Chapter One

Cyntur-Rho

Galaxy Arena

It was a good day for thievery. The sun was bright, and the air a perfect crisp that spoke of the coming autumn. By midday the ale would be flowing and people would be shedding their outerwear against the heat. Customers would be standing in line to buy food from the vendors, and indulgent parents would shell out credits to purchase souvenirs for bright-eyed children who never lost a minute’s sleep wondering where their next meal would come from.

Ilara Depherra observed the circuslike atmosphere with an avaricious smile and gestured to the life-size hologram poster of the star of today’s show, Kei Rewu. “Say hello to our host for the day,” she quipped to her companions. “Because of his popularity, we’ll go home with enough money to keep our bellies filled for a month or more.”

The likeness showed a brute of a man, nearly seven feet tall with slabs of muscle thick enough to intimidate even the toughest opponent. In this particular advertisement, he didn’t wear his usual braid. Thick strands of hair, no doubt blown by a wind machine, floated about his head and shoulders like a dark halo, and there was a fierce scowl on his handsome face. Ilara grinned at her young male companion. “Eat your vegetables, and one day you’ll give him a run for his money.”

At fifteen years, Leonis Flair looked more like a mantis than an overgrown goliath who’d likely been pumped full of growth hormone. “Bet I could give him a run for his money now. A man like that, the muscle weight would slow him down.”

Ilara had to agree. Fleet of foot, Leonis could outrun the best the law had to offer and did so on a regular basis. “All right then, let’s get to work. We meet back here when the show’s over. Be careful.” She placed her hand on the girl standing close to Leonis. “If you’re going to work the women’s break area, make sure you’ve got an easy out. We don’t want to have to deal with security on a day like today, not when our pockets will be overflowing.” She gave Leonis a pointed look. “Nothing bulky. We don’t want the telltale bulging of jewelry.” With a nod, the three split up.

The pickings were so easy it was almost embarrassing. Stand in line for a hot dog, wait for someone to bump you, and dip your fingers into the pocket of the man ahead of you, all the while bitching at people for shoving. Wander around a souvenir shop and wait for a clueless mother with an open purse to tend to a whining child. Lift the currency packs and slip out the door before anyone’s the wiser. A growing stack of Alliance marks already filled her homemade money belt, and she’d bet the children were doing just as well. Time to move away from the kiosks before anyone got suspicious. The roar of the crowd in the arena rose to crescendo as she slipped through the turnstile and found a seat as the announcer called the next competition.

“Ladies and gentlemen, five-time winner of the Intergalactic Games, and the holder of this year’s title belt, I give you, Kei Rewu!”

Thunderous applause greeted the renowned gladiator. Ilara felt a little thrill as the big man jogged to the center of the arena with his hands fisted above his head. Seraphim’s belt but he was gorgeous! What wouldn’t she give for just one peek under his leather loincloth? Big as he was, the man had to be hung like a Taurin ox.

“And in the opposite corner, his opponent, temporarily released from the penal colony on Terrantis-Rex, Giraen Celph, winner of the Penal Death Match Games!”

Boos and hisses from the crowd accompanied the opponent’s cocky strut into the arena.

“In a match of unprecedented skill and courage, these two warriors will fight to the death, ladies and gentlemen! The opponent to secure his release from enslavement on Terrantis-Rex, the champion to secure final justice for the victims of this vicious criminal!”

Ilara glanced around the arena as a mad rush of women with small children headed for the exits. Other games of skill were acceptable for young eyes, but most people didn’t want their little ones to view a death match. Several rows over, she spied Leonis, a predatory smile curving his thin lips. Yes, the look said, so many suckers, so little time. She nearly chortled with delight at the first clash of swords.

The two opponents appeared to be equally matched -- both big, strapping men with nothing to lose, in a battle for supremacy that would cost at least one of them his life. She watched with something akin to fascination as Kei Rewu struck the first blow, his sword opening a thin gash on his opponent’s side. Not much damage to speak of, but he’d drawn first blood, whipping the crowd into a frenzy. She climbed to the top of the bleachers and began to work her way down, skilled fingers dipping into the most likely pockets. By the time she reached the bottom again, she’d collected nearly a dozen fat currency packs and casually made her way to the exit.

Locked in a sanitation booth, Ilara counted her ill-gotten gains and had to stifle an exclamation of glee. One pass through the death match crowd had netted her over ten thousand Alliance marks, and that wasn’t counting the wad of vouchers filling her overstuffed money belt. Truly, they would eat well in the weeks to come! And there would be money enough for shoes and winter clothes for all the children.

A quick peek out the door told her the public area was deserted, and she hurried to the trash bins to dispose of the evidence. She lifted the bag out and dumped the empty currency packs and pouches into the receptacle, delighted to see dozens already filling the bottom. Maybe they were the fruits of Maras’s labor, maybe not, but whomever they belonged to, she hoped they’d had as profitable a day as she had.

* * * * * *

Kei Rewu grunted as Celph’s body crashed against his. Quick as a wink, he shoved him away and, with a flick of the wrist, gave him a little slice to the left side.

“That the best you’ve got, gladiator?” the prisoner taunted.

“Just warming you up a bit, jailbird. I want to give the people a good show before I cleave your head from your shoulders.” Celph charged, forcing Kei back a few steps, but he whirled sideways and took a hard swipe at the convict’s calf, opening another cut, this one a bit deeper than the last. Angered, the bastard lunged, a move Kei quickly countered with a downward swing that sent his opponent’s sword flying from his hand. “I’ll give you one chance to save your life. Pick up your sword, or I’ll run you through now.”

Celph narrowed his eyes at Kei. “That’s your first mistake, gladiator. When the time comes, don’t expect me to return the favor.”

“Ha! I expect nothing from you except your death.” As Celph turned and bent to retrieve his sword, Kei used the broadside of his own weapon on the man’s backside. The crowd roared with laughter.

“That was your second mistake,” he growled. “You want to give them a good show, how’s this?”

Kei grinned like a madman. Oh yes, the show was definitely on. They charged one another, swinging their swords and parrying, sweating and bleeding for the pleasure of their paying customers. He could have taken the prisoner’s head at any time, but he wouldn’t. Not that he had a problem killing this particular opponent. He was, by any definition, the worst of the worst -- an indiscriminate killer of women who took pleasure in their suffering. So Kei would play with the bastard for a while, bleed him slowly to let him believe he stood a chance at freedom, and then he’d gut him.

Round and round they went, a nick here, a cut there, as Kei showed off his skills with a broadsword. He danced around his enemy, sword twirling gracefully, opening a small gash to let the blood trickle -- until the spectators began to tire of the sport and called for the finish. Shouts of “Kill him!” rang out, and soon the crowd was chanting, “Kei, Kei, Kei!”

“Ready to die, you murdering bastard?” Kei circled his tiring foe.

Celph gathered himself for one more run, hacking and stabbing, trying to dodge a flurry of parries and attacks, but his eyes told Kei he knew he’d been licked. In a last desperate stroke, he raised his sword above his head for a double-fisted slice he would never complete. As he took a deep breath, Kei lunged, running his heavy broadsword through the challenger’s middle. A stunned look crossed the man’s face before his hands opened and his weapon slipped from his grip. The assembly stomped and howled as Kei planted a foot in the prisoner’s middle and shoved him off his sword. The monster had killed twenty-two women before being caught and imprisoned, ten from Toru Two.

