
Evernight Publishing
Copyright© 2011 D. F. Krieger
ISBN: 978-1-926950-57-0
Cover Artist: LF Designs
Editor: Marie Buttineau
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
For my mother, who is sailing the stars.
For my critique partners, who told me exactly what I didn't want to hear.
For my husband, who pushed me over the edge when I was afraid I'd fall.
I am forever grateful to all of you.
SAIL MY OCEANS
D.F. Krieger
Copyright © 2011
Lucy Verr smiled with grim satisfaction as her starship, Tartarus, shuddered and wobbled while it pulled into the pitiful excuse for a planet-side port. Dust, stirred up from her ship's descent, swirled across the landscape as bouts of wind buffeted the metal hull.
I need to get laid.
The thought came unbidden and seemingly from nowhere. Lucy let her eyes rove the landscape, until she realized the thought was an echo of her environment. Her sex life, she mused, was undergoing a drought of its own, much like this planet.
Somehow, the weather suited the city it cradled and ravaged. Dremes---the town for thieves, runaways, and pirates---a utopia for bad business, dirty deeds, and disappearing acts. It was an ideal place for someone like Lucy Verr. She happened to have low friends in high places on Dremes, and that often made her life very interesting.
Lucy strode out of the brig and down the corridor, her fingers sliding along the metal banister of the catwalk. The metal was cool under her fingertips, allowing her to center her thoughts. Now was not the time to lament her sex life. She had a business deal to close, and perhaps, more business to conduct before heading off this dingy, two-bit planet.
When she climbed down the stairs and into the cargo hold, she gave the signal for the doors to open. A solid metal door swung down from the bulk, landing with a thud that echoed loudly on the patch-work, wooden dock. The landscape was soon flooded by her crew as they carried cargo to the docks. She waited a moment, her eyes adjusting to the bright, unfiltered daylight. A few blinks and then she strode with confidence down the ramp and in to the midst of the activity.
The warden of Dremes took a hesitant step forward , his hands ringing the edges of a ragged top hat. His coat, dirty at the elbows and threadbare at the seams, clung to his round frame, reminding Lucy of an insect getting ready to burst through its husk. He reached a greasy hand forward in tentative greeting. She narrowed her eyes in displeasure until he pulled his hand back, rubbing it against his trousers.
"You did the job, Captain?" His voice shook as he eyed the cargo being unloaded.
She waved a black gloved hand in a vague dismissive gesture. "Yes, of course I did. Warden, you need to have more faith in me. One settlement, properly ransacked, as per our accord. The cargo being unloaded is your twenty percent of the profit." The warden's gaze jerked back to her, his nostrils flaring. "We agreed on a forty, sixty split."
"Now, now, Warden, you benefited greatly from my actions," she chided, her tone soft.. "As long as I keep plundering settlers that try to strike out on their own on this planet, your little city continues to grow. Without other cities here to compete, you're the safest spot on Hope. The only spot that merchants can really come to. Your profits are unchecked; after all, you do reap taxes from every one of these shops and businesses, correct?" Lucy Verr paused, giving her words a moment to settle in.
His gaze flicked back and forth between the captain and the hulking figure of her henchman. A minute passed, two. With a reluctant look, the warden gave a slow nod.
"I believe that the profits for myself and my crew should reflect your gain directly. Such a quaint little town, but it had great potential to become something when it found that mineral deposit. Something that could have competed with your Dremes once they'd had a chance to grow. Since you will now gain from their loss, I think it's only fair you remember those who helped you grow rich." Lucy's smile didn't match the threat in her voice. "Don't you agree?"
Her crew, alerted by their captain's tone, leveled hard stares on the sweating warden. The dock seemed encased in a silence so intense the very air vibrated. The warden swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing almost comically in his throat, before his shoulders slumped forward in resignation. "I agree. Your offer is much more reasonable."
The crew relaxed and the air filled with sound again as they fell back into the routine of lugging cargo around. Lucy Verr let a soft smile flirt across her lips. "There's a good man. Now that we have matters settled, let's move on. Have you any merchandise for me to look over in your shop?"
This was a song and dance they both knew well. She and the warden had a long standing partnership that had played out well for them over the years. His demeanor changed, as he displayed yellowed teeth in a broad smile. "Why yes, Captain, I do. If you'll come with me, I can show you what I have right now."
They walked down the dock, through the rickety excuse for a control station, and out onto the crowded streets of the city. The roads here were made of dirt and traffic was either hovercraft, on foot, or the occasional horse cart. Styx and Chiron, Lucy's notorious "escorts", followed her and the warden like looming shadows.
When they wandered past the red light district, her pace slowed while she eyed the signs of the vying businesses with extreme interest. Lucy chewed her lip and battled an inner war with her desires. She considered asking the boys to meet up with her at the warden's office in an hour or so. Gods, she needed a good fucking, hard and to the point. She forbade herself from touching any of the crew, and there hadn't been any slaves aboard recently to fulfill her pleasures. Well, not any that she wanted to touch at least. She might be a pirate, but a woman still needed standards.
Seeing the warm red glow of the lights, and envisioning the faces of some of her favorite men who worked these streets, made her want to veer off course right that instant. She felt her panties grow wet with the idea, urging her to let her lust guide her. Instead, she squared her shoulders and paced onward. Business first, Lucy reminded herself. There would be plenty of time to indulge in a visit to those wonderful men when business with the warden was over.
It wasn't long before they entered the town center and headed straight for a room in the back. No one in Dremes cared what went on, but Lucy still insisted on some privacy for conducting their business. They waited while two officers went to fetch her potential merchandise.
"I think you'll like them," the warden assured her, his tone confident. "I just got them in a couple of days ago, so they are still fresh."
Two men stumbled into the room with the guards close behind. They looked mid-twenties, their clothing dirty but up-scale. She made a mental note of markets she could hope to sell them to. Anything of heavy labor was out, and that cut down over half her markets right there. Oh, they looked healthy enough, and somewhat muscular, but held a softness to them that suggested they'd known only a life of luxury. Finding a market for them as a noble's pet would be easy enough. She could sell them, but she wasn't about to agree to whatever price the warden already had set in his head.
"You think I can use these?" She scowled, tossing her hair over her shoulder while she glared at the warden.
He paled. "Captain, this is all we have. Everyone else is either misdemeanors who'll be out in sixty days, or drunks sobering up. You know I can't give you anyone who hasn't been sentenced to life imprisonment, or death. It's a risk that I'm even selling you these people at all."
She regarded the obese man, who smelled strongly of alcohol, and sighed. "You there," she said to the blond of the two, "what is your name and profession?"
The man, who had been watching the whole exchange with a thoughtful expression, virtually beamed at her. "I'm Julius, m'lady. I am---"
The darker-haired male next to Julius elbowed him soundly in the gut, his face impassive while he stared ahead. The blond clutched his stomach, gasping. Captain Verr pursed her lips, pondering the situation. There were plenty of markets looking for soft handsome slaves like the two standing before her, but Lucy had a feeling there was a catch. From the dark-haired man's reaction, they were obviously hiding something. They were probably the prized toys of some high and mighty duchess on a wealthy planet. A duchess who, when she found out Lucy Verr had her wayward toys, could fuck up Lucy's future considerably.
She motioned the warden over, wrapping an arm around his neck as she guided him from the room. She tried to ignore the rancid smell coming off him or think about the stains that were likely smudging her velvet jacket. When they left the room, she kicked the door closed, blocking them from sight and sound of anyone else.
"Who are they?" Her voice warned him not to lie.
He pulled away, his hands twisting at the rim of his top hat. "I'm not sure, Captain. They were turned in for the murder of two rich boys from Prodigus. They swear they didn't do anything wrong."
Lucy tapped a finger impatiently against the holster on her thigh. Murderers she could handle, but those two men in there didn't have the reek of a killer. She had been around enough cut throats and convicts in her life to weed out the ones that had a moral code versus the ones who killed for the pleasure of it.
"What do their travel papers say?"
The warden shrugged, looking more nervous by the minute. "They didn't have any. They were turned in and booked as rogues."
That was believable, at least. A lot of rogues, to keep their identity secret, often did dirty jobs without their travel papers on hand. It was illegal, but often, so were the jobs. Still something about this just didn't sit right with Lucy.
"And how were these so-called killers apprehended, Warden?" Lucy's voice was gentle, but her gaze searched him, daring him to lie to her.
"Well, see, it's like this," he hesitated. "They were turned in by a fellow traveling with the men who were murdered. He paid me real nice to take them without too many questions. Said it was for the betterment of society and he'd call in a favor to their families to have Dremes goods put on the authorized trade routes. As payment, you see, for us taking the murderers into custody."
Lucy went still. "So you thought you'd turn a triple profit? Take the men and get paid for that, get your pat on the back from Prodigus, and then even more coin in your greedy hands by rotating those gentlemen to me? I suppose they'll be going into your books as life incarceration by law?"
When he nodded, she put on her best fake smile. "Well, Warden, it seems you've had quite a stroke of luck in finances these past couple of days. It's nice to share such wealth among your friends and, after all the years we've been working together, I'd like to consider us friends. It would be very gentlemanly of you to say, give me a discount on those men in there."
The warden went red in the face, his hands balling into fists. "A-a-a discount?" he sputtered.
Lucy lounged against the wall, her arms crossed, her face impassive. Her leg, which just so happened to have the holstered gun, cocked forward, calling the warden's attention. She watched him eye that gun, weighing his options.
They had worked together for years. The warden had worked with her father too, back when the Tartarus still sailed under Bezeal Tartarus' command. A pirate among pirates, Bezeal taught his daughter one very valuable skill: how to negotiate. He'd taken Lucy Verr to more meetings like this as a child than she could even attempt to count. Before his retirement, Bezeal often placed her as the lead negotiator to ensure she learned the craft well. It allowed her to easily set up a reputation amongst the contacts the Tartarus maintained to keep its banner flying.
Lucy watched with cool disdain as the warden attempted to wrestle his temper under control. She was the best at what she did, and the most trustworthy. When she and a client came to an understanding, she never failed to deliver exactly as the terms stated. That didn't mean she wouldn't change the prices depending on the situation. Discovering the settlement she'd been sent to pillage earlier controlled a mineral deposit, merely shone a new light on available profit. Lucy never turned her nose up at the idea of gaining more money from a job. Not so long as the risk wasn't too high, or the contact too shady. The warden, gods bless his little black heart, was greedy, but he wasn't clever enough to be shady.
"I was going to ask for fifty gold apiece, but since luck has been smiling at me, I'd settle for forty-three." The warden smiled as if he thought the offer was very kind of him indeed.
"Come now, Warden, I was thinking more thirty," Lucy said. "They are, after all, murderers. That slims the market down considerably for me. Especially since it's obvious they aren't accustomed to hard labor. What lord or lady is going to want a killer as their new pretty pet?"
His face hardened and his jaw clenched in stubborn protest. "You already increased your share on the earlier deal. Take thirty-eight, and call yourself further ahead than you should be."
She shook her head. "You're issued money by the government if you keep them in your ledger as alive. I know how this works. You get paid monthly for men you aren't even up-keeping. I'll give you thirty-five and keep our dirty little secret quiet so we might do business again."
He narrowed his eyes, contemplating, before sticking out his hand to seal the deal. Lucy pulled away from the wall and took it in a firm grip, hating the idea of getting her gloves dirty too. No words were spoken, nor needed. They opened the door and reentered the room. Styx, the bigger of her two crew members, handed her a sack of gold. She counted out the warden's profits before dumping it into his greedy, waiting hands.
"Come on boys." She handed the money bag to Chiron. "Let's get out of here and back into my beloved sea of stars. The land is starting to leave a bitter taste in my mouth." She spared a moment of pity for herself that she wouldn't be visiting the red light district after all. Then again, under some tight control, she might be able to have some fun with the new slaves. They certainly weren't hard on the eyes. Maybe a visit to the red light district wouldn't be needed after all.
"Aye, Captain," Styx and Chiron chorused.
"Captain Lucy Verr?" The warden waited for her to pause before smiling at her. "Tell your old man I said hello, would you?"
"Of course, Warden."
The shackles were removed from the prisoners before they were led outside. She took the time to look them over better, watching for any brands of ownership on the ankles, wrists, or back of the neck. The blond man, Julius, seemed to be the younger of the two. He wasn't much taller than she; his body lithe and well-defined. The muscles didn't bulge, but were present enough to indicate he was healthy and toned. She found herself wondering idly if he was experienced in bed. He seemed eager and friendly with a bright hazel gaze and a frequent smile.
