. The placement was successful.

Hooking up the suction device, she waited a few minutes. It didn’t take long before the bluish tinge to his lips and fingernails began to pinken, and his skin was less clammy. “Are you feeling any better?” Mara stroked her hand down the side of Kiril’s face.

“Maybe. A little, yeah.”

“His color is coming back.” Mikkarn held the tube firmly while Mara made a few sutures to hold it securely.

“And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the low tech way to fix a pneumothorax.” Mara smiled, supremely pleased with herself.

It wasn’t long after that the guards brought their fallen comrade into the room beside Kiril’s.

“He’s still unconscious, Heirek?” Mikkarn glanced at the guard as he cleaned up the mess he and Mara had made with their equipment.

“He’s in and out,” Heirek said. “She hit him pretty hard, sir.”

“He should take the next available tube,” Mara said. “Kiril should be okay for as long as it takes. I can’t do much for a head injury.” She looked to the other two guards. “I’m sorry I hit him. Kiril needed help and he was going too slowly and in the wrong direction.”

Heirek smiled. “No apology necessary, Doctor. You were right.”

Mara smiled at Mikkarn as Kiril reached for her hand.

“Thank you for saving my life, Mara.” Kiril squeezed gently. “Now, if you two would leave me alone for a few moments, I’d like to rest.” Kiril winked at Mara. I think Mikkarn needs to hold you . Kiril’s voice inside her head startled her and she jumped.

“Quit that!”

Kiril grinned. “But it’s so much fun.”

Giggling, Mara took Mikkarn’s hand. “Let’s go. Let the big, bad bodyguard have his beauty rest.”

Without a word, Mikkarn let her lead him to a private room where she took him in her arms. He held her tightly for several minutes before she realized he was crying.

Without saying another word, Mara took Mikkarn’s face in her hands and gently pressed her lips to his. She wanted to lose herself in the pleasure of his mouth moving tentatively against hers, but she reached for Kiril almost blindly. She needed to feel the bond the three shared.

When their kiss grew in intensity, she heard Kiril whisper, I feel complete …

Strangely enough, she did, too.

* * *

Since Kiril’s near miss two days before, Mara had struggled to come to terms with her relationship with the two men. Once she was assured Kiril was out of danger and Mikkarn no longer needed emotional support, she went back home and locked herself in to think.

What was she supposed to do? What did she want to do? All this time, she had tried to avoid the two men in anything other than the most necessary aspect of her professional life. Now she wanted, needed , more.

That’s it. Mara was tired of letting her wants and needs take second place. She was taking what she wanted.

* * *

The poolside door was open. Were they expecting her? Mara had trouble reading anything from either of them, but she suspected they were deep in their own pleasure. Entering the house, Mara paused just inside the door.

We were wondering when you’d finally show up . Mikkarn’s voice was full of love and laughter.

Come upstairs . Kiril’s deeper, seductive voice beckoned her. There’s something you’ll want to see .

Mara mounted the stairs quickly, following the sounds of masculine moans. Anticipation coursed through her and her nipples and cunt tingled. Finding a door at the end of the hallway slightly ajar, she slowly pushed it open. The very large bed dominated the room. The men upon it captured Mara’s attention like nothing else.

Mikkarn lounged naked on his back. Kiril knelt above him, his big body also gloriously naked.

“Have a seat, Mara.” Kiril’s rumbling voice elicited a warm gush of moisture from her pussy and she whimpered as she sat in the oversized chair across the room. “Watch,” he whispered.

Mara did watch, fascinated, as Kiril’s thick erection disappeared into Mikkarn’s mouth. Kiril’s head fell back and the veins stood out on his neck. Both men groaned their pleasure. Kiril’s shallow strokes became deeper, and faster. Mara couldn’t resist the urge to cup her swollen breast.

“That’s it. Turn yourself on,” Kiril ground out through clenched teeth. “Your turn is coming.”

Straddling Mikkarn’s face, Kiril lowered himself to rest his weight with hands flat against the mattress, his face inches from Mikkarn’s groin. Without breaking eye contact with Mara, Kiril lowered his mouth and enveloped Mikkarn’s long, hard cock.

Kiril hummed as he sucked. That sound, punctuated by the occasional groan from both Mikkarn and Mara, filled the room, along with the scent of clean sweat, musky male, and a delicately sweet feminine smell. Not unpleasant at all.

While they pleasured each other, and her, if from a distance -- she knew this was more for her benefit than their own -- Mara took the opportunity to examine each man for the first time up close. Approaching them silently, she looked her fill.

Mikkarn’s lean body was firmly muscled. The fine hair covering most of his body was as blond as the hair on his head. Even the coarse nest covering his sex was a pale, golden blond.

Kiril was very heavily muscled. Mara noted several scars on his big body and knew he had experienced many battles, some of them probably on Earth. Rolling off Mikkarn, Kiril stood at the edge of the bed, positioning himself between the other man’s legs. Mikkarn moved to the edge, spreading his thighs and bending his knees. Mara saw clearly the more recent scar on Kiril left by Tamche, and shuddered in remembrance.

“Do not think of such unpleasantness,” Mikkarn said. “You saved him and Tamche cannot hurt him, or you, ever again. I seriously doubt she will ever get out of prison given the circumstances.”