“Kill women, will you?” He sneered, then spat on the body before raising his bloody sword to the crowd.

The audience went wild, leaping the low wall to spill into the arena. Security rushed forward in an attempt to hold them back as guards hurried to remove the dead prisoner. Kei slowly walked off the field surrounded by event staff. When his manager rushed up to him, grinning with joy, Kei snatched him by the front of his expensive shirt.

“If you ever contract me for another death match with a rapist and murderer, it’ll be you facing me with a sword in your hand,” he said, his voice deadly calm. “Do we understand one another?”

The man trembled, nodding his head. “Yes, Kei. I understand. No more. Come into the locker room now; the doctor is waiting to clean your wounds, and the whirlpool is just the temperature you prefer.”

“Good,” he said gruffly.

* * * * * *

Kei waited patiently for the last of the people to leave. Ordinarily, he didn’t mind the meet and greets, but this group wasn’t satisfied with the usual handshakes and picture posing. They wanted to talk about bloodletting, about how it felt to take a life, and about their exploits during the Colonization Wars.

Everyone wanted to touch him, and the women were the worst of the lot, rubbing up against him. Some even dared to try and slip their hands beneath the waistband of his breeches. Their behavior scandalized him because he was, despite his profession, a gentleman.

Finally they were gone, and Kei shrugged into a loose-fitting coat, making his way to the last transport shuttle. He could afford a private transport, but he was a man of the people and so took public transportation whenever possible. Standing in line, he chatted amicably with his fellow passengers, signing autographs as he waited to board. He’d started to believe the furor of the day had receded when a fight broke out.

Curses flew and people stumbled about as two youngsters began to brawl. A third boy, tall and skinny, yelped as he was pushed hard, slamming a bony shoulder into Kei’s chest. Another man might not have felt the quick hand dip into an inner pocket to lift his currency pack, but Kei wasn’t just another man.

“Bloody hell!” the grimy-faced lad shrieked, looking up at Kei as if shocked. “Sorry, mister!” He spun around, uttering an oath at the two brawlers, stepping toward them as if to join the skirmish.

“Not so fast, boy,” Kei said darkly. He grabbed the back of the boy’s coat. “I’ll be having my currency pack back.” He tried to jerk the boy back to him, but the lad was lightning-quick, shrugging out of his oversize jacket.

“Not today, mate!” the boy quipped, spinning away. Kei watched the three of them race into the crowd, leaving him with nothing but a dirty old coat to show for his trouble. He stifled a booming laugh as the lad sprinted away. If that was the backside of a teenage boy, he’d tongue kiss a spotted yak.

Chapter Two

“Oy, that was a close one!” Leonis hooted as they stopped for a breath. “Thought he had you there for a minute, Ilara.”

Ilarna snorted derisively. “Not likely. Slippery as an eel, I am.” She laughed gaily. “Come on then, let’s go pay for our transpo.”

Bribery was the watchword of the day, and they didn’t quibble at the price of admission to the cargo hold but paid the worker and made themselves comfortable. Ilara went through the gladiator’s currency pack and held up a fist of paper currency. All large bills.

“You’ve got to love a rich man,” she crowed, counting out several thousand Alliance marks before handing them to Leonis. “Put that in your money belt, luv; mine’s stuffed full.” And though it was against the rules, she stuffed the packet back into her pants pocket. She couldn’t say why, except that she liked the feel of the expensive leather, and his picture was on his identification. They settled back, anxious to get home to the younger children with the makings of a truly grand meal.

When the shuttle was empty, the worker opened the cargo hold and set them free. Ilara felt exposed without her jacket and tugged her watch cap down around her ears. She’d have to go to one of the secondhand stores for a replacement. It wouldn’t do for the authorities to find out she was a woman, especially Uran Zarun, the dirty bastard. Although she had no proof, she knew in her gut that Zarun was responsible for the disappearance of several of the younger children she’d taken under her wing.

“Come along now,” she said, looking around. A prickle of alarm ran up her spine. “We need to get to the market and back to the school.”

Maras, barely thirteen and a refugee from a state institution, drew closer, grasping Ilara’s hand. “What is it, Ilara?”

“I don’t know, lovey,” she said softly. “Just a feeling. Let’s go.”

They kept to the shadows, hurrying down the back streets and alleys. More than once, she thought she heard the steady beat of boot heels behind them, but when she looked over her shoulder, there was no one following. Still, the feeling of unease didn’t leave her. When they reached the market, she stopped, clutching Leonis’s shoulder. “Go, see to the children. Maras and I will shop and be along soon. Hurry, Leonis.”

The boy nodded. “Be careful, the two of you. Zarun may be around.”

The grocer followed them through the store as they shopped, watching for any move that might indicate there was larceny on their minds. Ilara couldn’t blame him. After all, she’d filched her share of fruit from the man. But today, they were paying customers.

Ilara’s mouth watered as they filled the cart with costly eggs, bacon, bread, fresh vegetables, fruit, and several precious pounds of poultry. Butter and flour too. Maras gasped when Ilara placed two whole gallons of milk in the cart.

“Are you sure, Ilara? The price is so dear.”

“So it is, but we’ve earned it, haven’t we?”

“You’ve had it before, then?”

“I have. When I was a youngster, and my mum and dad were still alive. It’s like velvet on the tongue and sweet to the taste. It’s time you tasted it, Maras, you and the young ones. It’s dear, yes, but no less than you all deserve.” She pushed the cart to the front of the store. “Let’s pay and get moving. I want to be home before dark.”

The feeling of unease followed Ilara as they slipped through the alleys, past decaying buildings and into the heart of the blighted neighborhood they called home. Still, she no longer heard the sound of footsteps behind them and chastised herself for her foolishness. Until Leonis stepped out of the shadows, grim as the reaper.

“Oh gods, say it’s not so,” she pleaded, recognizing the look on his face.

“Three of them are missing, Ilara. The two new girls, Sari and Ibra. And Uzel, the boy from off world. They went out with Ciaman this morning, even though I told them their fingers weren’t light enough yet. Ciaman’s sick over it. She didn’t even know they’d followed her until Zarun’s goon squad snatched them.” He reached for her bags, taking them from her nerveless hands as she slumped against a crumbling brick wall.

“Bloody bastards.” Tears welled in her eyes, but her expression was warrior fierce. “One day, Leonis, one day I’ll stick a knife in his belly. Gut him like the pig he is.”

“I know,” the boy said softly. “Come now, there are a couple of new ones waiting, and they’re hungry.”

Ilara nodded, pushing away from the wall with a tired sigh. “Yes, there are always new ones, and they’re always hungry.” She shook her head. “I’ll never understand it, Leo. I’ll never understand how children can just be thrown away like so much rubbish.”

Old beyond his years, Leonis merely shrugged. “It’s the way of the world since the Colonization Wars.” He peered into the bags and smiled. “But you’ve brought them milk, I see. There’s a treat they won’t be expecting.”