The dark haired man, whose name she had yet to learn, was far more brooding and silent. His chocolate eyes stared at her with a defiance that had her growing wet as she imagined forcing him to bend to her will. He was taller, his shoulders broad, and his muscles stood out in clear definition. He worked out, and often. She imagined his body stretched out on her bed as she rode that stoic stare right off his face.
She forced herself to refocus, knowing that the walk to the ship was when she needed to be at her most vigilant. This was when newly bought slaves often tried for their freedom. A laser pulse wound in the calf detracted from their selling value, but was often all she needed to remove escape plans from their heads. Styx and Chiron each positioned themselves behind one of the men, a gun held discreetly against the slave's backs. It wasn't hard to clear a path; the dreaded bitch-captain Lucy Verr was well known in this town. Not a soul dared question them, though it was mostly because no one cared.
They got to the docks without a hitch, and Lucy reminded herself to sing praises to the stars that night for the good day she was having. The cargo from the ransacked settlement had already been unloaded, the docks were clear of her crew, and two of her men stood guard at the edge of the ships loading door. They gave her a respectful half-bow, something the crew created on its own that Lucy found quite endearing, and stepped to the side to allow her and her entourage aboard.
"Are we pulling out, Captain?" Chiron's voice, always soft and quiet, was at odds with his great size. His bulk dwarfed her small frame, and she often brought him along to help when things got rough. He was a lover, not a fighter, but most people didn't get to know him well enough to discover that. He'd worked for her father and now was one of her two most trusted mates. Styx was, of course, the second.
"Yes, it's time to be off before our good luck runs dry. Styx, inform the crew. I want all our boys back aboard within the half hour." She pulled off her gloves as they entered the bulk, letting her eyes rove over the cargo that remained.
Most of it was raw ore from the settlement they'd paid a special visit to earlier that day. Lucy, not in the business of killing innocents unless she absolutely had to, had settled for stripping the village center of anything of value. The individual families' personal belongings had been left untouched. The planet was so desolate that she doubted she would have gained much more than aggravation and wasted effort if she'd tried to raid homes. The ore, though, had been fair game and an added bonus. On certain planets she could fetch a beautiful, and legitimate, price for her discovery.
She turned to regard the two prisoners with a raised eyebrow, giving an irritated sigh. "And where should I house a couple of blue-blood killers, eh?" She blew a wisp of hair away from her forehead.
"We didn't kill anyone," Julius protested. He flinched when Styx gave him a casual smack across the back of his head.
"If I had a silver for every time I've heard that phrase, I'd be a wealthy woman." She waved a hand as if shooing off their protest, ignoring the darker male's glare. "For now, lock them in the brig, Styx. I'll deal with them after we're sailing. I'll see you on the bridge in twenty minutes."
Lucy stomped off to her room without waiting for an answer. She needed to vent some frustration and she knew just the toy in her dresser drawer to do it with. It wasn't quite what she wanted, but she had a feeling it would take longer than the twenty minutes she had if she were to drag Julius or his friend into her bed. When she finally got her claws into them, she wanted to make sure she wasn't bothered for at least a few hours. Until she had the time for that, she would have to be content with her tried and true toy.
Devon watched Julius explore the room while he sat on the bed. Though they had only been in here for about fifteen minutes, Julius had already made one circuit and was halfway through his second. Devon knew he wasn't checking for anything in particular, getting a feel for their new domain.
"A pirate ship!" Julius peered out of the small, round window provided and grinned. "Bet you didn't see this coming, Devon."
Devon answered only with a shrug, quietly letting Julius ramble on. He needed to calm down, but how could one do that when their father's best advisor had left them for dead in some two-bit town? He'd paid little attention to the intrigues and gossip that plagued the circles he tended to travel in with the higher societies. Now that he was caught up in its drama, he wished he had listened a little better. Maybe he would have seen this coming?
"Do you think my dad is in on this?" His deep base voice was soft, but Julius' prattle instantly ceased.
The blond pulled away from the window, sitting down beside him. "I don't think so," he offered. "Your dad really seems to care a lot about you. And who would profit from it? Mine on the other hand..." His voice trailed off.
Devon shook his head, knowing what Julius thought. "Your dad doesn't even know you left with me to go on this escapade. Remember, he thinks you're still tucked away in that resort house, prowling for a potential wife at local parties."
Julius nodded, frowning. "Well, I still don't see why I couldn't tell that woman who we are. Maybe she'd be willing to help us get home?" At Devon's answering silence he stood, pacing the room again. "We could buy her services. She seems smart and capable; not to mention I wouldn't mind spending a few hours getting to know her better. Maybe, if we told her who we were, we could convince her to take us to Prodigus?"
"Absolutely not!" Devon grabbed Julius' arm, forcing the smaller male to stop and meet his gaze. "That woman is a pirate, a cut throat. She'd sooner sell us to the highest bidder than help us get home, you idiot. She doesn't care about some sob story where we were tricked into the middle of nowhere and drugged, then turned in for murdering ourselves. Look at this ship, it doesn't stay this nice because they spit shine it. This woman knows how to turn a profit, and returning slaves to their home isn't exactly profitable."
"It is if we make it," Julius argued. "What do you think she paid for us? Sixty gold, seventy maybe? We can pay her back for it. But to do so, we have to let her know who we are."
They fell silent as a loud beep filled the air, followed by a woman's sultry voice. "This is Captain Lucy Verr speaking. I hope everyone is aboard and strapping in. As most of you know, we made a tidy profit today and that means we need to head out of port. I want to be swimming in the stars before the sun sets."
The intercom clicked off, followed by a cheer from the crew members outside the brig doors. Julius walked back over to the small window, craning his head to watch the engines. With a loud rumble that shook the hull, the engines flared to life, sending a thrill of excitement through the pit of Devon's stomach.
"You'd better come sit down," Devon warned him.
Devon watched as Julius hurried over and sat down next to him. Moments later the ship shuddered again as the thrust engines pushed it aloft. Not wishing to find himself plastered against the metal floor, Devon reached behind him to the straps that hung from the wall and began to buckle himself firmly. Julius copied him.
The pressure built as they ascended, making Devon's throat thick with fear and excitement. No matter how many times he'd been on a ship, he could never get over the beauty of one in motion. It was kind of like a horse enthusiast, he decided. No two horses were exactly the same, just as no two ships were. Tartarus, or at least that was displayed on the ship's side when they had been on the docks, was larger than any other ship he could remember ever being on.
He'd been on plenty of trade vessels, and his family even owned their own personal cruiser, but those ships were quite a bit smaller than the beast they were currently in. Other trade companies often used ships that were much larger, but his dad had a theory. "Smaller ships, smaller cargo, less loss if stolen."
The pressure in his chest continued to build until Devon felt like he couldn't catch his breath, then it was gone. The air around him went quiet, still, ethereal. It was a moment of beauty, Devon thought, to be caught between this world and that galaxy. The gravity generators kicked on with a whir near their cell, and everything had weight and sound again.
Julius let out his breath, his features looked paler from the lift off. "I am not fit for galactic travel," he gasped.
Devon chuckled, giving his friend a pat on the shoulder.
The intercom beeped on again, interrupting their thoughts. "We are free and clear boys. Next port is in Kerrin, to exchange some of our hard won goods. Get to work."
"I can't decide if she's friendly with her crew, or simply mocking them." Devon stood up and stretched. "She doesn't act, or look, like I always thought a pirate would."
"Yeah," Julius chuckled. "What's with her having all of her body parts intact?"
The two of them burst out laughing, remembering the tales they'd heard told about one eyed, one legged, hook-handed pirates. Pirates who were always male, always spoke in a drunken slur, and always had a parrot on their shoulder. To see the sexy, fiery haired captain had caused them both quite a bit of surprise.
Moments later the door opened, and the man the Captain had called Styx beckoned them out. "Captain wants to see you. Look alive now."
They left the room without a word, following him up some narrow metal stairs, through a network of hallways, and past endless rows of doors. The door they stopped in front of was elaborate, made of wood, and carved with two skulls that were set aflame. Each skull held a curved saber in its toothy grimace.
Styx knocked once, then opened the door and ushered them in before him. "I brought the slaves as you asked, Captain."
Devon tried very hard not to stare. She had removed the velvet jacket she'd been wearing in Dremes, replacing it with a corset of crimson, black ribbons running down the sides and between her breasts. It set off Lucy's tanned skin beautifully. A pair of black jeans clung to her like a second skin. The bright red and yellow strands of her hair teased along her collar bone, enticing kisses and gentle nips. Devon guessed her height at about five and a half feet. Though she wasn't tall, she still held an air of intimidation to her.
He racked his brain, trying to remember any information he'd heard of this woman. Little came up. Captain Lucy Verr was the only female pirate captain of the twelve planets that ringed the green sun this solar system called its sun. Rumor had it that her parentage was a mixture of human and some alien race. Her eyes were the most distinguishing fact behind that rumor. Those flashing orange eyes, some say given to her by the devil himself.
As if knowing their thoughts, she shot them a smile filled with wicked intent . "Leave us, Styx. I don't think these fine men will cause me any trouble. At least, nothing that I can't handle."
Styx gave her a half bow before leaving, closing the door soundlessly behind him. Lucy Verr walked around her desk, a giant solid wood creation that dominated the room. Behind it, bay windows lined the wall, giving a wide view of the stars as the ship glided through space. She sat on the edge of her desk, her breasts almost spilling out of her top, and eyed them in silence for a moment.
"What am I to do with the two of you?" She pursed her lips, obviously entertaining a few thoughts in her head. "Where are you both from?"
Devon's brown eyes locked with her orange ones. Damn, that woman's eye color is unnerving, he thought. Controlling his temper, he asked with a steady voice, "Why do you need to know that?"
"So I know where not to sell you, of course."
She laughed, and he felt himself go rock hard at the sound of her voice. Dominant women had always been a soft spot for him. He loved nothing more than taking a dominant woman, and putting her on her knees. It was the challenge. He loved the rush of adrenaline and feeling of conquest he got when they were right on the edge and begging for more. He imagined striding across the room, kneeling her across that desk, and giving that firm ass a hard smack. He could see her reaction in his mind; eyes wide, nipples spilling out of her corset, mouth opened in a soft little 'o' of surprise and pleasure.
"We are from Prodigus." Julius' voice jerked Devon right out of his fantasy.
He fought the urge to swear, instead he stood still and tried to keep his temper intact. It was difficult, but he overcame the urge to smack Julius across the back of the head. He waited, instead, for the captain to speak. . Her reaction would determine where this would go. Devon had no desire to be sold into slavery. But he worried that revealing their identities to her would cause her to push them further in the galaxy, selling them at a far higher price than she originally would have. If she sold them to a couple of local nobodies, chances were they could reveal themselves to their new 'masters' and entice a barter; their safe return to their families in exchange for monetary compensation.
"Prodigus." The captain used her fingers to comb her hair away from her face. "Well I won't be going there. The patrol is a little too tight to risk pulling anything off. I'm thinking Madari."
Devon felt his heart sink to the pit of his stomach. Madari was a nasty place, full of barbarism, outdated technology, and constant feuding. The planet sat on the edge of the galaxy, living outside of Galactic Law. Territory lords were always in a state of conflict with each other as they tried to increase the land they controlled. It was like something Devon pictured when he read old archaeological data about the Middle Ages on ancient Earth.
Looking unfazed by her statement, Julius crossed his arms in front of his chest and gave her a cocky smile. "I'm thinking Prodigus."
Anger flashed across her beautiful face, her lips tightening in a thin line as her eyes narrowed. "Oh?" Lucy said. "And what makes you think you have a say in your future?"
Devon thought about bullying her into taking them there. He wanted to walk across the room, grab her by the throat, and tell her she was sailing them home. He wanted to, but he doubted he would get that far. The gun on her hip didn't look like a mere decoration. Not to mention her confidence when she dismissed her first mate didn't seem misplaced. Her crew knew her best, and the guard hadn't even hesitated to leave her in their company alone.
"I think I have a say because I know our dirty little secret. The one you are just dying to know." Julius gave her a wicked smile. "That is why you called us in here, isn't it? To prod us for information? I'm assuming you didn't get much in Dremes. I'm sure the warden didn't know enough to tell you anything useful."
Lucy Verr's eyes glittered with interest as she stood. Devon caught himself watching the sway of her hips as she approached them, her heeled boots clicking on the metal floor. He could feel Julius tense beside him and wondered if it was from worry or a struggle with his own sexual tension as well.
She stopped before Julius, a hand reaching forward to slide delicate fingers down his chest. "I can't make decisions based off of secrets I don't know." The captain's voice purred with seduction. "Tell me what makes you so confident and maybe we'll work something out. Were you kidnapped from your owner, perhaps? Shall I get a reward for returning his or her lost pets?"
