A clandestine meeting, a sexy challenge, and a big problem for Kalquor.
* * * *
Earth II
Selt stepped out of the shadows of the low-lit warehouse office when Blythe entered and the door shut behind her. His heart thumped hard as it always did when they were together.
He’d hoped to find an excuse for them to meet. Her message she had important information he needed as an on-planet security officer was the perfect opening.
He missed spying on her, missed being in her constant presence though she was unaware of his activities. He’d been pulled off the detail since Cal Mitchell’s arrest, since she was no longer judged to be in danger from the former General Assembly speaker. The clandestine files she accessed, which the spy division had been so eager to get hold of, were now in his superior’s possession. Once they’d discovered the codes she’d been given by Mitchell in his eagerness to discredit the governor, as well as those Ken Bryant had supplied once he’d proven himself to be in opposition to the Earthtique faction, Blythe’s value as a subject of investigation had evaporated.
She rushed to Selt. “I’m so glad to see you.”
His delight to be in her presence was dampened by the worry etched on her lovely, elfin features. He set aside the urge to wrap her slight body in his arms. “You said it was important. What’s wrong?”
Blythe told him of the footage of Browning Copeland she’d been sent and the verification software she’d run to authenticate it. “It appears to be real. I can’t find a single hint the footage is faked.”
Dread overcame Selt. The spy division had better programs to confirm whether vid recordings were valid, but Blythe’s tools, thanks to the news bureau, were top of the line. “Did you bring the footage?”
“A copy.” Her gaze was steady on his face, letting him know however much they cared about each other, she’d do her job as a reporter.
“You’ll release it to the public.”
“I have a responsibility.” Her tough-as-nails demeanor softened. “It could cause a major rift between Earth and Kalquor, though. While you’re assigned to Earth and your space station, you, Deram, and Hadlez could face…protests. There’s already been one bomb scare on Alpha.”
Selt’s heart took up its painful thumping again. “You’d give the empire fair warning to help us stay safe?”
A smile twitched the corners of her lips. “I kind of like you, in case you haven’t noticed.”
It required every inch of Nobek strength to keep a handle on the sudden surge of emotion washing over him. He firmly set aside the sentimentality to concentrate on the threat to the empire.
“I won’t ask you not to do your job. But can I plead for a delay? A day…a Kalquorian day, twenty-seven hours…before you go public with this?”
To his relief, she nodded. She tapped her handheld, and an instant later, his pinged. She’d sent him the file. “I can give you that. Will it be enough to secure the space station?”
“I think so.” The station’s safety was the furthest thing from Selt’s mind, however.
He’d been a member of Captain Kila’s spyship as its weapons subcommander when the captain and Admiral Piras had led a mission to thwart the Holy Leader’s attack on Haven Colony. They’d snatched Browning Copeland from his battlecruiser seconds before they’d destroyed the Earther vessel. As far as the universe was concerned, Copeland was dead, a casualty of war. Selt knew he’d been taken to Kalquor, however, where he’d disappeared in the bowels of Fleet Command. What had happened to the man afterward, he had no idea. Given Copeland’s crimes, he’d hoped the disgusting bastard had been executed.
If Blythe’s evidence held up, the Galactic Council of Planets would demand a full accounting of the lies they’d been fed concerning Copeland’s demise. Such a revelation might very well bring serious sanctions…up to expelling Kalquor from the membership. The dishonor would be devastating to its citizens, even discounting the economic hardship they’d endure.
She stepped close, and her blue eyes gazing at him blunted some of the alarm coursing through his system. “Are we okay…I mean, can I come to the station tonight? I know we’d planned for me not to, but…”
Another wave of emotion swept through him. She was worried doing her job threatened what they had. She wanted to be with him and his clan, and it meant everything to him. A sense of warmth poured over him.
Fuck. I might be falling in love.
He didn’t dare tell her. Instead, he said, “We’d hoped plans could be changed. In fact, I brought something for you, in case you decided to join us.”
“What?”
“Just a little incentive.”
He burrowed in one of the many pouches he wore on his belt. He brought out a contraption made mostly of elastic straps attached to a flesh-colored pad. He was delighted at how her pupils dilated at the sight. As a former sex worker, she recognized the device.