“Yes, forty Alliance marks for a gallon of milk is scandalous, but they deserve a treat, especially the little ones.”

Leonis gave her a smile. “Well, that’s true, and I know it, but I’ll be having a glass myself before the night’s over. As will you.”

She would have argued that she’d bought it for the children, but the boy would have had none of it, so she nodded. “Yes. A glass of milk would be lovely. There’s poultry and fresh vegetables too. I thought I’d make a nice thick stew and some biscuits.”

Their sanctuary -- their home -- was an abandoned school near the newly reconstructed part of Toru City. At one time, the Terrans housed part of their occupation forces in the school and much of it remained intact. Miraculously, the water still worked, although Ilara insisted they take the precaution of boiling it before they drank it. The stoves in the kitchen ran on zelon gas, which they replaced by stealing it from the supplier in the middle of the night.

The dining hall was their main living area, with tables set up nearest the kitchen entrance and narrow bunks lining the walls at the far end of the room. Ilara had brought in portable chalkboards, a few desks, and what books she could scrounge, and set up a classroom in the center portion of the space. She had gone to school until her mother had died and was adamant that all the children must learn at least the basic skills.

The school was the perfect location for their little family, being close enough to the city to obtain supplies with the least amount of effort, and far enough away that upstanding citizens never ventured too near. During the day, the sun provided all the light they needed, and at night, the room was illuminated by casallin stones. Blackout screens provided protection from prying eyes. As the sun descended beyond the horizon, Ilara closed the screens. Tonight they would eat well and share stories about their exploits.

Fourteen hungry faces looked up as Ilara, Leonis, and Maras carried the food to the tables. As they passed their bowls to the head of the table, Ilara filled each one with the hearty, rib-sticking food, thinking it was unlikely many of them had ever had poultry before. Nor biscuits with real butter. Moans of delight filled the room as the children bit into big, fluffy biscuits smeared with butter, but their eyes went wide with awe as Leonis leaned over them, filling each glass with cold, sweet milk.

“Go on now,” he scolded. “Eat your food and mind your manners while you’re at it.”

The three of them served themselves and sat down with the children, regaling them with tales of their exploits at the Galaxy Arena.

“Did you see him? Kei Rewu?” the youngest newcomer asked, breathless with excitement. “Is he as big as they say? And as handsome as his poster pictures?”

Ilara laughed. “He is indeed, Lorriel, and I did see him -- up close and personal, mind you. Lifted his currency packet right out of his pocket, pretty as you please.”

“And nearly got pinched for it,” Leonis exclaimed, adding to the laughter. “He had ahold of her, but she managed to slip out of her jacket. Left him holding thin air and a smelly old suit coat!”

“Hey! I liked that jacket, Leo. It won’t be easy to replace, either. Full of pockets… The perfect jacket for an expert thief like myself. Lucky for me they were already empty.”

And so it went, the storytelling and the belly-filling, until each child was full and sleepy. “Go on and get them to bed,” Ilara told the two older kids. “I’ll handle the clean up.”

“But you cooked,” Maras protested.

“I know,” she said. “But I don’t have the heart for bedtime stories. Not tonight, with three of our young ones missing.”

Leonis nodded as she headed for the kitchen. He would know, of course, that she’d be heading out into the night to search for the three missing children, and that she wouldn’t find them. Knew too that she’d likely come home with a few more tagging behind her.

* * * * * *

Kei slumped in the plush leather chair at his desk staring at his communication monitor. He couldn’t believe his eyes and ears. She’d actually done it. His little bounty hunter had gone and married that damned mercenary, Asirian. Solae O’bora had been a pretty dream in a shiny black bodysuit. While she’d given herself freely and with enthusiasm, deep down he’d known he’d never have more than her body and her friendship.

He’d taken an extended vacation after the death match on Cyntur-Rho, not bothering to replace the slim communicator he kept in the currency pack stolen by the pickpocket, and so he’d missed Solae’s call inviting him to the ceremony. Just as well, really, because the gods only knew what he might have done. Challenged the mercenary, probably.

Funny, he would’ve thought he’d be more upset knowing Solae was beyond his reach now. Could it be that, all these years, he’d been fooling himself? Keeping other women at bay by convincing himself Solae O’bora was his one true love? After all, there had been plenty of women in between the bounty hunter’s visits. Women he’d enjoyed thoroughly.

He got up, walked barefoot down the long hall to the French doors leading to the backyard garden. He’d pick some fresh vegetables and herbs, fix a healthy omelet, and think about this turn of events. It wasn’t as if… He stiffened, hand on the doorknob. Was that laughter he heard? He stepped onto the flagstone patio, moving silent as a cat. Laughter and moans of delight drifted on the afternoon breeze. A whispered voice. “Shhh…we don’t know if anyone’s home.”

Thieves? Stealing from his precious vegetable garden? Well, he’d just see about that. He stepped onto the path, quietly following the soft murmur of voices. A twig snapped under his foot and he cursed. There was a gasp, then a frightened voice.

“Quickly, to the wall,” one thief said. “Take the basket!”

No need for stealth now, so he ran, shouting, “Stop, you little fuckers!”

A tall, reed-thin boy looked over his shoulder as he urged the smaller child forward. “Hurry!” He boosted the little one to the top of the wall and handed up one of the baskets. “Take the basket. Run. Go home.” He grabbed several tomatoes from the other basket before lifting it over his head. “Take this one too. Go, I’ll meet you at home!”

Kei was almost on him when the boy lobbed a ripe tomato at him, catching him midchest. He stopped, his jaw dropping in surprise. Another tomato caught him in the forehead; then the boy jumped, grabbing the top of the wall.

Kei covered the distance in a single leap, grabbed the back of the boy’s shirt, and yanked. His weight was so insubstantial, he flew backward off the wall, thumping against Kei’s chest. Unbalanced, Kei stumbled back, his bare heel slipping in a ruined tomato. Down he went, arm tightly around the boy’s chest. He landed with a grunt and a gush of air as the thief struggled in his grasp.

“Be still,” he roared, rolling onto his belly, the thief trapped beneath him. Small, firm breasts pressed against his arm. Could it be? He lifted his weight off his wriggling captive, who attempted to scramble away. He grinned. Yes, that was definitely a woman’s ass. He grabbed the waistband of her baggy pants, pulled her up, and wrapped an arm around her waist, one big hand covering a breast. “What’s this?” He yanked the filthy watch cap off her, smiling as a riot of golden blonde curls tumbled to her waist. Taking a fistful, he drew her head back, revealing angry violet eyes, a long, slim neck, a delicate jaw, and a dirty face. It was the girl from the transport. “It would seem I’ve caught a pretty little bird feeding in my garden. What do you have to say for yourself, thief?”

“Let me go!” she screeched, bashing his jaw with her skull.

Kei laughed, lifting her easily off her feet. If he hadn’t had a fistful of hair wrapped around his hand, she might have given him a good hard knock. As it was, it barely registered. “Be still!” he demanded, giving her a good shake. She went limp in his arms, probably thinking the dead weight would throw him off balance, but she weighed next to nothing. He might have turned her over to the authorities had she not been so thin that it was painfully obvious she’d been stealing to feed herself and her friend.