Devon clenched his jaw at the thought of belonging to anyone. He wanted to put this bitch in her place, but fought down the urge. If anyone could talk some sense into this woman, it would be Julius. If he couldn't convince her to return them to Prodigus, no one could.
Julius caught her hand, bringing the fingertips in a deliberate, slow fashion to his mouth. His eyes stared straight into hers as he first licked, then nibbled each of them in a gentle, erotic show. The Captain's lips parted, her tongue darting out to wet her lips when he stopped.
"My lady, you would be surprised at what you might find if you happen to look up the names of Julius Cartwright and Devon Barbaroy." Julius released her hand from his.
She let it drop to her side as her eyes searched his face. They all stood there in uneasy silence for a moment. It was her move. The captain could either dismiss it, send them back to their cell, and haul their merry asses to Madari; or she could give in to her curiosity. Devon found himself sending a mental prayer to whatever gods guided the stars that she would walk back to her desk.
As if sensing his thoughts, Lucy turned her gaze on him. The orange eyes roved over his face, studying him. "And what do you think of all this, my tall, dark and handsome companion?"
He shrugged, keeping his face impassive. "The decision you make now is yours alone. How it affects our futures is something we'll deal with when that time comes. I'm not going to beg you, if that's what you want."
Lucy Verr laughed as she turned and walked back to her desk. Devon felt Julius' tension relax a bit as she flopped in her chair. "You two are quite the mystery, I'll give you that. I wonder what mysteries may be laid bare before my eyes were I to spend a little time with each of you...alone."
Julius shrugged, a cocky smile settling on his face once again. "Well, Captain, that is something you'll have to find out for yourself. That is if, once you look up the names, you decide we might still have anything to offer."
"Well played," she murmured. "Well played, indeed."
She pushed a button and a display screen lit up in the air above her desk. Most computers had voice recognition commands, but it seemed she stuck with old fashioned methods. The click of her entering words on the keyboard echoed through the still room in a loud, uneven tempo. In moments her screen flashed, and Devon was staring at his holographic image.
"I still say that's a bad picture of you." Julius gave Devon a once over before shaking his head. "You need to let me schedule you a sitting with a photographer I know. They can present you in a much better light. I promise you'd get a lot more private e-mails."
Lucy, who had been staring at Devon, tilted her head in thoughtful contemplation. "Devon Barbaroy, in the flesh. Son of Donald Barbaroy; owner of the largest shipping company in this galaxy. So what does that make Julius?"
She typed away again, then leaned back in her chair as image after image of Julius popped up on her screen. "My, my, Mister Cartwright, you do love the camera."
He gave an extravagant bow while a wicked grin formed on his face. "That is because the camera loves me."
"So your daddy dearest owns the second largest shipping company. Wouldn't that make the two of you competition?" She raised an eyebrow in question. . "Did we try to kill each other and fail, boys?"
Julius laughed, while Devon found himself fighting a smile.
"The key to our success, Captain, is that we work together. When the two largest predators unite, the little ones don't stand a chance." Julius tilted his head. "Now that you've ousted us, maybe you're a little more willing to listen to our offer?"
Lucy turned her display screen off, then leaned forward, steepling her fingers. "Offer? I suppose I could afford some more amusement. I can see several ways this could benefit me greatly, though I doubt any of my ideas coincide with your own."
"You take us to Prodigus where you drop us off safe and sound. We then reimburse you for your purchase price and everyone walks away happy." Julius waited for her answer.
"Mmm." She shook her head. "That's not working for me. You see there is a flaw in your logic. I don't, in any fashion, make a profit. I didn't get the reputation of being a pirate from good deeds. I don't think going out of my way to Prodigus is in my best interest. My course is currently set for Kerrin. I'd have to make a complete turnaround to take you home. I say I make port at Kerrin, then straight to Madari."
Devon snorted in contempt at the idea. "Or," he offered, "you could tell us what you expect to make from us, and we can pay it ourselves. You get your profit, we get our lives back, and no one has to waste time going all the way to Madari."
Lucy stood up, turning her back to them to look out at the stars. Devon found himself staring at the small of her back, the curve of her ass, the way her vivid curls of red and yellow caressed her shoulders. He wanted to throw Julius out of the room, lock the door, then take her right there against that window, letting the stars be their only audience. He shifted, thankful his pants were loose enough that they covered any evidence of his thoughts.
"If I turned course, it'd still take three days to get to Prodigus." She looked at them over her shoulder. "What services can you offer me? I can't use a couple of loaf-abouts, but my crew and I can always use men willing to put themselves to work. Can you make yourself useful?"
Julius frowned. "If anyone has time to teach us, we can do our best but---"
"We can fuck you." Devon's voice carried over Julius', drowning him out. "You're a beautiful woman, and you've made it quite apparent you'd like to try us out. We won't be much use to your crew. You know that, and so do we. By the time we learned to do more than just get in the way, we'd be at Prodigus. But we can warm your bed at night."
"Devon, I don't think---" Julius' protest was cut off with a raise of Lucy's hand.
"Deal." Her voice was calm, unwavering. "But I get to choose who and when."
Julius followed Devon out of the captain's room feeling numb with shock. He couldn't believe Devon had proposed something like that. Oh sure, he'd been staring at her ass and imagining taking those pert breasts in his mouth the moment he set eyes on her. But he'd never expected anything to honestly come of it.
No, he decided, it wasn't Devon's proposal that had him so shocked---it was the fact she'd accepted it. He would never have expected that. The idea of getting to have a roll with her was just too good to be true.
And she chose me first!
That really got him. He'd been certain that her acceptance of Devon's offer meant she was only going to fuck him. Visions of spending the next three days roving this hulk of metal had danced somberly in his head. Until he'd heard her next words.
"I get to choose who and when. I'll set a course for Prodigus once Styx takes you to your new cabin. After dinner, I wish for Mr. Cartwright to visit so we can get to know each other better." Lucy's eyes had traveled over him like a starving beggar at a buffet, and his cock swelled so fast it almost left him dizzy with anticipation.
She'd ushered them out not long afterward, instructing Styx that the situation had changed and they were striking a course for Prodigus. Styx nodded, then gestured for the men to follow him. Moments later the intercom system beeped on with Lucy's voice announcing a 'change in plans' and informing the crew of the new destination. Julius felt extreme relief when he heard the announcement.
They traversed on through hallways, up and down ladders, and across a deck covered in a hemispheric bubble until Julius knew he was lost. He began to worry that they were going to traverse this damn hulk of metal for hours. Relief filled Julius when Styx stopped in front of a metal door that looked like any of the others they had passed. "This is your lodging for now. My cabin is next door." He pointed to the left. "I'm a light sleeper. Mess hall is straight down the way there. Mess is at seven, noon, and seven again. Even then, cook always keeps something out if you're too busy to make it to mess."
He stepped back and eyed them for a moment before wrinkling his nose. "Showers and loos are across the hall." He pointed at a larger door. "If I were you, I'd take a shower and get some decent clothes on, then head straight to mess. Don't tarry or all of the good food will be gone."
Julius opened the door, glanced at the bunk beds and stepped in. "Where can we get clothes? We didn't exactly get left in jail with our personal effects."
To his surprise, Styx chuckled. "I think I can manage to roust each of you a pair of clothes from the crew. Towels are in the bathing room. When you get out, there will be clothes on the bunks."
Julius headed straight to the bathing room, grateful for a chance to clean up, and the improvement in technology, even if it was still a little outdated. The jail had only offered a meager washing bowl, and a hole to piss in. Couple that with wearing the same clothes for three days in a row, and he found himself wondering why the captain made a deal with them at all. He highly doubted he would have taken the risk if the situations were reversed. Well, it didn't matter. He was getting ready to wash up and, gods willing, maybe even shave.
When he entered, he offered a prayer of thanks. In the far corner was what appeared to be a vanity dresser and bench. He let out a breath of relief when he recognized it as a shaving station. "Damn Devon, being sold to pirates is much better than jail!"
Devon let out a shaky laugh as he began stripping his clothes off. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that we're actually going home."
Julius peeled his shirt off, tossing it in a nearby trashcan without a second thought. "What possessed you to propose a deal like that? What the hell were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that I wanted to go home, and I knew sex was the only thing I could offer her. Besides, you act like it's a bad thing. If you don't want to fuck her, then I'll gladly do it enough for both of us." Devon grinned at him. "Does her aggressiveness frighten you that much?"
Julius bristled at the insult, his fists clenching. "I'm looking forward to it! Just surprised that she accepted the deal. I thought for certain we were headed straight for Madari."
"Well, we don't need to worry about that now," Devon said as he kicked his boxers and pants off. He stepped in the shower stall, pressed a button to turn it on, and gave an audible groan. "The technology is a bit old in the bathrooms, but nothing beats a good hot shower."
Julius couldn't have agreed more. The shower automatically turned itself off much too soon for their liking. But they got out, bearing in mind Styx's warning about the good food disappearing. At Julius' insistence, they stopped long enough to shave before heading to their rooms to get dressed.
Clean clothes, in the form of black pants and a cotton buttoned down shirt, were indeed waiting on the bottom bunk. Julius dressed in a deep green shirt, while Devon pulled on a red one. Then they left in the hopes of finding some food still in the dining area.
The mess hall was a nightmare. The entire crew filled the room, jostling and talking with each other. A few card games were in progress at tables in the corners. Julius found himself wondering what happened when people were caught cheating. He didn't imagine the captain had much patience with brawls, or cheating for that matter. She seemed to run a tight ship. But that didn't always stop men from being men.
Julius and Devon gathered their trays of food as fast as they could and wolfed it down like starved men while standing against a wall, then made a quick retreat to their room. In the quiet and solitude of their cabin, Julius began pacing in a nervous circle. Devon, who was stretched out on the bottom bunk, watched him with interest.
"Getting cold feet?"
Julius paused in his pacing to flip Devon off. He resumed, paced a few more times, before flopping on the foot of Devon's bed with a growl. "This wait is killing me."
They both froze as footsteps echoed in the hallway outside of their cabin door. When the steps receded, Julius let out a growl. "Now I know how a woman feels when I'm taking her out for a date."
Devon snorted. "Not quite. This isn't a romance affair, you know. This is just a fuck-fest in the form of a mutual deal. Not that I mind. The point is you might as well relax. I'm sure someone will be here to get you. Unless, of course, the good Captain has changed her mind."
Footsteps sounded in the hall again, this time stopping at their door. When a knock sounded, Julius let out a sigh of relief. He opened it to reveal Chiron's hulking form.
"Captain wants to see whichever one of you is called Julius."
"That would be me." Julius gave Devon a parting wave over his shoulder. "Enjoy your solitude, my dear friend."
"Hey, Julius." Devon sat up and grinned at him. "Try not to get us thrown back in the brig, okay?"
Julius, scowling, slammed the door closed and followed Chiron.
\*\*\*\*
Lucy paced her bedroom feeling restless and unnerved, her hands clasped behind her back. She had tried to wait, to not appear too eager, but it had been so long. Well, in truth it had only been about six months, but still, that was too long in her book.
She often thought of finding a man to come aboard her ship as her consort. She knew other captains had at least two or three partners they kept aboard their ships. Now granted, all the other captains were male, and had female companions. It was easier, in Lucy's opinion, to find a female consort than a male. Lucy avoided the temptation to search for a man to be her consort on the fear a man would become attached and complicate things, or worse yet, fight for leadership of her ship.
Taking a moment to look over her room, she made sure everything was in its place and presentable. Red gauze hung from her four poster bed in the corner which was piled high with golden pillows on red silk sheets. She was such a sucker for silk.
A table sat near some bay windows that allowed her to watch the night sky while she ate. Lucy Verr made rare appearances in the crew's dining hall. She preferred the silent company of the stars with her meals. On the floor were miscellaneous rugs. There was no theme to the patterns or colors. She had a habit of adding one to her collection when she saw something she liked. It was far better than the cold metal floors that ran throughout the ship. Besides, the soft rugs under her bare feet made her feel soft and feminine. That was hard to achieve when she had a certain reputation to uphold.
On the opposite side of the room from her bed was a desk. Lucy used this to access her personal computer without going to the office next door. Here she could check messages from contacts who had potential deals, or do a little bit of private surfing.
A knock sounded on the door and she almost let out a sigh of relief. Finally, they were here. He was here. Lucy Verr could feel herself getting wet already, the liquid heat pooling against her silk panties. Trying to maintain her aloof disposition, or at least the illusion of it, she strode across the room and flung the door wide.