“Um, I need to get back to the office soon.” Her gaze remained locked on the device. Her breath had quickened.
“Not a problem, if you do as you’re told. Pull down your pants and panties.”
Her eyes flickered to his face, uncertainty written over hers. It was difficult for her to hand over complete control to him and his clanmates, as much as she enjoyed it. He waited patiently.
She swallowed and parted the resealable fly of her slacks. They, then her tiny silken underwear, slithered down her legs.
He knelt and looked at her pussy. His cocks plumped at the sight of the hairless mound, its slit already showing signs of wetness. His finger traced it, finding her wet indeed. He detected her slight trembling.
A vision of bending her over the nearby desk and taking her flickered through his senses. His cocks hardened further, and he reluctantly withdrew his finger. He sucked her sweetness from the digit, then strapped the stimulator on her, ensuring the pad covered her clit.
“I’ll turn this on randomly throughout the day. It’ll serve as a little preview of what you can expect tonight. Keep a count of your orgasms for me.” He pulled her underwear and trousers up and made sure she was properly dressed.
“I have interviews today.” Her protest was delivered in a whisper.
“I wish you luck.” He smiled and pointed to the door, indicating she should go.
She scowled at him and turned away. He let her get halfway to the door before pressing the button on the remote control he’d drawn from his pouch, activating the vibrator.
Blythe gasped. She halted, her thighs pressing together. She shot a startled look over her shoulder at Selt. He waved the controls at her.
“I forgot to mention the code keyed into the remote. Until I release them, the straps won’t disengage. If you try to pull it off, they’ll tighten. If you com me to tell me they’ve gotten too tight because you haven’t left the stimulator in place, you can count on punishment tonight. Are we clear?”
He was amused to watch as she struggled with irritation at the predicament he’d placed her in and excitement to be under his control. She was trembling all over, her face flushed as the vibrator aroused her. He wondered if she’d demand he remove the vibrator.
She huffed, either in frustration or from the device’s stimulation. “We’re clear. I swear though, if I’m in the middle of asking the governor an important question, and it goes off—” a groan interrupted the threat. Her lashes fluttered. Selt readied to catch her as her knees weakened.
She maintained her balance, her hand flinging out to warn him off. Shooting him a final poisonous glare, she staggered to the door, which opened obligingly.
“That’s one. Don’t forget to count,” Selt called after her. He shut the remote off, chuckling.
He’d recorded her schedule for the day. He wouldn’t set off the vibrator during the two interviews she was due to have, but she’d be on edge while trying to question the governor and the acting speaker of the General Assembly.
“Tonight will be quite the scene.” He snickered.
His humor didn’t last long as he remembered the vid of Copeland. The few minutes he’d used to tease his lover wouldn’t make much difference, but time was precious. He phased and rushed from the room, grabbing his com as he went.
“Agent Selt to Security Chief Kuran. We may have a major situation.”
* * * *
Blythe Nelson is certain Clan Deram is keeping something from her. The clan of spies finds it difficult to stay a step ahead of the wily reporter who’s winning their hearts. What they don’t know is Blythe has a secret of her own. New love can’t survive without trust, and neither side is ready when the truth comes out.
Dramok Ospar, determined to return to the political stage, strikes up a deal with Royal Councilman Oiteil. Unaware he’s dealing with a Dark entity controlling Oiteil, he finds himself fighting for his honor, his relationship with his clan…and his life.
The Kalquorian Empire, already struggling against the Darks infiltrating its highest offices, suffers a new blow when it’s revealed it’s keeping a prisoner from the war against the first Earth: Holy Leader Browning Copeland. The schism between Kalquor and its allies grows deeper, setting the empire against the rest of the galaxy.
As chaos descends on rioting Earther colonies, the Galactic Council of Planets, and Kalquor, a desperate group of humans and Kalquorians race to stop the force behind the turmoil: the Darks. Can they loosen the grip on their worlds the enemy seeks to tighten, or is all lost?
Releasing March 29. Pre-order ebook or buy print now:
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