“There are consequences for stealing, little thief.” The hand cupping her breast moved to pluck at the buttons of her shirt, opening it. “Definitely female.” He palmed her breast again, rubbing his work-roughened hand across her nipple, pleased by the soft moan she struggled to stifle. He burrowed his nose in her neck, then jerked back with a grimace. “You stink too.”

She struggled mightily as he carried her into the house and up the stairs to his master suite. “Let me go, you giant goat-fucking bastard!”

“Sticks and stones, little thief. Shower on full, medium temperature.” As he stepped inside, the door hissed shut behind him and he thrust her under the full spray. “Now, let’s see what we have beneath these filthy clothes, shall we?”

Chapter Three

Of all the people in Toru City, how had she managed to steal from Kei Rewu yet again? There would be hell to pay, of that she had no doubt. The gladiator handled her as though she weighed no more than a wisp of smoke, easily removing her clothes and tossing them in the corner of the huge shower. He held her against him as one hand reached out to pump a slippery liquid into his palm. She felt his cock go hard against her lower back as he smoothed the fragrant concoction over her belly. Her breath caught in her throat as his hands moved over her breasts. Oh, flaming mother!

She was twenty years old and no stranger to a man’s touch, but she’d never craved it before. In her limited experience, she equated a man’s hands with cruelty. But not the gladiator’s. His hands moved over her body smoothing the fresh-smelling soap into a rich lather. He returned to her breasts, gently massaging, teasing her nipples to hardened points. She moaned.

“Who are you?” he asked, his voice velvety soft in her ear.

“No one,” she gasped, arching into his hands. Oh gods, what devilry did this man possess to make her body ache so?

Those hard, gentle hands skimmed down her body, over her hips, and dipped between her legs. Oh yes. Oh it was magic, the things he did with his hands. His finger slid across her clit and she moaned, pressing against him at the slow, circular motion. He moved lower and the finger thrust gently into her core. Who knew a man could bring such pleasure? She should stop him, but it felt so good.

“What’s your name?”

“I…” The finger went deep. She moaned. “Ilara. My name’s Ilara.”

The finger left her and she mourned its passing. Until his hands moved to her hair, massaging her scalp as fragrant scent surrounded her. No one had ever washed her hair for her, not since she was a child. Certainly no man.

“What were you doing in my garden, Ilara?”

The voice was a gentle caress, as relaxing as the strong fingers on her scalp.

“We…I…was hungry.”

“Mmm, I see.”

He maneuvered her under the spray, rinsed the soap from her hair, and continued his leisurely exploration of her body under the guise of washing her. More bubbly lather covered her legs, and she gasped at the scrape of a razor down the backs of her legs. “I…what are you doing?”

“I’m shaving your legs, little thief.”

He turned her around and began working on her front. The smooth blade skimmed over her slippery skin like a whisper. He rose, lifted her arms, and ran the blade over her armpits, then set the razor aside. He leaned down, pressed his lips to the delicate flesh he’d bared.

“Soft and sweet,” he murmured, then raised his head to gaze in her eyes.

She had very little experience with kissing, but she was fascinated by the amount of time he took, teasing her lips apart, nibbling her lower lip, sucking on it.

“Open your mouth, Ilara,” he demanded. “Touch your tongue to mine.” When she did, he curled his tongue around hers in a sensuous glide. He drew it into his mouth, sucking gently before releasing it and plunging into hers. She was straining against him, moaning softly when he left her mouth to chart a torturous course down her body. It was an outrage, it was decadent, it was so very alluring -- and downright dangerous to a woman who lived with the constant threat of danger.

She would have voiced a token protest had he not pressed her against the tile wall, draped a leg over his shoulder, and buried his mouth in her pussy. As it was, all she could manage was a strangled cry as she fisted her hands in his hair and held on for dear life.

What was he doing to her? No man had ever put his mouth on her in such a fashion. It was scandalous, and…gods, it was good. He opened her with his thumbs, teasing her slippery flesh as his tongue swirled around her clit. Those clever thumbs slipped inside her, pumping, moving back to open her again as his lips teased her swollen bud, then sucked it, pulling hard even as his tongue flicked again and again.

“Aaahh…ah!” she cried out as a long, blunt finger thrust into her. Her hips jerked, and she uttered a sob of sheer pleasure. “Please…oooh…oh, please!”

His chuckle vibrated against her clit. “What is it, little thief? Shall I make you come?”

“I…I don’t know what that means,” she gasped.

“You’ve never had an orgasm?” He ran his tongue along her slit.

“I…don’t…knooow! I need…something… Oh gods…have me.” Oh, flaming mother, he was licking her like she was some sweet treat!

“Believe me,” he murmured against intimate flesh. “You’d know if you’d ever come. But we’re about to increase your knowledge base, little one.”

Ilara thought she might pass out, the pleasure was so intense. Gibberish spewed from her parted lips as her body tightened. What the hell was happening to her? She felt as though she were burning alive. Her belly clenched as white-hot heat washed over her, rushing through her body like a drug. Oh gods, what was he doing to her? Her hand fisted in his hair as something inside her exploded.

“No, no,” she sobbed as he drank from her.

“Yes,” he said softly.

Kei held the delicate Ilara against him as her body quieted. When she no longer spasmed with every touch, he gently washed between her legs. “Shower off,” he commanded the house computer. He reached for a towel, wrapped it around her, then lifted her off her feet.

“I can walk, gladiator,” she snapped, struggling to free herself.

“I know you can, little one, but it pleases me to carry you.” He carried her to his massive bed and set her on the edge before shaking a finger at her. “Stay put.”

“It’s not as if I can go anywhere,” she grumbled. “Since you’ve ruined my clothes.”

He was laughing when he came back out, a towel wrapped around his hips, one in his hand. He tossed it to her. “For your hair. And don’t worry about your clothes; I’ll wash them for you, although why you choose to dress like a street urchin is beyond me.”

“Maybe because I am one?”

Her voice held a note of sarcasm, and he watched as she dried her hair, inhaling the scent of the clean towel. Was it such a luxury for her to be clean?

“Where do you live, Ilara?’

She looked at him with narrowed, suspicious eyes and shrugged. “Here and there.”

He raised an eyebrow. “But in Toru City?” She gave him a grudging nod. “Nearby?”

“Close enough, but no place you’ve ever been, I’d wager.” She looked around the room. “Certainly no place as grand as this. Did you earn it by killing people for sport?”

If she’d thought to anger him, make him toss her back onto the street, she’d thought wrong, for he merely chuckled. “No, little thief. I don’t always fight to the death.”

She snorted derisively. “Huh…” She scrambled to her feet as he approached. She sidestepped him and ducked back into the bathroom to get her clothes. He followed.

“I said I’d wash them for you,” he said, grinning as he watched her wring out her worn garments in the sink.

Their eyes met in the bathroom mirror and she glared at him. “I’m used to doing things for myself, gladiator.” Her gaze challenged him. “Besides, I don’t have time. I need to get back.”