At first she worried that the man had backed out. Only Chiron stood in her doorway. Before she could ask where Julius was, Chiron stepped to the side.
He cleans up nicely!
Lucy Verr beckoned him in without a word, knowing Chiron didn't need any verbal orders. The men of her ship trusted her decisions. Most had come aboard when she was a teen, while she was still learning the ropes with her dad's guidance. These men knew and loved her, had watched her grow up. Above all, they also respected her and knew that, like anyone, she had needs.
Julius walked into the room, his admiration for her quarters visible. When she shut the door behind him, she turned in time to see his shoulders jerk. Lucy stifled a small smile. So the poor man was nervous. Well she could remedy that. Lucy hadn't planned on letting him do much of the decision making anyway.
She walked around him like a predator stalking its prey, her boots clicking on the floor despite the rugs. She was still wearing the black jeans and crimson corset from earlier. She unlaced the top a bit while facing him so that it showed off a generous amount of her breasts. Lucy Verr watched as his gaze slid from her face to her chest, and stayed there.
"Do you want to taste them?" Her words were a throaty purr.
Julius swallowed and nodded. "What color are your panties?" His voice was filled with need, and Lucy was pleased to see a bulge rapidly forming in the front of his jeans.
"If you get on your knees, you can find out for yourself." She felt a thrill go through her as she said it. Lucy wondered, for a moment, if he'd actually go down on his knees. She loved dominating men, but didn't know Julius well enough to know if he liked to be dominated. Under normal circumstances it wouldn't matter to her what her partner's preference was, but she had to remind herself that Julius wasn't a slave any longer. Technically, he was a business associate. That meant a certain level of give and take, regardless of how much Lucy desired otherwise.
Julius stepped forward, closing the distance between them. His arms wrapped around her waist as he traced a line of fire with his tongue across the side of one of her breasts. It was exquisite. She found herself wrapping her arms around his neck, her breathing punctuated by small moans of pleasure.
His hands left her waist, moving to unlace the rest of her corset. Julius pushed the fabric aside with an impatient tug, exposing her breasts. Before she could say anything, his fingertips were dancing up the small of her back and unfastening the bodice. The clasps slid apart, and cool air prickled along her skin as he slid the garment down her arms and let it fall to the floor, leaving her breasts completely exposed to his hungry gaze.
His tongue flicked her nipple, eliciting a gasp from her. "More," she demanded. "Take it in your mouth. I want to feel you suck it."
"As you wish, mistress." Julius' voice rumbled against her skin, causing her nipples to perk so hard it was almost painful.
He went down on his knees, his head now comfortable at the height of her nipples. She felt his mouth close on her breast, his tongue swirling around her nipple, and wrapped her fingers in his hair. Oh, but it felt amazing, like a molten fire was consuming her breast and sending tendrils of flame to her core. No sex toy could give her this sensation, no matter how much she let her imagination run wild. Julius pulled away from her breast, but before she could protest, he placed the other one in his mouth, giving it the same warm greeting.
His fingers trailed up her thighs, played with her waistband, came forward to find the button and zipper. Lucy felt the give at her waist as he unlatched her pants. When he started to tug on them, she gave his shoulders a gentle push backward.
"I want your shirt off. Fair is fair." She let her fingers run down his chest before circling them under his arms and tugging upward.
Julius nodded, letting her pull him up. Slowly, as his gaze locked with hers, he unbuttoned his shirt. Lucy watched, almost hypnotized, as he revealed his chest through the parting cloth. Julius tossed his shirt to the side and stood there, letting her drink in the sight of him. He was toned, but not overly muscular. His firm body was smooth and slick, devoid of any chest hair. His nipples were tight, dark beacons on his pecs.
Deciding to have her own fun, Lucy leaned forward and let her tongue slide across his nipple and up to his collar bone. Julius groaned under her touch, his fists tightening at his sides. Feeling catty, she pulled her head back and dragged her nails, with deliberate pressure, down his chest, stopping at his waist. She looked at the red trails with satisfaction and proceeded to lick each and every scratch, starting from his waist and ending just above his nipples.
"Take your pants and shoes off. I want to see you naked." Lucy's voice rang with authority.
"Yes, my lady." To her satisfaction, Julius kicked his shoes off without hesitation.
When he began to pull his pants down, she found her gaze riveted on his crotch. He didn't cock tease her, didn't give her a show like he had with his shirt. Instead he let them drop to his ankles, then stepped out of them. Lucy stared at him with disappointment. His legs were sexy enough, but what she wanted to see was still tucked safely away in the boxers he wore. She could see his need, but none of the details she craved.
"Get those off." She pointed at the offending piece of clothing with disdain.
Julius shook his head, a playful smile crossing his features. "You aren't playing fair, my lady. You still have pants and boots on. Our clothing ratio is hardly equal."
Lucy crossed her arms, staring at him with a raised eyebrow. She wasn't about to let her own words be used against her. "I don't care what you perceive as fair, Julius. I want you naked, now."
He closed the distance between them again, his hands going to her hips. She expected him to begin trying to yank her pants off, but instead Julius leaned his head down and caught her mouth in a kiss. He smelled delicious, she decided, the spicy scent of his after shave teasing her nose. His fingers dug into her hips, drawing her closer to him. She could feel his hard length between them, pressed against her stomach.
Julius slid his hands to her ass and, in a fluid movement, lifted Lucy up. Surprised, she automatically wrapped her legs around his waist and tightened her arms around his neck. With confident strides, he carried her to the bed.
She considered protesting, but his body pressed against hers like this just felt too good. When he laid her on the bed and moved on top of her, she lifted her hips, grinding against him. He pulled away and, with a flick of the wrist, unzipped her boot and pulled it off. She started to rise up, intending to stop him. Julius pushed on her chest with gentle authority, laying her back on the mattress again. Within moments her other boot was off and thudding on the floor.
"How can I see what color your panties are if your jeans are on?" he asked in a seductive tone.
Lucy felt her pussy tighten in anticipation. She smiled at him, arching her hips to make it easier for her pants to be pulled off. "You did go down on your knees for me," she admitted. "So I guess you earned that at least."
He smiled devilishly at her as he caught her waistband and began working it down her hips. "And what can I do to earn more?"
She waited until her pants were off, revealing white panties that clung to her body and did little to cover the spill of golden and red curls. "You have to be very good with your tongue."
He knelt beside the bed, his fingers gripping the strings across her waist and slowly, ever so slowly, began to pull them down her body. Once he had them down to her knees, he leaned forward and began kissing her inner thigh. As he moved down, so did the panties. Julius' lips felt like a hot brand of pleasure against her skin. When he kissed the side of Lucy's ankle, she let out a soft moan, surprised that it felt so good.
The panties landed on the floor. Julius surveyed her, seeming to take pleasure in her being exposed to his hungry gaze. When he moved again, it was to take his boxers off. She lifted her head to watch, pleased when his cock sprang free from its confines. He wasn't monstrously huge, but he was bigger than her vibrator...and alive and warm.
Lucy was surprised when Julius dropped back down on his knees beside the bed. At her questioning look, he gave her a wicked smile. "I did not, during any of that, use my tongue while taking off your panties."
She felt a shiver of delight go through her at his words. She wanted him to do something like what he was insinuating, but hadn't expected it. The first lick from his tongue was like a ripple of fire against her pussy.
Julius gripped her hips, sliding her closer to him. He lifted her legs so that they draped over his shoulders, on either side of his head. Lucy shivered in anticipation. When Julius plunged his tongue into her, she damn near came on the spot. She rocked her hips in time to the thrusts of his tongue, trying to fulfill a desperate want for him to go deeper. She needed the kind of depth that only his cock could give her.
Lucy tangled her hands in his hair, pulling Julius up until she could see his face. At his confused look, she pointed at a nearby doorway. "Condoms. Bathroom. Mirror cabinet."
He nodded and stood. Though his pace was hurried, it seemed to take forever for him to get there and come back. Lucy writhed on the bed, ready to scream in frustration. When he came back, after what seemed like hours, she was sitting on the edge of the bed.
She stood, grabbed the condom wrapper from his hand, and pushed him towards the bed. Julius went down without a fight, a smirk on those kissable lips of his. She straddled him, ripping the foil open with a violent jerk of her teeth. When she started to put the condom on his cock, he stopped her.
"Allow me, my lady. After seeing your viciousness with that package, my own has become a little gun shy," he said laughing.
Lucy pursed her lips, suppressing a smile. He rolled the condom down his shaft with a quick motion, then grabbed her hips and pulled her further up so that she straddled him. She wrapped her hand around his cock, and gave it an experimental stroke. Julius groaned with pleasure, his eyes closing as he let himself lay back on the bed.
Feeling reassured by his reaction, and not sure she could handle anymore teasing, Lucy used her hand to guide him into her. His fingers clenched into her hips as her moist lips slid down his shaft. She settled onto him, taking a moment to revel in the feeling of a living, hard dick buried to the hilt inside of her.
She leaned forward, her breasts pressing against his chest, and whispered in his ear, "I'm going to fuck your brains out now, Julius."
His eyes opened and he bucked his hips, thrusting deeper into her. "Please do, Captain."
She raised her hips, then slid back down him again. Lucy sat up, her hands splayed across his chest as she used her thighs to ride him. Her breath came out in short pants, her heart pounding, as the pleasure built and built into a fiery burst.
"Fuck yeah, baby." Julius kept his hands on her waist, his arms lifting and pulling in time to her rocking. "You're so damned sexy!"
His praises only stimulated her more, making her pussy clench around him. She felt him grow stiffer, thickening in preparation for coming. The knowledge that he was getting ready to throb inside of her set her off. Lucy threw her head back, letting a scream of pleasure out as every muscle in her body tensed and seemed to clench in chorus. Julius' hands kept working her hips, making her ride through her climax. It was a pleasure so great that she felt like, if it didn't stop, she was going to explode like a comet hitting the atmosphere.
Julius stiffened, arching hard into her as he wrapped his arms around Lucy and brought her against him. His dick jerked, throbbing inside of her in a way her vibrator could only mimic. Lucy climaxed again, her nails raking down his chest.
They lay there in silence, bathing in the afterglow as they caught their breath. Lucy Verr could feel her muscles shaking as little waves of aftershock rippled through her system. This was what she had been in aching need of. Something this good was well worth the risk of going to Prodigus.
Julius was as fantastic a partner as she'd hoped for. Tomorrow she planned to put Devon to the test. After that she would make a decision on who she liked better, and spend her last night with the lucky man.
"She was a comet in the bed, Devon. I'm telling you---she's beautiful, fiery, and a hell of a wild ride." Julius grinned at him.
Devon shook his head at his friend's enthusiasm. He'd slept in until the wee hours of the morning, when Julius managed to drag himself into the cabin room. The next few hours were filled with Julius' prattle about the night's events. Devon was sure half of it was embellished and the other half simply fiction. Finally, just before the chime sounded for breakfast, he told Julius in no uncertain terms to shut up.
It was noon now. As they finished their meal, Styx explained they could wander around the ship at their own discretion, so long as they didn't get underfoot. If they were needed, they would be called for on the intercom system.
Exploring the ship was fun enough. The deck took their breath away and became their greatest discovery. The entire ship was fashioned in the form of an old-world pirate ship. The kind that legends said could only sail in the deep waters of long ago Earth oceans. The deck had a hemisphere bubble enclosing it, so that one could walk out on the deck and feel like they were outside. The bubble was made of merylon; a compound that had both elasticity, making it highly flexible, and durability. Merylon was almost impossible to break.
When the intercom beeped, Devon and Julius, along with the few workers on the deck, froze and listened. "This is Captain Lucy Verr. We have received a distress signal from a merchant ship. Lucky day for us, boys. We're going to go offer our hull as a wonderful place to store their cargo. I want everyone on their toes, in case it's a set up. To your posts, boys, we'll be boarding them in an hour."
Cheers went up from the crew before they hurried off. Julius gave Devon a helpless look. Devon shook his head in response. "Not much we can do about it, Julius. Our priority here is to get home, not risk ourselves berating pirates for their moral behavior."
"What do we do then?" Julius looked around at the now empty deck. "I don't want to go sit in our room, but I don't want to be involved in the taking of this ship either."
Devon shrugged and headed toward the metal door that led back to the cabins. "I say we go to the mess hall and get a cup of coffee."
The intercom went off a half hour later, announcing they were preparing to board. Devon and Julius stayed in the mess hall, trying to ignore the fiasco. Neither one believed they could keep their mouth shut if they were involved in it, and neither wanted to risk pissing the captain off and losing their chance to go home. Fifteen minutes later, Chiron filled the doorway of the mess hall.