“You read my mind so easily.” Mara spoke softly, mesmerized by the sight before her as Kiril squeezed a generous amount of lubricant into the palm of his hand and stroked himself until his cock gleamed with the thick gel.

Mikkarn hissed as the head of Kiril’s cock slid into his ass. “You can do the same with us. You just have to reach for it.”

Kiril pumped into Mikkarn with slow, steady, ever-lengthening strokes. Mara did as Mikkarn instructed and reached for his mind. The pleasure was incredible, from the fullness pressing into his ass, the pressure building in his cock and balls, and from knowing Mara enjoyed what she saw. She also felt a lingering darkness in his soul, something she knew would take time to heal.

Resting a hand on Kiril’s arm, she halted his movements. “There is sadness within you. Your soul is as dark as Kiril’s appearance. Why do you blame yourself when others die?”

Mikkarn blinked. “I do not blame myself.”

“Liar,” Kiril and Mara said in unison.

Mikkarn chuckled. “Okay, so maybe I just think that with all the technology we have at our disposal, no one should ever die of anything other than old age.”

“Well.” Mara crawled up on the bed and stretched her body out next to Mikkarn’s. “By learning what I tried to teach you, you’ve made a step in the right direction. But let me tell you something.” She took his face in her hands, gently. “You have god-like power with healing, but you are not God. No matter what you do, no matter what you know, people will always die. It’s all part of the circle of life.”

Kiril gave a shallow thrust and Mikkarn cried out in surprise and pleasure. “Perhaps there are other things you can teach us, Mara. But right now, there are more important things I’m concerned about. Like just how many ways the three of us can fuck before we pass out from exhaustion.”

Mara lowered her mouth to Mikkarn’s and slipped her tongue inside, tasting, teasing. This was what she had been missing all her life and never even realized it. She had truly come home.

Losing herself in the passion of both men, she opened her mind to their cravings. Each wanted the other, each wanted her. Breaking her kiss, Mara stood and disrobed. It was past time they did this for real instead of in the strange dream world she visited every night.

“Stretch out on top of Mikkarn with your back against his chest.” Mara never hesitated. She trusted both men implicitly. Carefully, she straddled Mikkarn’s hips and let of her head rest on his shoulder, her legs on the outside of Mikkarn’s. Mikkarn cupped her breasts as Kiril, firmly imbedded within Mikkarn, grasped her legs and lifted, hooking her knees over his shoulders, grasping her ass in his hands. Her shoulders supported the rest of her weight where they lay on Mikkarn’s chest and his knees helped to support her when he rested his feet on Kiril’s rock-hard stomach. With a wicked grin, Kiril dove straight for her pussy.

Mara gave a sharp yelp and arched her back. Her ankles hooked together behind Kiril’s neck, and she levered herself against his mouth, seeking the friction she needed.

Mikkarn’s arms roamed her body, stroking, plucking her impossibly hard nipples, caressing her hips and ass as she sought her pleasure. “That’s it, sweet. Fuck his mouth.”

Mara was drowning in a sexual haze. Her climax, when it hit her, seized her muscles and took her breath. As she neared the peak, she screamed. She released every pleasure she had ever held back in that one gloriously hedonistic orgasm. Her breath coming in little gasps, her body drenched in sweat, she still wasn’t satisfied. She wanted what she had denied herself for two long, torturous years. She wanted these men to fuck her senseless.

* * *

As the glory of Mara’s climax faded, Kiril gently unwrapped her legs from around his neck. With Mikkarn holding her hips, Kiril once more spread her legs to rest outside Mikkarn’s, exposing her to them both. Carefully, Kiril guided Mikkarn’s cock inside her pulsing pussy. Mikkarn, his knees still bent, repositioned himself so that his feet were supported by the bed and gave an experimental pump, pushing his cock even deeper into her. Mikkarn’s pleasure magnified his own and Kiril clenched his jaw to keep from taking his own pleasure. Not now. Not yet.

“She’s so fucking tight !” Mikkarn gasped as he gave another experimental thrust, carefully, always mindful of Kiril’s cock still deeply embedded within his ass.

“As are you,” Kiril rumbled as he held Mara’s knees against his chest, and started the steady, gentle rhythm once again. His motion drove Mikkarn’s cock into Mara as he pulled her legs to him with each thrust of his body. He effectively fucked them both. Once he sensed they were all comfortable with the new, complicated position, he started to thrust faster, more forcefully. Before long, their rhythm was a driving force, longing to plunge them over the edge of sanity.

Mikkarn grunted, Kiril growled, and Mara whimpered. As one, they came in a glorious fountain of bliss, the pleasure so intense Kiril actually saw stars. Maybe even a couple of comets and planets as well. No one spoke words of undying love -- they didn’t have to. All they had to do was reach for the others’ thoughts and feelings and it was there. And they did love each other. Passionately.

When their spasms had ceased, when their bodies had no more to give, Kiril withdrew and cleansed himself. When Mara rolled to her side, sliding off Mikkarn’s softening cock, Kiril washed her and Mikkarn as well. Climbing back into bed on shaky legs, he snuggled close to Mara, who was sandwiched once again between them.

For the first time in his life, everything made sense. He would never be without Mikkarn, he wouldn’t have to worry about Mara leaving. They were mates. The love they felt for one another was incredible, and Kiril knew it would never fade. Sighing, completely happy and knowing his mates were as well, Kiril closed his eyes and slept.