The look she gave him said she didn’t expect him to let her go so soon, but she felt compelled to try. He laughed and stepped into the room, coming up behind her, stripping the towel from her body. His hands covered her breasts and he leaned down, brushing a kiss to her temple. “You’re not going anywhere, little thief. Not yet, anyway.” He released her breasts and took her by the hand. “Come along. I’ll give you something to wear while I fix us a nice big omelet for dinner. You do like eggs, don’t you?”

When she licked her lips and nodded, he felt a tightening in his chest. How long had she been fending for herself? And who was the child she’d lifted over his garden wall to escape with two baskets of vegetables? He moved across the room to his closet and plucked Solae’s silk wrapper off the back of the door. “Put this on,” he told Ilara, holding the garment out so she could slip into it. “I’ll teach you how to make an omelet.” It was all he could do not to laugh when she snorted.

“I know how to make an omelet, gladiator.” But she followed him out of the room and down the stairs despite her obvious chagrin.

The kitchen was Kei’s pride and joy. A large, open room, filled with twenty-first-century appliances made of stainless steel, it was the place where he spent most of his time when he was home. He’d plucked the design from an old copy of Architectural Digest he’d discovered while touring on his home planet, Earth. He’d despaired of ever finding the two intact subzero refrigeration units, and having the Viking commercial range refurbished to burn zelon gas had cost him dearly, but in the end, it had been worth the price. Food simply tasted better when cooked the old-fashioned way.

“Have a seat,” he told Ilara, gesturing to a sleek stainless steel barstool. He opened the refrigerator and poured a strange-looking liquid into a tall glass. “It’s made from the fruit of an orange tree. It’s very good for you.”

She picked up the glass, sniffing the contents suspiciously. “It smells like your soap, gladiator. I don’t care to drink soap.”

He poured a glass for himself, taking a long drink. “It’s not soap, Ilara. The soap is scented with the oil from the fruit’s rind. The juice comes from the flesh of the fruit. It’s quite refreshing.”

Cautiously, she raised the glass to her lips, tipping it until she could dip her tongue into the liquid. He couldn’t say why he was so pleased when her eyes lit up and she eagerly drank the entire glass.

“It’s wonderful!” she exclaimed.

He refilled her glass and grabbed one of the round fruits from a bowl. Taking a knife, he cut the fruit in half, then cut the halves in sections and put them on a plate for her, demonstrating how to eat it. “I brought several trees back with me the last time I was there for a tournament and have discovered they grow quite well here. I’m quite taken with the variety of fruits and vegetables grown on other planets. Hence the garden you and your little friend were plundering.”

She had the good grace to look contrite, although he suspected she wasn’t. “I’m sorry. We were hungry.”

He waved off her apology and went back to the refrigerator, pulling out the ingredients for one of his stellar omelets. “I know a bit about being hungry, Ilara. Had you asked, I would have given it freely.”

When she ducked her head and nodded, he set the tray of food on the stone countertop and rounded the island to stand beside her, then took her chin in his hand. “Look at me, little one. There is no shame in taking care of your loved ones. Never duck your head to anyone.” He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her full lips. “Now, eat your orange while I prepare our dinner.”

Kei did his best to draw her out while he cut and chopped mushrooms, peppers, and onions for the omelet, then dumped them into a skillet to sauté. “Tell me about your family. Why do they not care for you?”

“They’re all dead,” she said, shrugging a slender shoulder. “The old ones died during the Colonization Wars, or so my parents told me.” She ate another wedge of orange, chewing thoughtfully. “My father joined the resistance to drive the Terrans off Earth. We never saw him again after he left, although we’d hoped we’d find him here when Earth’s military forces came to our aid. I suppose he must be dead.”

“You’re from Earth?”

She shook her head. “I was born on Earth’s moon. My mum was a government scientist in the UK dome. I was raised in New London.”

He paused in his work and raised an eyebrow. “So that’s the accent. I hadn’t quite placed it. Then you’d have had orange juice before.”

“On a government salary? As I recall, we were lucky to have soy milk once a week, never mind a cup of tea.”

He was very aware of her eyes following him as he moved around the kitchen, and he had the distinct impression she was taking mental notes as to the ingredients in preparation for the produce she would probably steal later. She seemed especially fascinated by his ability to shake the sauté pan and flip the veggies without spilling them.

“Come here,” Kei said, gesturing to her. She hesitated, and he crooked a finger at her. “Come on, I’ll teach you how to flip food in the skillet.”

Her violet eyes lit up and she slid from her seat to join him at the stovetop. The first couple of tries were clumsy, resulting in butter and vegetables spilling and flaming. Kei laughed and cleaned up the mess quickly.

“All right, once more into the breach,” he teased, wrapping his big hand around hers to guide her.

Before long, she had the technique mastered and laughed happily. “The children will be so impressed when they see me do this.”

He cocked his head, looking down at her. “The children?”

Chapter Four

Ilara clamped her lips shut, silently cursing herself for mentioning the children. She’d have to be more careful with the big gladiator. He might be treating her nicely now, but she would pay for the meal and his kind words with her body, of that she was certain. That she would likely enjoy the things he did to her was incidental. “You have children, Ilara?”

“No.” She cut her eyes to the left as he poured beaten egg into the skillet, gauging the distance between the kitchen and the front door.

He studied her for a long moment, then smiled. “I see. You are the one the authorities call the Shepherd, yes? You look after the homeless children of Toru City. Commander Zarun wants you badly, little thief. I wager he’d reward me handsomely if I told him I had you under my control.”

Damn, she hated missing a chance to eat the delicious-smelling omelet, but she didn’t hesitate a moment, ducking under his arm and racing to the door. She slapped the manual override and fumbled with the locks, then yanked the door open. A frustrated curse flew from her lips as Kei’s big hand slapped the door shut.

“Leaving so soon, Ilara? You haven’t had your dinner yet.”

“Fuck you and your dinner, gladiator,” she growled.

“Mmm,” he murmured, pressing her against the door. “Interesting proposition, but you need food more than you need to fuck. Although you are a tempting morsel and you do taste sweet.”

Ilara gritted her teeth as he lifted the hem of the silk robe and caressed her bottom. “Get off!”

He chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that made her pussy clench and begin to weep. “Come back and sit down. I’ve no intention of turning you over to Zarun.”

Relief washed over her. You will not cry, you will not cry. The reprimand stuck in her throat as she swallowed the hot tears of relief threatening to spill. She struggled against him as he pulled her toward the kitchen, then screamed in frustration when he simply picked her up and carried her to her seat.

“Sit there!” he barked, walking back around to the stovetop. He flipped the omelet with ease before plopping a tea bag in a mug that he filled with simmering water. He slid the mug across the stone countertop and pointed his metal kitchen tool at her. “You need to eat; you’re thin as a wraith. So you’ll sit there and eat your dinner like a good girl, or I’ll warm that pretty little backside for you.”

“Ha!” she spat, chin jerking defiantly. “I wondered how long it would take before the threats began, you son of a bleeding, badger-faced shrew!” His scowl didn’t intimidate her. “You’d like to think you’re different from the rest, but you’re not. You think I haven’t been raped and beaten before, gladiator? There’s nothing you can do to me that hasn’t been done before -- nothing!”