"Cartwright! Barbaroy!" Chiron bellowed at them. "Captain wants to see you, now."
They both stood, feeling confused.
They followed Chiron in silence, walking through the corridors and across the deck. As they strode purposefully towards the other door, Devon felt a tug on his sleeve. He glanced over at Julius, his brow furrowed in curiosity. Julius jerked his chin upwards, indicating Devon should take a look.
Curious, Devon glanced in the direction and did a double take. The merylon allowed him to see the merchant carrier they were pulled up beside. The dull gray metal and blocky shape weren't anything of interest, but the company name printed on the side was. In bold letters on the side of the merchant vessel, that was still slightly smaller than the Tartarus, were the words,C & B Shipping Co..
"Cartwright and Barbaroy," Devon muttered. "That's one of our ships."
Not saying another word, they hurried to catch up to Chiron. He led them to the same cargo bay they entered when boarding the ship. The hull door was down, with a tunnel of merylon surrounding it. It was attached to the side of the merchant ship, whose door was also down. Guards, from the Tartarus' crew, were stationed with guns at intervals along the catwalk formed by the two doors.
Chiron walked on through, not waiting to see if the men were following him. Julius crossed the catwalk with hesitant steps, alarm obvious on his face. Devon, who had walked a few paces ahead, turned and held an arm out.
"Even if you fall, the merylon won't let you go anywhere. It'll cushion your fall and keep you safe." He kept his voice reassuring.
Julius nodded, then gave him a smile of gratitude when they were safely inside the merchant ship's hull. "Thanks for not calling me a pussy."
Devon shrugged. "I figure some things are so obvious, they don't need to be said."
Julius punched him. While Devon was rubbing his arm, Julius took a moment to look around the ship. "Oh fuck, this is our ship."
"I know," Devon groused. "I said that when we were coming across the deck."
"No, no." Julius pointed at a trunk in the corner. "I mean this is the ship we left Prodigus on."
Devon let out a growl. "That means that bastard, Krautz, is on here."
Before Julius could stop him, he headed straight for the bridge. They passed Chiron, who started to reach out a hand to stop them, then shrugged and let them go on. Apparently, the bridge was where they'd been headed anyway.
He shoved the door open with force, his features dark and foreboding. "You son of a bitch," he snarled.
Lucy turned, an impish smile tugging at her features. "Technically, Mr. Barbaroy, I'm the bitch of a son."
Devon took a moment to glance around. The piloting crew were all lined up, their hands behind their heads as they stared at a wall. The advisor, Leon Krautz, was standing in front of Lucy with her gun pointed squarely at his chest.
"Mr. Barbaroy, you're alive!" Leon stepped forward, his face full of relief. "You'll negotiate with these pirates, won't you?"
Before Devon could say anything, Julius inserted himself between the two men. "Advisor Krautz, fancy meeting you here. You'll forgive Mr. Barbaroy's manners. You see, he thought you left us for dead in Dremes on purpose."
The advisor's features clouded, his face becoming angry. His fists curled up at his sides as he took a menacing step forward. Lucy pressed her gun against his chest, stopping him before he could go much further.
"Now, now," she crooned, "let's not allow our personal feelings to get in the way. After all, this is still a robbery."
When he took a few steps back, she nodded. "You are going to go quietly onto my ship. Your crew members will do the same. Once I have you in holding, I will load your cargo, which you no longer have any rights to. Everyone can get through this alive, if you all cooperate."
"What will happen to us?" asked one of the crew members.
"You will be sold into slavery. If you do not cause me much trouble, I will sell you at a higher paying market. Most of the slaves there go to pleasure houses or territory lords who need regular workers. If you do not behave we'll be going to Madari." Lucy waited in silence as her words settled in. "Anyone who tries to act brave will promptly be shot."
"Captain, a word please?" Julius motioned her over.
She gave him a long considering look. "Chiron, make sure everyone conducts themselves to my standards."
"Aye, Captain." Chiron approached advisor Krautz. The pirate held no gun, but Krautz paled visibly at his approach.
Julius walked out into the hallway, Devon and Lucy following close behind. When the door was shut and secured, he turned and regarded her thoughtfully. "You were aware, when you called for us, that this ship was one of ours." At her nod he continued. "What did you expect to gain from calling us here?"
Her lips came together in a grim smile. "Maybe I just wanted to make you squirm?"
"Bullshit," Devon spoke up. "You don't do anything without expecting to make some sort of a profit."
Lucy eyed him for a moment before swinging her gaze back to Julius. "What is it worth to you?"
"It?" His stare was blank for a moment. "You mean the crew and cargo?"
When she remained silent, he shook his head. "I don't give a damn about the merchandise. It's replaceable, regardless of what the company thinks. The people are replaceable to the corporation, but not to me." When Devon started to protest, he held up his hand. "To me, the people in there are worth the entire cargo on this ship going straight to your hull."
Lucy Verr narrowed her eyes as she issued an unfeminine snort. "I was going to get the cargo anyway. What are you willing to pay for your people?"
"Oh ho, but that's where you are wrong." Julius shot her a smug smile. "You see, what's to keep us, once we've landed on Prodigus, from reporting you as the one who raided the merchant ship. The ship is like any other; it has a scheduled time when it's suppose to land. If it does not land on said scheduled time, then contact is attempted. If contact is not made, authorities are sent out to investigate."
Lucy opened her mouth, but closed it again as Julius continued his speech. "Now, normally, you'd get away free and clear. What was not seen cannot be reported. But it has been seen, and there is nothing to stop us from reporting it."
"Julius." Devon's voice was a growl of warning.
Julius shot Devon an angry look. "Unlike you, I'm not going to just look the other way. These people don't deserve slavery. The pilot, I know him, he's got a wife and kids. The cook; her first grandchild was born two days before we pulled out of Prodigus."
Lucy tilted her head , a smile playing on her lips. "Very moving. But what is keeping me from changing the plan? What if I just never take you to Prodigus at all? I could easily throw you in the brig with the rest of that crew and make a merry profit off your ass."
Julius moved against her, causing her to back up until she hit a wall. With his arms braced on either side of her head, he leaned forward and kissed her. It was a hard kiss, an angry kiss. It was dominant and aggressive. Within moments Lucy was moaning, her arms wrapping around the small of his back.
Julius pulled away from the kiss, his face barely inches away from hers. In a soft voice he said, "Because you want us to fuck you too bad. If you break the deal, we won't touch you again. You want the cargo, take it. We'll sanction it and you can freely sell it where ever and however you wish. But those people in there, they're mine."
"Except for Leon," Devon commented. "You can sell him, and I can only hope it's to Madari."
"Yes," Julius agreed. "You can have Leon. Deal?"
Lucy smiled ruefully up at him. "As long as you keep your crew in line, deal."
"Just one thing," Devon interjected, "I want some alone time with Leon. I want to know why he did this."
"Agreed," both Lucy and Julius chorused.
\*\*\*\*
Captain Lucy walked along the deck, lost in thought. When had she become so soft? Pirates didn't make deals based on their sex drives. Well, at least not pirates who made the kind of money she did. She'd given up quite a bit of gold today, all for the sweet promise of getting fucked the next two nights. It was ridiculous!
"Captain?" Styx eyed her with a wary expression.
"Do you ever question why I do things?" She turned to look at him, wondering if her face was a reflection of her self doubts.
Styx laughed, catching her by surprise. "No, Captain. Never. You've let those two put you in a doubt about your role as our leader, haven't you?"
She turned away from him, silently letting her gaze return to the stars. "Lucy, your dad was fearsome indeed. He was a pirate that everyone feared, and no one ever doubted. But do you, in all your young years, remember him ever killing anybody?"
She thought back, but all she could recall at the most were a couple of beatings. "No," she replied, uncertain where Styx was going with this.
"You can have a set of morals, spare the lives of people, and still be respected. If anything, we'll love you the more for it. We serve you, Captain, because we respect you. Not because we fear you. The crew that fears their captain is the one that jettisons the body in the deepest parts of space." Styx patted her shoulder with a gentleness that reminded her of her father. "Have your fun with the lads, my girl. Not a one of us will blame you."
Feeling better, Lucy Verr smiled at him. "Styx, have dinner set in my room for three tonight. Then inform our lordlings that they've been invited to dine with me."
"Aye, Captain."
Devon and Julius settled the rest of their crew into the cabins that Chiron allotted them. It was an eight person crew, so they only needed four rooms. Most of the crew was a shaking mess, looking at Devon and Julius with almost worshipful gazes. Not a single one of them questioned where the advisor went. They did, however, question why the two men never got back on board at Dremes.
"Some wrong information was given to the local authority," Julius improvised. "But it's all straightened out."
Everyone, to their relief, was told they would be docking in Prodigus in a day. "As payment to our ride, our company will be allowing the Tartarus to keep the cargo. We will not spread rumors of ill will towards this ship, crew, or the captain. You will all be compensated for the extra days you were out."
When they dropped on Devon's bunk in their own room, Julius let out a deep breath of relief. "I can't believe she's letting us keep the crew."
"I'll truly believe it when we're all walking off this ship in port at home," Devon said. "You think they'll stay occupied and out of everyone's way tonight and tomorrow?"
Julius nodded. "Most of them are so scared they probably won't go further than the bathroom."
They sat up at the sound of rapping on the door. "Apparently they're willing to wander as far as our room." Devon gave Julius a rueful smile. "Then again, they did get the four rooms on the other side of ours. And ours is across from the bathroom."
Julius rolled his eyes as he opened the door. "Hello, Styx. None of ours are already causing trouble, are they?"
"No." Styx offered him a small smile. "Captain Lucy Verr asks that the two of you join her in her personal quarters."
Julius chewed his lip. "Can it wait? The mess hall is going to be serving dinner in about ten minutes. We'll need to be certain our crew gets a meal."
"You will be dining with the captain." Styx gestured at the rooms with their new guests. "The lady who served aboard your ship as a cook has been helping in the kitchens. She's already...coerced some of my own crew into taking meals she prepared straight to the cabins of your shipmates."
Julius chuckled softly. "She would do that. Well then, let's be off, shall we?"
\*\*\*\*
Lucy adjusted her dress, looking in the mirror of her bathroom for the fifth, or was it seventh, time in a row. She'd never cared much about her appearance in a feminine sense before. But tonight, tonight she'd be having dinner with Devon and Julius. They weren't slaves that had bartered for their lives anymore. Tonight they had...had what?
Become equals.
She nodded as the thought took hold. That was it in a nutshell. Watching Julius' face as he had passionately manipulated her for the sake of his crew---she respected that. She understood what Styx had been telling her on the deck. The crew cared about her because they knew she would do the same for them.
Lucy ran her fingers through her hair one more time, admiring the way it curled. She applied some light eye shadow, an iridescent silver that highlighted her orange eyes. Her dress was silver too---a slinky strapless affair that clung to her like a second skin.
She heard the knock on her bedroom door and smiled at herself in the mirror. Everything was set. The table had been supplied with two extra chairs, the dishes covered and ready at each place setting and the ceiling lights were on dim to give the room a soft glow. Tonight she would enjoy the rewards of her actions, in Devon's hands. Maybe in both their hands, if she was lucky.
"Enter," she called as she exited the bathroom.
The door opened and Styx ushered the men in. His eyes fastened on her, and he gave Lucy Verr an approving nod. "Anything else you need, Captain?"
She shook her head, the soft curls caressing her face. "No, that will be all. Go get your share at the mess hall, Styx. I'm sure once our evening is finished, the gentlemen can find their own way back to their cabin."
Styx closed the door with a soft click. Devon, his hands clasped behind his back, strode over to the big bay windows, his gaze riveted on the stars. Julius stared at her, the hungry gaze from last night reflected once more in his eyes. She could almost see him replaying the previous night's events. His eyes took on a lustful gaze, and she felt her own pulse quicken in response. He had been a more than satisfactory lover, but tonight...tonight Lucy planned on sampling what Devon had to offer.
"If you would care to join me, gentlemen, dinner is ready." She gestured towards the table.
Devon glanced over his shoulder before turning to look at her full on. His eyes roved over her, much like Julius' had, except different. Where Julius had looked at her with lust and a desire to bury himself in her again, Devon's look was more predatory. He looked at Lucy with hunger, possession, and a disposition that demanded he be in charge. So very unlike how Julius had been. Sex with Julius, she'd found, was a give and take, a partnership of sorts. Lucy knew, without a doubt, there would be no partnership with Devon.
