Chapter 24
ALLY
Ally dropped to her knees next to Lyk as soon as the viewscreen went dark. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?” She stared daggers at Zelup. “You didn’t have to hit him so hard!”
Zelup laughed. “Of course, I did, or that guy would have never bought it.” Zelup grabbed Lyk by the joint of his electro-cuffs and pulled him to his feet.
Turning off the current and freeing Lyk’s hands, Zelup gave his brother a pat on the back.
“Thanks for that little show of jealousy, brother. You really helped sell it.”
“It wasn’t a show,” Lyk growled, pinning Ally with his gaze. He loomed over her, his expression fierce. “You belong to me.”
His possessiveness did something to her insides, but her rational mind protested. “Nobody owns me,” she snarled, shoving against him. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be in the officer’s lounge having a stiff drink.”
As she stalked off the bridge, she heard Zelup’s laugh echoing behind her. “Good choice, brother. She’s perfect for you.”
The layout of Zelup’s ship was identical to Lyk’s, so it was easy for her to find the officer’s lounge. She hit the pad but it blinked red, causing her to curse. One of Zelup’s crew was walking past, so Ally flagged him down. “Open this door for me.”
“I’m not an officer,” he said, then resumed his trek down the corridor.
“Godsdamit,” she muttered under her breath, then hit the pad again. Still red.
Remembering what her sister had done to get them off of Rigellus’s ship, Ally leaned over and let out a huff of air over the locking pad. Maybe I can confuse this thing enough to get the damn door open.
“What are you doing?”
Ally froze bent over, then rolled her eyes. Of course, he would find me in this position. She straightened, then turned to face Lyk. “It’s locked.”
Lyk put his hand on the pad and the door opened. Ally crossed her arms, scowling. “If you were such a black sheep, how come your prints still work to open the locks around here?”
Lyk shrugged. “I guess they didn’t consider me a threat.”
“That makes two of us,” she muttered, then entered the mess and started digging in the cabinets to locate some liquor. She managed to find a dusty bottle of rust-colored liquid and pulled it out, then grabbed a glass and started to fill it.
“Do you even know what that is?” Lyk asked, the corners of his mouths twitching.
“Does it matter?” She lifted it to her nose and sniffed. “It’s definitely booze. Bottoms up.” She drained the glass, then doubled over, coughing harshly as the liquid burned a path down her throat to her stomach.
Lyk approached, gently patting her on the back. “You okay?”
Ally straightened, moving away from him. “I’m fine,” she squeaked.
Unable to hold back his laughter anymore, Lyk smiled. “Look, I get that you’re upset. Let’s talk about it.”
“There’s nothing to say.” That wasn’t accurate.
There was plenty to say, but she wasn’t equipped to talk about the things she needed to.
This entire situation is fucked. My sister is missing, his family is embroiled in some fantastical war involving gods and demons.
The last thing we need to worry about is our feelings.
“Allandria, about what happened on that shuttle.”
“Don’t,” she warned, holding up a finger, then pouring herself another drink with shaking hands. She sipped it this time, then sat down at the table, letting out a heavy sigh.
Lyk sat down across from her. “You were a virgin,” he said softly.
“It doesn’t matter,” she replied, feeling suddenly bone weary. She had no energy for whatever deep and meaningful conversation he had planned.
“It matters to me.” His expression was serious, and she noticed that he was clenching and unclenching his hands as they rested against the tabletop.
“I just wanted to forget,” Ally said, setting down her drink and running her hands through her hair in a gesture of frustration. “For a few minutes, I didn’t want to have to think about Evie and what might be happening with her.”
“I might buy that if you hadn’t been a virgin.” His gaze was intent. “You were saving yourself. For what?”
Her eyes narrowed. He had no problem asking an exceedingly personal question like this. “I said it doesn’t matter,” she said after a short hesitation and was surprised to learn that she was tearing up.
The door to the lounge slid open, Zelup striding inside to give them a wide smile. “We’re almost out of the wormhole, and your ship is still behind us. Looks like your plan worked, little lady.”
Ally picked up her glass in salute, then drained the rest of the liquor. She didn’t cough this time but welcomed the burn. Anything to take her mind off her depressed state.
“We’re nearing Vartik,” Zelup said. “I wondered if you had something in mind for when we land?” He joined the two of them at the table.
“Of course, I do. I’m going to strangle that cyborg the first chance I get.”
Ally was surprised at the vehemence in Lyk’s voice. She knew he was angry over the mutiny, but he’d yet to really lose his temper, aside from his little show on the bridge. It seemed things were about to change.
“Naturally. And the rest of your crew? Imprisoned, I suppose?”
Lyk nodded. “Until I have a chance to talk to them.”
“You’d let them go?” Ally asked, genuinely surprised. “Your brother suggested hanging all of them.”
Zelup, his chin resting in his hand, turned to his brother. “That sounds like Marek. But I’m also intrigued. They betrayed you, and it seemed like they didn’t need much convincing. Why give them the benefit of the doubt?”
“Because when I board a ship and look my prisoners in the eye, I give them a choice to join my crew. In exchange for profits, I expect loyalty. I want to look them in the eye and find out exactly why that loyalty was so easy to discard.”
Lyk’s eyes met hers and a frizzle of electricity went through her, as did the recognition that he might be asking the same question of her. But I never promised to be loyal.