She watched, wide-eyed, as Kei struggled to control himself. She’d pissed him off; she could tell by the way his jaw clenched as he cut the fragrant omelet in half and plated it. Wary, she held herself erect as he walked around the island to set her food in front of her.

“If memory serves, that was you begging me to have you,” he said between clenched teeth. “I gave you your first orgasm, and believe me, it was just as much my pleasure as it was yours.” She shivered as he lifted the hair from her neck. He placed several strategic kisses and gentle bites on her sensitive skin. “Just as it will be my pleasure to have you dancing against my tongue again, my beauty. Now, eat your dinner.”

She took a bite of the delicious egg dish, saliva flooding her mouth. She nearly moaned with delirium, it was so good. None of the men in her previous life had cooked. Not her father, none of the foster fathers, and none of the male keepers at the various youth institutions. Kei Rewu was a completely different animal, she concluded. Which was very bad for her, because he tempted her to give up everything she held dear and just stay with him -- for as long as he’d have her.

“You’re thinking too much,” he said, startling her out of her reverie. She flinched when he reached out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. He frowned. “Who hurt you, Ilara, that you flinch from a lover’s touch?”

Time to put some distance between them. “A lover’s touch? Is that what you think this is, some kind of love affair?” She scoffed. She shoved her empty plate away, then folded her arms under her breasts. “Let’s examine it from another angle, shall we? You drag me into your home, forcibly remove my clothes, and have your way with me in your shower. Ring any bells, gladiator?”

“Actually, if memory serves, you enjoyed every minute of it,” he said, carefully wiping his lips, then laying the cloth napkin aside. “That was you screaming as you came against my tongue, wasn’t it?”

Before she could speak, he was on his feet, tossing her over his shoulder. “So, since you choose to pretend you get no pleasure from my lovemaking, you can spend the night as my paid companion -- since you saw fit to steal my currency packet the first time I laid eyes on you.” He strode into the master suite and slammed the door behind him. “Engage locks.” And then he tossed her on a bed roughly the size of a swimming pool.

He took a deep breath to cool his temper. She was right. He’d let the feel of her body in his hands override his senses. While it was true he hadn’t filled her with his flesh, he’d certainly taken advantage of her relative innocence. He scrubbed his hands over his face.

“Relax, little thief, I’m not going to use your body.”

“You’re not?” The tremble in her voice made his heart clench.

“No, I’m not.” He left her long enough to put her clothes in the sanitizer. When he came back, he sat on the edge of the bed and sighed heavily. “The fact is, you’re right, I took advantage. I shouldn’t have forced you into the shower, and I shouldn’t have taken even a small taste of you without your consent. It shames me to have done so, for I am a man who loves women. I ask your forgiveness.”

The emotion in her expression made his chest ache. His apology had surprised her. She stared at her hands, twisting them in her lap. “Then I forgive you, gladiator.” Her shy smile charmed him. “But I have to confess, once I got over the shock of what you were doing, I liked it -- a lot. I didn’t know men could be…gentle.”

Kei reached for Ilara’s hand, surprised she didn’t pull away. “Has no one ever made love to you properly?”

She shook her head. “No one has ever made love to me, period, gladiator. They only took what they wanted.” Tears glittered in her eyes as she continued. “Street people aren’t human to most of those who look at us -- when they actually see us. I think they see in us the worst that could possibly happen to a person.” She looked at him then, and he saw her clearly for the first time. “My mum had an expression, ‘There but for the grace of God, go I.’ If they don’t see us, they don’t have to fear the same thing could happen to them.”

Kei nodded. “Yes, I imagine you’re right. Denial is the nature of the beast, I suppose.” He chuckled when she snorted derisively.

“Yeah? Well, denial is a river in Africa, isn’t it?”

He laughed and brought her hand to his lips for a kiss. “Another of your mother’s bits of wisdom, no doubt.” The timer for the sanitizer beeped, and he rose to switch the cycle to dry mode. When he came back into the room, he was pleased to see Ilara had relaxed enough to stretch out on the bed.

She smiled up at him and patted the mattress. “You can have me if you’d like. I owe you for stealing your currency pack and those beautiful vegetables.”

Well, now, wasn’t that just the thing? He’d been fighting the urge to have her beneath him, to fill her with his aching flesh, and here she was offering it to him as payment. He shook his head. “As tempting as that offer is, I’m going to decline.”

She stiffened when he stretched out beside her and pulled her unyielding body into his arms. Her head rested on his shoulder. To his everlasting amazement, hot tears fell on his skin. He stroked her back in an attempt to comfort. “Here now, why the tears?”

“The one time I actually want a man and he doesn’t want me,” she said, her voice breaking.

“Ah,” he said softly and placed her hand on his hard cock. “You’re mistaken, eh?”

She propped herself up on her elbow and stared into his eyes. “Then why?”

“Because you’re not a whore, little thief. You owe me no payment.” He traced the line of her jaw with his finger and slid his hand behind her neck, drawing her down until their lips nearly touched. “And because you cannot bring yourself to call me by my name. But I would like to kiss you.” His lips whispered across hers. “And touch you.” He brushed the silk robe aside and pressed a kiss at the hollow where her collarbone joined her shoulder. “Show you that a man can be gentle, and that anticipation serves to heighten the pleasure for when we finally do make love. I won’t settle for merely fucking you, Ilara -- any man can do that. I want to be the first to make love to you.”

He found her lips again, pressed his own against them, pleased when she opened for him and kissed him back. Tentatively at first, as though waiting to see if he meant the tender words he’d just spoken to her, then with more eagerness. His cock throbbed and his balls ached as her slender hand caressed his chest, pressing hard muscle before moving to cup his cheek and deepen the kiss. Breathy sighs escaped her as she explored his mouth, her tongue tasting, testing.

Much as it pained him, Kei broke the kiss and rolled onto his side, facing her. “Who in your family had violet eyes?” Her bewilderment showed in her eyes, and he watched her try to shake off the effects of the kiss.

“My father. He had black hair, like yours, but he wasn’t big like you. I take after him, I suppose -- he was slender and tall -- but I get my hair from my mum.” She smiled. “She was beautiful, my mum.”

“As you are,” Kei said, nuzzling her cheek.

“Not me.” She shook her head and the flush of pleasure on her cheeks charmed him, as everything about her did. “She was a stunner, my father used to say. Her skin was white as milk and soft as down. I have freckles and my lips always look as if someone punched me.”

He tapped her nose with his index finger. “I love your freckles; they give you an impish quality.” She wrinkled her nose at that and he grinned, leaning forward to brush his lips against hers. “And as for your lusciously full lips, they’re delicious.”

The timer beeped once more and he rolled out of bed to get her clothes, folding them and setting them on top of a chest. “Do you like movies?”

She sat up, pulling the robe together as she considered the question. “I’ve not seen one since I was a child. My mum used to show me one about a boy who could fly and had no mother.”

“Well, then, I think we should watch a movie and eat something bad for us.”

“Why should we eat something bad for us?”

“Because we can, and because it’s fun.”