Devon pulled a chair out, waiting for her to seat herself. She felt a flush of pleasure at the gesture. Fancy her being treated like a lady. Lucy had never desired to be a lady, being a pirate didn't allow for such thoughts. Besides, she never had any qualms with being a pirate. It made for an interesting, and exotic, life. One with thrills, daring, and true respect.
Seating herself, she offered him a nod of appreciation before turning herself to watch Julius. "Do either of you have any idea who would wish you two dead?"
The subject seemed to ease the tension in the room like a soothing wind. The formality, though still present, seemed a little less intense. Julius shrugged, lifting the lid from Lucy's dinner while Devon poured drinks from a wine bottle.
"It's not the two of us that somebody wants dead," Devon said as he seated himself. "It's only me. Those reasons are still a mystery to me, but I plan to get the truth out of Leon tomorrow."
Julius paused as he reached for his glass, his brow furrowed. "What makes you think it's just you? I was left on that planet just as much as you were."
"Ah, but you wouldn't have let them leave without me, would you have?" Devon began cutting his steak with slow precision. "I've been thinking about this. You were a last minute pick up; a decision I'd made after I'd already laid plans for this trip. Leon wasn't very pleased with my desire to include you but couldn't protest too loudly for obvious reasons."
Lucy swirled her drink, pursing her lips as she thought about it. She didn't know much about the politics of higher society, but she knew only people who had something to gain would try to commit crimes like this. "Where were you headed on the merchant ship? What was the purpose of your trip?" she asked before taking a sip.
"To open a trade route on Hope with Dremes," Julius supplied. He smiled wryly. "Clever bastard. The goods on the merchant ship were supposed to buy them off before a competitive corporation that was also en route got there. It seems the goods we thought we were carrying to barter with were quite different from what Leon had in mind."
Lucy ate her dinner quietly, letting them mull it all over. She was glad her ship was free of this kind of intrigue. If one of the boys had a problem, they brought it straight to her. Often it was things she could remedy with ease by pulling into a dock to let someone procure something they needed. If it was a personality issue, then a little rearranging in jobs was performed and all was well.
Granted, everyone ate together in the mess hall, regardless of personality conflicts, but there was absolutely no fighting, ever. The rules of fighting on her ship were simple---anyone caught brawling was subject to a thorough, and very public, beating by both Chiron and Styx. The embarrassment of being subjected to that treatment made skirmishes non-existent.
Devon and Julius continued their discussion. Lucy, feeling left out, decided to have a little fun. She slipped off one of the silver high heels that adorned her foot, leaving it bare. With subtle movements, she brought her foot up and let it slide along Julius' thigh. A smile teased the edge of her lips as she watched his throat work.
Devon also noticed his friend's expression. "You alright?" he asked.
"Just forgot to chew before I swallowed." Julius gave them both a sheepish grin. "The steak is delicious."
Lucy used a napkin to stifle her snicker. She pressed firmly against his crotch, delighted to feel his dick growing hard. She spent the rest of the dinner skimming her foot across his length, back and forth. Lucy Verr had to give him credit, after the initial touch of her foot, Julius managed to keep a straight face.
When dinner was over, she slipped her high heels back on and stood. "Gentlemen, as per our agreement, one of you will be staying with me for a little while longer. I believe I shall be spending tonight with Devon."
Devon stood as well, giving her a wicked smile. "As the captain wishes."
Julius rose from the table, setting his napkin on the plate. "I suppose I'll be finding the door then. Devon." He gave the darker man a brief nod before catching Lucy's hand and kissing her fingertips. "Perhaps tomorrow you'll need my assistance in forgetting this brute."
She laughed as Devon shoved him across the room and out the door. When he closed it with a loud thud behind Julius, Devon turned and gave her a wolfish grin. Lucy Verr grew tense, and found herself wondering if maybe she'd have been safer with Julius. She licked her lips, watching as he closed the distance between them. His approach was lazy, hands in his pant pockets, as if they had all the time in the world.
She was tempted to back up as far as she could go, but refused to let him unnerve her. Lucy schooled her features, letting her demeanor grow more and more challenging as Devon closed the gap between them. When he was a breath away, she reached out, running her hand across the front of his jeans in a blatant invitation.
Devon sucked in a breath, then grabbed her hips and dragged her against him. "You are a vixen." His voice was almost a growl.
Lucy tilted her head back to look up at him, a smirk playing on her lips. "I've been called worse."
He bent his head, his mouth hovering just above hers. She waited for the pressure of his lips, even wiggling a bit in his grasp, yet Devon stayed just out of reach. With a growl of frustration, she raised up on tiptoe, forcing their mouths to connect. His hands draped around her, a hand clamping possessively over her ass. His teeth teased her, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth with surprising gentleness before nibbling on it.
"I'm going to take you so hard you won't be able to walk when I'm done," he growled against her skin.
Lucy's pussy clenching at those words. "You can try," she challenged.
He let his hands run down until he touched the skin below the hem of her dress, then ran them back up under the fabric. Strong male hands cupped her bare ass, digging fingernails in. She shuddered in pleasure.
"No panties," Devon observed.
"Didn't see a point." Lucy yanked at the edge of his shirt, lifting it free of his jeans to expose sculpted abs. "Somebody likes the gym," she said with an appreciative purr.
He captured her mouth again. Devon's hands dropped away from her ass and he stepped away from her. Confused, she remained silent, watching him. With quick motions, he pulled his shirt off. Oh gods!!! This man is buff! Lucy was most happy to drink in the view of him.
His finger caressed her mouth for a moment. "Get on your knees." His voice was calm, commanding. "I want to see how much of my dick you can fit in your mouth."
Lucy Verr was on her knees before she could think. She gave herself a mental shake of surprise. What was she doing? She never yielded to a man, ever. Yet here she was, kneeling in front of this man at his single command. Lucy started to rise, but his hand went to her shoulder, stopping her.
"You look sexy down there." Devon unbuttoned his pants, slipping his shaft through the slit of his boxers.
She watched him in fascination, feeling a thrill go through her at how hard he was. A drop of pre-cum that shined at the tip made her yearn to do exactly as he had commanded. She leaned forward, letting her tongue flick the tip, capturing the drop in a light caress.
Devon let out a shuddering breath. "Don't stop, Lucy. I want to watch you deep throat me."
Enticed by his words, she placed her hands on his hips and ran her tongue up the length of him, starting at his balls and ending at the thick head. She swirled her tongue around it, pulled it into her mouth, and took it inch by slow inch. Devon's wasn't the longest cock she'd seen, but it was by far one of the thickest. The girth was enough that she had to keep her jaw slack as she worked her way down.
The taste of him in her throat was erotic. The heat that coursed from his skin and onto her tongue made her pussy tighten with anticipation. Lucy couldn't wait to feel him slamming into her, filling her to her limits. Eagerness overcame her reserve at his dominance, and soon she was bobbing up and down, her throat systematically constricting around him. Her fingers dug into his jeans. At one point, Devon's hand curled in her hair, keeping her in rhythm.
When she felt him begin to throb, Lucy felt disappointment course through her. Instead of coming though, he jammed deeper in to her throat, before suddenly pulling out of her mouth. He dragged her to her feet and steadied her for a moment, his gaze scanning around the room. When it settled on her desk, he whisked her into his arms, one around her shoulders, the other under her knees.
"Has anyone ever bent you over that desk, Lucy?" His tone was almost conversational.
She shook her head, raising an eyebrow. "Usually my sex life involves a bed, shower, or the red light district."
"Well, sounds like we need to add some variety to that." Devon's voice was dark, full of promise.
He carried her over to the desk, sitting her on the edge gently. He stood back, admiring her for a moment, before spreading her legs open with his knee and stepping between them. He nibbled on her ear tip, skimmed down her neck, circled up her throat, and settled on her mouth.
Lucy ran her fingers over Devon's chest, admiring the light dusting of hair that trailed between his pecs and down to his waistband. His hands tugged at her dress, lifting it to her hips. The desk was cold and solid against her skin. He stepped forward and the head of his cock rubbed against her exposed pussy. She gasped, arching against him, craving more contact.
"Do you want me in you?" He murmured the question against her lips.
"Yes," she whispered.
Devon stepped back and the sensation against her pussy disappeared. "Tell me what you want, Lucy."
She curled her hands into fists at her sides, frustrated. "I want you to fuck me," she growled, angry that he was manipulating her. Angry at herself that she liked it.
He laughed, the sound deep and masculine. Taking another step back, Devon's hands grasped her hips, pulling her off the desk and onto her feet. With quick precision, he twirled her so her back was against his chest. Using his body, he leaned her forward until her hips met the edge of the desk. A hand at the back of her neck pressed her down.
Lucy allowed him to bend her over, concentrating only on the feel of his hard shaft rubbed against the bare skin of her bottom. A finger traced her spine, just above her tailbone.
"I'm not surprised you have a tattoo," Devon said. "A comet with a woman's face? It suits you."
She felt her cheeks flush at his thorough inspection of her. Lucy rocked back against his hips impatiently, needing to feel him buried in her. His chuckled, then used his foot to push her legs wider. She heard a rustling and looked over her shoulder, watching as he put a condom on. How could she have forgotten that? Fortunately for her, Devon had apparently been prepared and was using common sense.
When the condom was on, she felt the head of his dick tease her southern lips. She tilted her hips, giving him better access. With a sudden thrust, he entered her, fast and hard. Lucy came up on her tiptoes from the force, surprised and zinging with pleasure.
Devon slid out, his movements slow and deliberate, before thrusting into her with a quick stroke. The soft and hard rhythm caused a pain-pleasure sensation like she'd never experienced before. A moan issued from her lips every time he pulled out, a scream every time he'd thrust. The next half hour became a symphony of her voice as he brought her to the edge over and over. When her legs were shaking so bad they threatened to give out, he pulled all the way out of her.
"Don't," Lucy whimpered.
He grunted as he stepped back. "I've always hated condoms. I love the way a woman's wetness feels on my bare skin. Since I can't have your pussy like that, I want to finish in your mouth."
She dropped to her knees, feeling grateful she could get off her shaky legs. Devon slid the condom off, tossing it into the trash bin beside her desk. Lucy wrapped her hands around him with her thumbs rubbing down the underside of his shaft. He let out a soft groan.
Within moments she was sucking him, greedy for his taste. She was still a shaking mess, but hearing Devon's moan of pleasure as she worked him with her tongue only drove her higher towards another climax of her own. It didn't take long before his hand was on the back of her head again, wrapped in her hair and dictating the pace.
"You suck cock good, Lucy."
She pumped her hand in counterpoint with her mouth, the other rising to fondle his balls. He thickened further in her mouth and, with a roar, thrust as deep as he could into her mouth. She let her throat convulse around him as she swallowed, taking in every drop, milking him with her tongue.
When he caught his breath, Devon pulled away and adjusted his cock back into his pants. After he zipped his pants, he picked up her trembling body and carried her to her bed. For a moment she felt angry that he didn't seem as exhausted and shaky as she.
"I told you I'd fuck you until you couldn't walk. Goodnight, Captain."
She smiled to herself as she watched him cross the room. "Goodnight, Devon." She called out, her voice soft and sleepy, just before he closed the door.
After breakfast Devon checked on his crew. He was pleased to see them smiling, their previous fear seemed abated by the continued fair treatment they were receiving. Afterwards, Devon sought out Styx, asking to be taken to Leon. As he followed Styx to the holding, every step he took made him more and more angry. The man had left him for dead. He'd deliberately brought Devon and Julius to the planet of Hope with the intentions of being rid of them. Devon knew that as much as he wanted to, beating the hell out of Leon wouldn't get him any answers, and even less satisfaction.
Devon stood in front of Leon Krautz's holding cell and tried to regain his composure. His sleep, or what little he'd gotten between the tossing and turning, had been riddled with thoughts of the conversation at dinner. So many questions begged to be answered. Every answer he assumed only set his aggression sky rocketing.
Who had something to gain from his disappearance or death? Who wanted him dead, but couldn't care less about Julius? He knew if he could get Leon to talk, most of his questions would be put to rest. The trouble was that he and Advisor Krautz and never been on the best of terms, and Devon highly doubted the man would be willing to tell him why they'd been left for dead.
He opened the door after he gained a semblance of control and walked in. Leon sat on a cot in the corner, his face set in a scowl. Devon realized, he couldn't remember many times he'd seen Leon without that scowl. The man, always unpleasant, made Devon often wonder why his dad kept him employed. Leon was good at keeping his ear to ground when it came to moves other companies were about to make. His ability to snake out information, in Devon's opinion, did not make up for his demeanor.
"Ah, so you've finally shown up, Mr. Barbaroy." Leon's smile seemed bitter.