Zelup stood. “I’ll prepare the crew for our arrival on Vartik. I’ll also let our brothers know to expect to help subdue your crew until you can have your little chat, and until you finish strangling your cyborg, of course.” He left the lounge, the door whooshing shut behind him.
Ally debated refilling her glass. The liquor was starting to numb her insides. That’s what I need. To feel nothing. No more fear about what’s happening to my sister. No more lust for the Vartik male who thinks he owns me. No more confusion about how I feel. Just… nothing.
“Allandria, we need to—”
“Stop calling me that. No one uses my full name.” She suddenly felt peevish. “And I’m not your little girl or your sweetheart. You’re a means to an end, and that’s it.”
His face turned to stone, and she felt a tinge of regret at losing her temper.
“A means to an end. That’s what I’ve always been to you. A means for you to take out your anger, to blame for your problems. A means of escape, from Gamma-17, from Rigellus, and from your own thoughts. That’s all I’ve been, that and nothing more.”
He stood, and Ally felt a pain in her chest so pervasive it was as if her heart was actually cracking.
As usual, her anger rose to defend her from her pain.
Unable to help herself, she jumped to her feet, rounding the table to confront him.
“You’re the one who offered. You gave me the credits. And you brought me on board your ship.”
“So this is all my fault?” His voice was rougher than sandpaper.
She nodded. “You insisted on sticking your nose into my business!”
“I wasn’t the one who came marching into the tavern, throwing around accusations! Accusations that turned out not to be true, I might add.”
“Add whatever you want. You still deserved that drink thrown in your face.”
Eyes narrowed, he grabbed her and pulled her against him. “You insist on treating me like your enemy, but you’re your own worst enemy.”
“How dare you make this about us when my sister is in Hell, suffering gods know what? Let me go.”
He ignored her command. Peering down into her face, his voice lowered.
“I’ve told myself that I like your sharp edges because sharp edges are needed to protect softer, more delicate things.
But there’s nothing soft about you at all, is there?
You’re only sharp edges, and you don’t care who you cut. ”
She tried to struggle out of his grip, but he wouldn’t let her, so she swung out her arm, intending to slap his face. This time, he caught her, quickly shifting her around and lifting her onto the table. “Put away your claws, kitten. You’ve hurt me enough already.”
“Stop telling me what to do! You don’t own me.”
“For once, you’re right,” he growled. Taking her hand, he held it to his chest where she could feel his heart beating, steady, regular. “I don’t own you. You own me. Body and soul.”
Eyes wide, she blinked at his words. But before she could reply, his head was descending to capture her lips.
The kiss was soft but no less devastating than his other kisses.
As he finally pulled away, Ally realized that her anger had dissipated.
His fingers brushed her cheeks, and when they came away wet, she saw that she was crying.
“You can push me away all you want,” he said, his tone intent, “but I’m never going to leave you. You’re going to learn that you can trust me, that you can depend on me.”
Ally couldn’t respond with words. They got bunched up in her throat and wouldn’t come out. So she did the only thing she could. She responded with her body.
Winding her arms around his neck, she kissed him.
It was a leisurely kiss, partly because she didn’t exactly know what she was doing.
Ally had never taken the lead on a kiss before.
She followed her instincts, pressing her lips to his, sucking his bottom lip into her mouth.
When she gave it a nibble, he growled against her mouth.
Lyk clutched the back of her head, holding her tight for his exploration as he took control of the kiss.
His tongue slid into her mouth, teasing her, tempting her.
She started to shiver. Ally didn’t know how this man was able to turn her on with so little effort.
All she knew was that she needed him now more than she’d ever needed anything.
Ally leaned back against the table, pulling him along with her. “Make love to me,” she whispered against his mouth.
“We’re almost back to Vartik. It’s not exactly the best time for lovemaking, sweetheart.”
“I need you,” she whispered, so low that she was surprised that he heard her.
“Understood.” He wasted no time unzipping her coveralls and pulling them off. “As soon as we get to Vartik, I’m burning those damn things. You belong in silks and satins, not dirty old coveralls.”
Then Lyk ripped off his own shirt and unzipped his pants before grabbing her up again and kissing her furiously.
She smiled against his mouth, then flicked her tongue against his lips. “You tease,” he growled, claiming her lips again as he positioned himself at her entrance. “We don’t have much time, so I’ll only be able to make you climax a few times unfortunately.”
“Now who’s the tease?” she asked.
He smiled, and the smile turned into a groan as he pressed inside her. He was so large, she had to bite her lip at the flash of pain as he stretched her, but by the time he was fully seated inside her, there was only the glow of pleasure left.
She watched his beautiful body move as he stood at the edge of the table. He was the pinnacle of masculinity and a perfect specimen of manhood. Leaning forward, he slid his hands up her body, stopping at her breasts to caress them.
Her nipples were soon two hard points. When he leaned over to fasten his mouth over one and begin to suck, she bucked against him. She could feel his smile against her breast and it was making her wetter than a rainstorm.
Lyk moved to her other breast, using his hand to pinch the nipple he’d just been sucking. Ally’s eyes slid closed as her pleasure began to climb. His pace quickened and she knew it wouldn’t be long until she reached her climax.
“You feel so good,” he murmured against her breast. “Nothing has ever felt this good.” His words made her moan, driving her right to the edge, but it wasn’t until he used his teeth to score her nipple that she tumbled over.
“That’s right,” he groaned. “Come for me, sweetheart.”
She did. And she realized that she’d never get enough of this strong, passionate male.