* * * * * *

Ilara goggled at the selection of old films Kei had available on his video screen, many of them brought back from his travels. He chose an ancient Earth film about a frumpy romance novelist who had to travel to Colombia to rescue her sister from kidnappers. He held her on his lap while she laughed at the heroine’s attempt to steer a car that was floating down a river, and when the movie was over, he brought in a huge dish of ice cream he’d made himself and squirted a mound of whipped cream over the top of it.

“What’s the white stuff?” she asked, eyeing the topping suspiciously.

“Just try it, you’ll like it.”

She swiped her finger through the stuff and licked the substance off the tip. “Oh my,” she said reverently. “I could eat an entire dish of this.”

Kei laughed and pulled her back onto his lap. “An entire bowl would make you sick, but…” He shook the can. “Tip your head back and open your mouth.”

She did, and he squirted the fluffy sweet into her mouth, making her laugh. She closed her mouth and the whipped cream spilled over her lip onto her chest. “Ugh,” she said, giggling. Until he leaned over and licked the stuff from her chin.

Ilara’s heart stuttered as he scooped a blob of cream from her chest and put it in his mouth.

“Sweet,” he whispered, and her pussy clenched. “Kiss me.”

He tasted of chocolate and cream, rich and sinfully sweet. She sighed and leaned into him, sliding her tongue against his, thrusting deep. Her eyes drifted shut, and she allowed herself to float on a sea of sensation. “Touch me, Kei,” she murmured, trembling when his fingers brushed her collarbone.

A trail of heat followed the track of his fingers as they skimmed down the center of her body to tug at the belt on her robe. The soft material parted, light as a feather as it slid away from her skin. His big hand palmed her breast, chafing her nipple to attention. “Yes,” came out on a breath as he rolled from beneath her and lowered his mouth to tease. She gasped as his teeth scraped the jeweled tip, and she arched against him.

Ilara felt the ache of desire throb between her thighs as his hand followed the contour of her body, skimming lightly down her side, over her hip to cup her ass before moving down the outside of her leg. She opened for him as his fingers curved over her knee, his touch featherlight as it slid up her inner thigh. His fingers teased the edge of her slit as his mouth tormented her breasts; then they glided between the moist folds.

“Please, oh, please,” she urged. A single digit slid inside, pumped slowly, and retreated. “No no no! Don’t stop!”

He added another finger, pumped deep, and stopped. “You’re sure?”

“Yes yes yes,” she gasped, arching into the fingers buried deep.

Oh gods, what he did to her! Why had no one taken the time to show her how good it could be? His teasing mouth moved to her other breast as his fingers continued to work their magic. His thumb brushed her clit, and she uttered a strangled little scream. “I want you inside me!” she demanded, pumping her hips as his fingers played deep inside her.

“Not yet, Ilara. It’s too soon.” He withdrew and pumped again, then scooted to the end of the couch and spread her legs.

“No, it’s not!” She could hear the frustration in her voice. His hair tickled her bare skin as he leaned down and nuzzled her inner thigh, then turned his head to press damp kisses on the soft flesh. Mother of all creation, how did he expect her to endure such torture? The tip of his tongue teased her thighs, then moved to lick the crease where her leg joined her pussy. Madness, sheer madness!

A little whimper escaped her when he nuzzled her golden curls, and his lips brushed lightly against her cunt before moving away to tease her inner thighs again. His tenderness brought tears to her eyes, and she knew her heart was in peril. When his lips pressed against her slit once more, she arched into them, crying out when his tongue slid between her swollen labia.

“Oh,” she whispered, as he gently spread her legs wider, teasing every delicate fold. She watched, anticipating, as his thumbs opened her. He was looking at her pussy as though it fascinated him.

“Beautiful,” he murmured. He ran his tongue the length of her slit. “Sweet. And hot. I love the taste of you, Ilara.”

He buried his tongue in her pussy, and she nearly levitated off the couch.

“Ah! Gods…please, Kei,” she begged.

“Mmm,” was his only response as his tongue glided to the top of her pussy to search out her clit. He was licking harder now, switching between light suckling and teasing flicks.

Ilara was sobbing now, her pussy bucking against his lips, so close to orgasm that she could barely form the words to beg him to fuck her, just fuck her.

“I need…I need…” She nearly passed out when two thick fingers slid inside her cunt to set a rhythm guaranteed to drive her insane. Helpless now, her hips pumped to his pace as his fingers fucked her. Not once did he let up sucking her clit.

Fire. She was on fire. Any minute now she would burst into flames, scorching them both with the intensity of her release. He could completely take over her life, this gentle, passionate giant, just from the sheer wanting he instilled in her. But the dim warning bells in the back of her mind were overridden by the exquisite feel of his mouth and fingers as he drove her to the edge.

He took his mouth away for a second. “Come,” he demanded and went back to his greedy sucking. His fingers curved inside her and she knew she was a goner.

Ilara lost complete control. Her legs shuddered and her entire body went stiff. “G-god!” she screamed, as she hurtled headlong into completion.

Too much, her mind protested as Kei rubbed his cheek against her sensitive inner thigh. His fingers were still inside her, moving gently as her body slowly drifted back down to earth. His lips sucked the cream from her, his mouth moving easily against her still-aroused pussy, and she gave an involuntary shudder as he pressed his tongue against her clit. She gasped and came again. When he finally drew away from her, it was to stand and remove his drawstring pants. She nearly flinched at the size of him, but she reached out and touched him, running her thumb over the head of his cock. She pulled him down to the bed and crawled onto his lap, straddling him. She tossed the robe aside, baring herself to him.

“Show me,” she whispered, raising up to guide him. The head of his cock was broad and smooth as it parted her feminine folds. “Show me how it should be.”

Ilara eased herself down over his massive cock, taking him an inch at a time, moaning softly as her pussy stretched to accommodate him. She felt as though she was full to the point of bursting by the time she took all of him.

“Okay?” he asked as his hands glided from her breasts to her hips, grasping her gently.

“Yes. You’re so big.”

He nuzzled her neck. “Yes, and you’re so tight.” His teeth nibbled and sucked the curve of her neck as he raised her and lowered her back down again. “Like that, you see?”

“Yes. Kiss me.”

His kiss was gentle, thorough, meant to arouse, and it did. Her body to slid smoothly over his cock. She wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, rocking against him, slowly at first, then harder and faster as the kiss became more demanding. With each thrust, his thumb brushed against her clit, driving her higher and higher as they moved together. She gave a startled yelp as he spun her around and pressed her onto her back, never missing a beat. He hooked her knees over his arms and rose above her, driving into her hard and fast.

Ilara felt the bright heat of an orgasm building. “Yes,” she hissed. “I…it’s happening again!” She clawed at him, thrusting her hips up to meet his downstroke. “Come with me, come with me!”

“Yes,” Kei rasped, pumping harder as her pussy clenched around him.

Her body arched and stiffened. “Ooooh, Merlin’s whiskers,” she howled, shuddering as her orgasm shook her. She screamed as he pumped twice more, adding his voice to hers as he tumbled with her.

Sated, she sighed as he rolled to his side and pulled her snug against him like a spoon in a drawer. “I should go,” she murmured after a time. “The children will be worried.”