Devon shut the door behind him, keeping his movements slow and deliberate. "You know why I'm here. Who hired you to kill me?"
Leon shook his head, clasping his hands in his lap. "Now why would I tell you anything? You've left me to die with these pirates. I don't owe you any explanations."
"It's right on par with what you did to me and Julius." Devon leaned against the wall, crossing his arms against his chest. What he really wanted to do was walk over and wring the answers from the asshole's neck. Devon knew that it wouldn't garner him more information though, just more frustration.
"Yes well," Leon let out a little sniff, "Julius wasn't supposed to go with us. I told you when you wanted to bring him that it would only cause trouble."
The door beside Devon opened and he watched as Lucy Verr strode in, her hair gleaming like flames in the light. She was dressed in an emerald green silk shirt and black tight jeans. A holster, complete with gun, encircled each thigh,and an old fashioned rapier hung from her hip. Her boots, with a small amount of heel, came to her knees.
Julius entered behind her, clothed all in black. Devon glanced down at himself, realizing that for once he was clothed in brighter colors than his friend. His red shirt and tight blue jeans were from his personal trunk he'd retrieved off the merchant ship before they'd left it.
"Good morning, Mr. Krautz," Lucy's voice was a soft croon. "Are we faring well?"
He shot her a look filled with hate before turning his attention on Julius and Devon. "I pity the reputation of your fathers. You slander their name by associating openly with trash like this. Pirates!" He gave a small tsk, tsk as he shook his head. "Your fathers will be most disappointed."
"As if my father would be any less disappointed by your actions," Julius snapped. "Why did you do it?"
Leon gave him a tight lipped smile. "Barter with the bitch to free me like you did the crew, and maybe I'll come clean."
Lucy's hand shot out, casually slapping the advisor across the cheek. "You can degrade my profession all you like, but there is no reason to get personal with your insults." Her voice, so kindly a moment ago, was now only cold.
Rubbing his reddened cheek, Leon stared up at her with wide eyes, his previous smugness neatly erased. Devon idly wondered if a slap from him would have caused the same effect. Somehow, he doubted it.
"Now, Mr. Krautz," Lucy continued, "I have a little bartering of my own, if you'd care to listen."
Leon's face turned red. "I don't barter with star skimming scum---"
His words were cut off as she slapped him again, this time across his other cheek. His eyes widened as she slid a gun from her right thigh holster, her fingers caressing the weapon as if they were old lovers. Turning it one way, then the other, Lucy let his eyes follow the gun until she trained it on him. He whimpered.
"Mr. Krautz, you aren't being very polite," she admonished. "I warned you not to insult me, and I've treated you with utmost respect regardless of the light thrown on your actions. But I'm tired of seeing my efforts go nowhere." She prodded his forehead with the barrel. "Now, my associates here have a few questions they want answered. Every time you avoid the question, I'm going to shoot you in a joint, starting with the wrist of your least dominant hand. Understand?"
He gulped, and then nodded.
"Good," she smiled at him. "Gentlemen, I think Mr. Krautz here is ready to answer your questions."
"Thank you, Captain." Devon gave her an appreciative nod before leveling a menacing stare at the advisor. "Why did you leave us for dead?"
"I-I---" Leon licked his lips, his eyes locked on Lucy as she tilted the muzzle of her gun towards his wrist. "Your father is dying. He's been diagnosed with a tumor in his brain. He's going to die very soon."
Devon recoiled from him. "Bullshit," he spat. "If Dad were sick, I'd know about it. He tells me everything. We're close!"
"He kept it from you to protect you," Leon said.
Julius tilted his head, weighing the old advisor's words. "Even if that were true, what does it have to do with leaving us to die?"
"Because Devon would inherit everything!" Leon's gaze snapped up and he leveled a glare at Julius. "That pup would inherit everything that I've worked years to build. I wasn't going to let some young bastard take my life's work from me just because his dad willed it so."
Lucy laughed. "Ah, so that's it. No one hired you. It was ambition that drove you to this. Kill the son, watch the father die, and get everything. It's in a will somewhere right?"
When Leon's gaze went flat she prodded his wrist with her gun. He jerked, gulped, then nodded. "Yes, I was with Donald when he drew up the will after he found out about his illness. If, Devon is unable to inherit due to death, the company goes straight to me."
"Greedy bastard!" Devon doubled up his fist, ready to strike the man.
Julius stopped him, shaking his head. "He's not worth it. Let's go, Devon. Let's go home and you can spend what time you have left with your father. That's what's important, not this old fucker who's getting what he deserves."
Devon stood there for a moment, frozen as he weighed the choices. Finally, he let his arm relax and followed Julius to the door.
Lucy started to follow, but paused, staring at Leon over her shoulder. "You know, Mr. Krautz, I may be a pirate but at least I have a code of honor. You? You're just a sorry old man with nothing."
When she exited the door, closing it on Leon's ravings and curses upon her, she found Styx waiting for her.
"Captain?" He looked worried, uncomfortable.
She sighed. "What bad news do you have for me?"
"The Star Force sent us a transmission. It seems news of the merchant ship had reached them before we intercepted it. They are boarding all ships in the area in search of the missing crew and cargo."
Julius grinned. "Contact them back and tell them welcome aboard."
Lucy blinked at him. "Are your brains comet-addled? I have the crew and goods aboard. This is the Star Force, the galactic police we're talking about. I'd---"
"Be just fine and congratulated on your shining example of citizenship by offering these stranded people a ride home and transport of their cargo goods." Julius grinned at her.
She stood there before flashing a wide smile at Styx. "Yes, do contact them and tell them to come aboard the Tartarus."
"Aye, Captain." Styx hurried off to do as ordered.
Devon started down the hallway as well.
"Where are you going, Devon?" Julius called out.
"To inform our crew so they don't screw up," Devon replied without breaking pace.
Lucy nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I suppose I'd better go make a statement on the intercom so my boys behave too."
"Wait," Julius touched her shoulder. "I wanted to thank you for helping us find out why Leon did this. You're one hell of an interrogator."
Lucy grinned at him. "Want to know a secret?" At Julius' nod, she tapped her gun. "The safety was on the whole time."
Even Devon couldn't help smiling as he rounded the corner down the hallway.
\*\*\*\*
Every occupant of the Tartarus waited in the hull, watching as the Star Force Officers made their way cautiously across the merylon tube. The Officer's guns were drawn. Lucy's crew, however, were lined up with their hands resting lightly on their thighs and solemn looks on their faces. To the side, standing at attention, were the crew members of the merchant ship. Lucy stood at the head, near the hull door, stoic and dangerous. Devon and Julius flanked either side of her.
"Captain Lucy Verr of the ship, Tartarus?" An officer called out the name with a slight sneer, and Lucy pegged him as the head of this contingent.
"That would be me." She met his gaze, watching him flinch at the color of her eyes. Yes, orange eyes weren't very common among humans. Eyes like hers meant that somewhere in her background, someone had gotten very naughty with a humanoid species that inhabited the surrounding planets.
She watched as the officer regained his composure. "We received a radio transmission that you had the crew of a stranded merchant ship and its contents aboard. Since pirates are notorious for selling crews to the slave trade and cargo to the black market, I must find assurance that you are transporting these people versus kidnapping them. If I find the answers unsatisfactory, I will be forced to take your entire ship, along with everyone and everything aboard it, into the custody of the Star Force. Do you understand, Captain?" He said her title with a sneer that had her itching for her gun.
Julius stepped forward. "By 'Captain', who precisely are you addressing? Her? Us? The pilot from my ship? You need to specify."
"And who would you be?" The officer shot him a look. "Never mind, it doesn't matter. Shut your mouth unless spoken to."
Devon stirred, stepping up to stand beside Lucy. "I would use a little more respect, Officer. It's not wise to treat people with such disrespect if you don't know their identity. It could cost you your job."
The officer rolled his eyes and looked over his shoulder at his colleagues. "Who are these dumb fucks?"
"Sir?" A younger man stepped forward, nervous caution etched in worried lines on his face. "I believe these are the sons of Cartwright and Barbaroy. The heirs to the companies."
Color, bright and obvious, traveled up the officer's collar and across his cheeks. He sputtered for a moment before giving an apologetic bow. "Sirs, I am severely out of place. I'm so used to this being the work of pirates and..." He let his words trail off for a moment. "I still need to ask a few questions though."
"Of course," Julius said. "The crew from our ship is standing just over there. They'll be happy to answer any questions you like."
An hour later, the Star Force pulled away. A visible ripple of relief went through Lucy's crew. Meanwhile, Julius and Devon were helping their own get back to the cabins.
"Captain?" Styx approached Lucy with a smile. "Let's never do that again."
Lucy Verr nodded. "Agreed. I don't think my heart could have held out much longer. I was born for the stars, and I was downright terrified they'd find that old bastard in holding who'd howl a different tale and get me thrown in a windowless brig."
"We'll be pulling into port on Prodigus in the morning." Styx rolled his shoulders. "Almost done and over with."
"Aye," Lucy's words were quiet, "almost over."
Lucy tilted her head back, letting the hot water course over her body. She wished she could wash away the day's events with as much ease as she could wash the tension from her shoulders. She wasn't stressing out too much about it. One could not live the life of a pirate successfully if they tweaked out every time they were scrutinized by the police force. It looked bad and made it difficult to uphold the reputation she needed. Of course, it had been nice to stand there, tall and proud, while the crew of the merchant ship confirmed that she was, in fact, taking them home.
She heard the door to her bathroom snick shut and tried to see out of the frosted glass of her large shower. Sometimes, if it was an emergency, Styx would come fetch her from the shower. Lucy Verr could see a large form moving, but couldn't make out any details.
"Styx?" Her voice held no alarm.
"Not quite," Julius' voice replied.
Lucy smiled, pleased with the unexpected visit. Julius would make a welcome addition to her shower. When the door opened, revealing his lean naked body, a pool of heat curled between her thighs. She was glad he made the first move. Deciding who she was going to ask to her bed tonight was so difficult, she'd almost given up altogether on making a thought out choice and flipped a coin.
Julius stared at her for a moment, a smile playing across his lips. "You're gorgeous. I don't know how you keep the crew from banging your door down every night."
She backed up, making room for him. Her shower was huge, almost the size of a walk in closet, and left ample space. Hell, they could lie down in the shower comfortably if they so chose, she realized.
"Most of them saw me grow up and think of me as a daughter or sister," she replied. "They don't see me in a sexual light. I'm fine with that. Relationships with the crew would only cause problems."
Lucy reached out, capturing Julius' growing member, and gave it a slow stroke. At his gasp, she stepped forward, her breasts pressing against his bare skin. Empowered by his eager reactions, she stuck her tongue out, slowly licking water droplets off his chest. Her tongue traced down, twirled around a nipple. Julius' hands dug into her hips, dragging her against him.
"You're all the things my father told me to avoid in a woman, and I'll be damned if it isn't sexy as all hell," Julius growled.
Lucy Verr laughed. "You're all the things my daddy told me was the mark of a man easy to rob blind. I guess he never took into account what a silver tongue could do."
She shuddered in pleasure at her own words, remembering just what his 'silver tongue' had done to her the other night. The memory of sliding Devon's cock in and out of her mouth followed directly after. Oh, what she wouldn't give to have them both at once!
A banging on the shower door caused her to jump away from Julius with a yelp. Who, by comet's fire, would be in here now? Maybe it was Styx this time.
"Go away," Julius yelled, irritation lacing his voice. "We're busy."
The shower door yanked open, and Lucy felt a thrill at the sight of Devon standing there, naked and proud. "Not without me, you're not," he growled.
He strode into the shower with a casual expression, pulling the door closed behind him. Julius raised an eyebrow, but didn't seem uncomfortable at the sight of his friend naked. Lucy let her eyes rove over him, pleased to finally see him unclothed from head to toe.
His thighs and calves were every bit as muscular as his forearms. His tan was uniform throughout his body, suggesting he either was dark skinned naturally or tanned naked. She found both options very appealing. His chocolate brown eyes seemed to sparkle with merriment at her obvious perusal of his body.
"How did I get this lucky?" Lucy smiled at them both.
"I've been a horny mess since you played with me at dinner last night," Julius complained.
Devon laughed. "So that's what was wrong with you." His smoldering gaze landed on Lucy. "As for me, I didn't want Julius having you all to himself. It's our last night, and I wanted to feel your mouth around me again."
As they advanced on her, Julius smiled. "If you want her mouth, then I call dibs on her pussy."
"Deal."
"You're both nefarious cads!" Lucy exclaimed as a flush traveled up her cheeks. Granted, she fantasized about being with them both at once, but wasn't certain how to deal with it now that it was happening. She felt a whole lot of excited, and more than a little bit of nervous. "Have you two ever---" she gasped as Devon took her right breast in his mouth.
"Been together?" Julius supplied with a helpful tone.
She nodded, unable to speak as the pleasure of Devon's tongue on her nipple consumed her. She would never have pegged them as bisexuals, but she had no issues with it if they were.
"No." Julius stroked her other nipple, sending fire curling through her veins. "We've shared a woman once before. But you don't have to be gay to do this. We don't have to touch each other. We get enough pleasure from touching you."
Devon's appreciative growl at her breast vibrated her very core. She leaned against the far wall feeling pleasantly helpless as Julius dropped to his knees before her. His hazel eyes stared up at her for a moment, as if he was memorizing every curve of her body. His hand came up, delved into the cleft between her thighs, and stroked her clit. Lucy moaned, feeling almost overwhelmed with pleasure and the excitement of having them both.
When Julius leaned forward, he used his hands to spread her legs further apart. With steady flicks, he worked his tongue across her swollen pussy. Devon reached a hand over, his fingers grasping her free nipple. He twisted it with a firm tug in time to the motions of his mouth. Lucy felt certain she was going to die with pleasure.
"The water," she managed to gasp. "It's getting cold."
Julius pulled back, shooting her a wicked smile. "We could always shove you under it and douse you good to put those fires out."
"I wonder if her hair would change color," Devon mused.
"Don't you dare!" Lucy bristled at them, ready for a fight.
They laughed, but she was pleased to see Devon reach over and push the button to turn the shower off. She harbored no desire to be stuck under an icy cascade of water. When it was off, she pushed the door open, taking pleasure at the sight of steam on the windows. Hot showers, like silk, were one of her favorite secret indulgences. Lucy had a feeling, though, that it would take a while before any shower could compare to the steaminess of this one.
She tossed towels from the rack at both the boys. For a few moments, she refrained from toweling off herself as she watched them. Tonight would be their last night. Tomorrow they would go back to live the lives of the rich and famous, and she of adventure and glory. Would she miss them? Yes, for a little while. Did she love them? No. Only the momentary companionship they'd brought into her life would be missed. If tonight was to be their last night, she was going to be certain she enjoyed every second of it.
"Devon," she asked, her tone playful, "am I allowed the use of a bed this time?"
He grinned at her. "If I get to be on my knees in front of your face, we can be anywhere you want."
Julius laughed. "I'm glad her bed is as big as it is."
She toweled off, her movements quick and jerky, anticipation firing through her like an electric pulse. She wanted to hurry to her bed. Wanted to make certain she got there before the men changed their minds and decided they couldn't handle being with her at the same time. She couldn't wait to feel Devon in her mouth and Julius in her pussy.
Devon walked out the bathroom door and into her room first. Julius, catching her by surprise, scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder. "You weigh damn near nothing, woman."
Lucy let him carry her without a fuss, the urge to giggle countered by her delicious view of his backside. She slid a hand down his back, her nails scratching with light pressure so that she left little red trails. Julius sucked in a breath at the sensation, and she could imagine his cock swelling.
A stinging smack on her ass caused her to flail in alarm. "What the hell?"
Devon's chuckled. "I couldn't resist. It's such a sexy little ass."
Julius reached around, bringing his hand soundly against the other cheek of her rear. "Oh yes, that does feel good on the hand, doesn't it?"
She sucked in her breath, surprised by the mixture of pleasure and pain. She'd never been much of a masochist, especially since it meant giving up a certain level of control to her partner. Until she'd fucked Devon, she'd always been the one in control. Lucy liked it better that way---or at least she used to. She was starting to see the appeal in such sexual acts.
Julius laid her down on the bed and she looked around to find Devon. He was kneeling at the other end of the bed, watching her with that hungry predator's look in his eyes. He crooked a finger at her, beckoning her to him.
Gracefully, Lucy rolled to her stomach and got on hands and knees. Her eyes were riveted on the erect cock jutting out from Devon. She crawled toward it, reveling in the feel of the silk against her bare skin. When she was within reach, Devon tangled a hand in her hair, dragging her face to his cock.
She pulled away, taking a moment to locate Julius. When he wasn't in sight, she turned to Devon with a puzzled look.
"Bathroom," he informed her.
Reassured, she let him pull her back to his cock. Lucy traced the tip of the head with her tongue, pleased at the pre-cum on it. She spent a moment licking it off, rolling her tongue around on his smooth skin, savoring the taste of his arousal. When she was done, she bent her head to trace her tongue up the underside of his length, from base to tip. Bringing a hand up, she cupped his balls. She took first one, then the other into her mouth, making him groan with pleasure. The texture of the skin on his balls was so different from his cock that she found it erotic to run her tongue across them.
The mattress gave a little behind her, signaling Julius' return. "Start without me, did you?" His words were teasing, his voice was gruff.
"Just warming up while we waited," Devon said.
Irritated that his voice sounded so level, Lucy wrapped a hand around his dick and deep throated him in one fluid movement. The hiss of shock that reached her ears left her feeling very smug. It didn't compare to the surprised jerk she gave when she felt Julius' tongue slide against her pussy.
For the next few minutes she bobbed her head up and down, letting Devon's dick slide across her tongue in rhythm to Julius tongue in her pussy. It was carnal heaven, and sheer pleasure rolled through her every minute of it. When her pussy muscles tightened, sending a spasm through her, she issued a muffled cry around Devon's member. Lucy was afraid for a moment that she'd bit him, but he only urged her back into rhythm.
The sensation of Julius' mouth disappeared, and she whimpered in protest. She didn't want him to leave, didn't want the pleasure to stop. Soon, though, one of his hands grasped her hip. The head of his cock, complete with the familiar feel of latex, pushed against her entrance.
So, that's what he'd been doing in the bathroom. She managed the thought just before he thrust into her, sending her brain into overdrive.
It took them a moment to find their rhythm. Lucy finally settled on letting Julius' thrusts rock her. The room was a symphony of moans and groans, with her voice being the constant baseline. It was sexual hell and bliss, all in one, to be used by the two men at once. She wanted more control, but was enjoying the sensation of being used in such a thorough manner to demand anything different.
Devon began moving his hips, and she felt his cock thicken as he prepared to come. Her pussy tightened in anticipation. The sensation of his cock throbbing in her mouth last night had been a complete turn on, and she wanted to feel it again. Though, concentrating on that fact was difficult when Julius was bringing her to the edge as he pounded into her.
Oh gods yes, this feels fucking great!
Julius gripped her hips tighter, his fingers digging in. A ripple of pleasure at the small pain sent her into another orgasm. Her throat tightened around Devon and he gave a loud roar. His dick began jerking inside of her, the hot liquid running down her throat. She swirled her tongue against him, loving the feel of his fingers as they roughly tangled in her hair.
Another wash of pleasure radiated over her as Julius let out his own groan, his dick throbbing deep within her folds. She let Devon fall free from her mouth as she came, her pussy clenching Julius' cock in tight spasms. Her whole body felt like it was a comet, burning in the atmosphere; bright and fierce. She hadn't come this hard in years. As they lay there in a mass, panting and hearts pounding, Lucy smiled.
"That," she said between breaths, "was a-fucking-mazing."
"Agreed," mumbled Julius, his head pillowed on her hip.
"If I was a smoker, I'd need that proverbial cigarette." Devon's voice rumbled from under Lucy's head, where she'd curled up on his chest.
This, Lucy thought, was a perfect way to end the night.
Lucy pushed away from her seat and sighed in a mixture of contentment and wistfulness.
"You alright, Captain?" Chiron eyed her from his station at the wheel.
Feeling no desire to explain what she didn't understand, she nodded. "Just looking forward to pay off. I told the boys I paid sixty-three gold apiece for them."
Chiron's face betrayed no emotion, but she could see his eyes light up with laughter. She often left the gold in his care, knowing only an idiot would attempt to steal from the huge man. He not only kept it near, but also kept a running tally on the contents and how much was used, when and where.
She rose and stretched, letting out another sigh. Her body was comfortably sore---the kind of sore that should keep her happy for another few weeks. She was going to miss those men, more than she cared to admit. How had she gotten so attached already? She wasn't, however, going to enjoy watching the crew that could have been a decent payload walk off. Oh well.
She flipped on the intercom. "This is Captain Lucy Verr, we will be docking on Prodigus in the city of Primus in fifteen minutes. I want my crew on standby. No sightseeing boys! We unload and leave."
Lucy switched off the intercom, checked to make sure everything was in order one last time, and headed down to the hull. Both Devon and Julius' fathers were at the port, waiting for their sons return. They had been contacted earlier in the morning, and instructed to bring finances so the gentlemen could "pay back the nice captain for her goodwill". Strangely, it came to the same amount as what she'd told the men she'd paid for them.
The merchant crew was waiting in the hull, bubbling with excitement. More than a few of them knew how close they'd come to a life of slavery. They did, however, swear to Devon and Julius that they wouldn't say a word of it. Not a one of them mourned for Mr. Krautz once they found out about his underhanded deceit.
When she entered the hull, both of the men smiled at her. Julius approached her first, handing her a piece of paper. Devon watched calmly from a distance.
"What's this?" She studied the information carefully for a moment. "Contact information?"
Julius grinned. "Well, we had so much fun that we decided we'd like to do it again at some point. If ever you want us to go star skimming with you, just use this information to contact us. It's our personal contact details to our direct lines."
Flushing with pleasure, Lucy folded the paper into a careful square and tucked it into her back pocket. "I'll keep that in mind," she replied in a steady voice.
The ship shuddered slightly as the docking apparatus locked on. Steeling herself for anything, Lucy took up her position in the middle of the hull, her shoulders stiff. With a nod, she signaled for the hull doors to be lowered. Sunlight flooded in and, moments later two older men surged in. She could only assume they were the fabled fathers and she noted that the hull's door hadn't even lowered all the way yet.
Lucy Verr watched as the men hugged each other, exchanging news and proclamations of love. For a moment, she missed her own dad with an intense longing. She made a mental note to contact him and ask him to sail with her for a couple of weeks. It would most certainly make him a happy man. So long as he quit pestering her for a grandchild to "inherit the family business".
Devon turned to the waiting crew members. "Unload your personal belongings and then head straight home for some paid vacation time."
The crew gave a hearty cheer. Soon the hull was engulfed in a flurry of motion as Lucy Verr's crew helped them unload trunks, including Julius and Devon's.
"Captain?" One of the men who'd come aboard to greet the missing heirs was in front of her. From his tall and dark looks, though graying at the temples, she assumed he was Devon's father.
"Yes, Sir?" She waited for him to berate her. Or at least huff over the cargo that was being left aboard her ship.
"Thank you for bringing my boy back." Tears of gratitude where in the old man's eyes.
Her answering smile was filled with warmth. "It was my pleasure to make their acquaintance, I assure you."
Devon walked over and handed her a hefty bag of gold. She didn't count it, though she did frown momentarily at its weight. They'd given her more than the agreed upon price, but she wasn't about to say a word. Before she could thank him, he drew her into a deep kiss.
"You'd better use that number within six months, or I'll hunt you down myself," he warned her.
Before she could answer him, Julius walked up, pushed Devon to the side, and swooped her into his arms. The kiss he gave her was softer, sweeter, but no less sexy. When he released her, she stood breathless.
"Goodbye, Lucy." His voice was strong, but his eyes looked sad.
Lucy felt her own sadness at their departure welling up. Shake it off, ol' girl. "Goodbye to the both of you. Don't let me catch either of you in jail again." She stifled a laugh when both the fathers shot their boys hard looks.
"Jail?"
"It's not what you think, Dad." Julius turned wide eyes on his father. "We didn't do anything, promise!"
She laughed as they left, Julius trying to explain the entire way, Devon walking along in quiet stoicism. Minutes later, everyone was clear and her crew was standing back in the hull.
" Ready, Captain?" Styx looked her over, his eyes confessing his worry.
Lucy flashed him a sad smile, pulling the paper from the back of her pants. Oh, she'd be calling them. She'd wait for a bit, make them worry, but in three months...
"Yes, Styx." Her voice was almost a purr of pleasure as she thought about what she was going to put those men through. "Give the order, we make ready to sail in twenty minutes. I want to be swimming in the stars by lunch."
Swimming in the stars and dreaming of what she planned to do next time she saw them. Now that she thought of it, maybe she wouldn't mind a child. Especially not a child fathered by the two of them. Yes, their next meeting would be very eventful indeed.
The End
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