His lips brushed her temple. “Rest a bit first.”

“I can’t. I wish I could, but Leonis will be out of his mind with worry,” she said, feeling completely safe for the first time in years. She reached back and caressed his cheek. “Thank you, Kei, for showing me what it can be like.”

“You’re welcome.” He turned his head and kissed the palm of her hand. “Will you come back?”

“How could I not?”

Chapter Five

“Where have you been?” Leonis and Maras demanded. Their expressions made it clear they’d been frantic with worry.

“Are you all right? Did he harm you?” Leonis asked, angrier than Ilara had ever seen him.

“I’m fine. And no, he didn’t hurt me. He washed my clothes and fed me.”

Leonis folded his arms across his chest. “That’s not all he did, I’d wager, from the look of you.”

Ilara shoved her hands in her pockets. “What he did, or did not do, is no one’s business but my own.”

The boy scowled and opened the door for her. “You don’t have to whore yourself for a meal, Ilara. We’ve got enough food.”

Ilara gasped, gave him a shove. “You dare to say such things to me?” she said between clenched teeth.

Leonis spun around, pain reflected in his dark eyes. “Yes, I dare! You don’t know him! Suppose he goes to Zarun, huh? What then? He could, you know, and you’d wind up just like the others, sold to some pervert to do with whatever he willed.”

“He won’t!”

“How do you know?”

“Because he told me so!”

Leonis snorted. “Right. And you believe him just because he says so?” He took a step toward her, started to reach out, then drew his hand back. “He’s just another rich bastard who’s happy to make a plaything out of someone less than him. They’re all the same, Ilara. Haven’t you always said so yourself?” He spun on his heel and stomped from the room.

“He’s different!” she shouted at the boy’s retreating back. She looked at thirteen-year-old Maras. “He is different.”

He was different; he had to be. Otherwise what little faith she had in the innate goodness of mankind would be lost to her forever. Kei Rewu had been kind to her, had touched her -- made love to her -- with a tenderness she hadn’t known since her mother’s death. If it was all a lie, Ilara didn’t think she could bear the disappointment.

The girl nodded. “Yes, I can see it in your eyes.” She squeezed Ilara’s hand. She stared after Leonis. “He…he doesn’t see you as a mother, like the younger children do. He’s jealous of the gladiator and, I think, worried that we’ll lose you to him. You’ve never stayed away practically the whole night. Don’t be too mad at him. The sun’s nearly up. I’m going to go check on the children while you go to the market.”

Dawn peeked over the horizon, and Ilara took a moment to enjoy the sight. The meat and produce at the market was especially good on Mondays and the pink of the sky reminded her of the delicious salmon her mother used to make for dinner. Firm, pink flesh, cooked to flaky perfection and served with rice and spinach salad. She’d been barely eight years old, but she still remembered how the flavors exploded on her tongue. Gods but she was tired of thinking about food all the time. She was twenty years old, and she’d been hungry for so long that most of her thoughts were of food -- how to get it, how to cook it to make it stretch, how many more mouths she could continue to feed.

Was it so wrong to want a better life for herself? To want a warm home, a full belly…a man who loved her? Could the gladiator be that man? Could he give her all the things she’d longed for these many years? He’d asked her to come to him again. Perhaps… She shook her head. A heavy mantle of guilt settled over her shoulders. Kei Rewu was not for her, and she could no more abandon the lost and broken children to their fate than she could cease breathing. Squaring her shoulders, she tugged her watch cap down over her ears and slipped through the gates of the market.

Ilara was well-known to the vendors at the market, and she enjoyed haggling with them over price.

“Have you been starving your chickens, Cadis?” she asked the dairy vendor.

The old woman scowled at her, but there was a glint of humor in her eyes. “And what is it you believe is wrong with my eggs, Shepherd?”

“Why, they’re so small, one would barely satisfy an infant.”

“Lucky for you infants don’t eat eggs, isn’t it?”

Ilara snorted. “Truer words,” she agreed. “However, the young ones need their protein, and these are hardly the size of bush bird eggs. What will you take for a dozen?”

The woman stated her price and Ilara barked out a laugh. “For these puny things? I’ll give you that much for two dozen, and not a cintas more, and you’ll hold them for me until I’m done with my shopping.”

They went round and round for a few more minutes before settling on a price somewhere in the middle, and Ilara handed the woman the foam containers used for carrying the precious cargo. The old woman laughed as she walked away, and Ilara knew she would add a few extra eggs to the batch. And so it went, until she had everything she needed to feed her little family for the day.

As she approached the dairy vendor to pick up her eggs, the woman gestured to her. “Hurry, girl,” she said in a low voice. “Zarun made a pass through, and he’s looking for you and the older boy.” She tucked the eggs into the pack strapped on Ilara’s back. “My man’s cut a hole in the fencing behind my stall and the boy is waiting for you. Hurry, child.”

Ilara gave the old woman a fierce hug and ducked behind the curtain of her vendor shack. The farmer was there, waiting with Leonis, holding open the hole in the fence. “Go, children. Zarun is in a foul mood this morning. Word has it he missed out snatching up two girls this morning, and he’s looking for the Shepherd.”

Anxiety filled her as she and Leonis cut through vacant lots and dilapidated buildings, working their way into the inner city. Crumbling canyons of brick and steel blotted out the sun, while derelicts called to them from shadowy doorways and the gaping maws of garbage-glutted storage basements. Every now and again, a pimp would glide by in a shiny hover cart, looking for new recruits among the lost souls seeking refuge in this hopeless place, but there were no shiny, new prospects here.

The rumble of a police wagon sounded behind them, and Ilara shoved Leonis into a glass-strewn alleyway. They both recognized the sound of Zarun’s pick-up squad, and it was possible the approaching vehicle belonged to the man himself. Ilara slid out of her pack, shoved it at him.

“Hurry,” she hissed. “Back to the school. Lock the doors and engage the blackout screens. I’ll lead them away.”

“No! I won’t leave you, Ilara.”

She grasped his hands. “You can and you will. You’re the man of the house, the father. They feel safe with you.” She grinned at him. “Besides, I’m still faster than you.”

He grinned and squeezed her hands. “We’ll put that to a test one day soon.” He shrugged into the pack. “Be careful.”

“Always,” she said, giving him a cocky grin. “Wait until you hear them shout, then run like hell.” She hitched up her pants and sauntered out of the alleyway, scratching herself casually.

A siren blatted and Zarun’s voice blared from the speaker. “Halt where you are, citizen! Identification check!” She looked over her shoulder at the sound of a door slamming, feigning fear at the sight of Zarun’s weasel face, then bolted, putting on the speed as footsteps pounded behind her.

The police commander was fast for a man carrying extra weight and a cumbersome utility belt, but she was faster. “Halt! Security check!” The words rasped out in great sucking breaths as he pursued her. She jumped a pothole and scampered over a pile of broken blocks, launching herself to the top of a dumpster in a feat of balance that astounded her.

Behind her, Zarun stumbled, cursing. She turned her head, saw he was down, and laughed as he struggled to gain his feet once more.

“Laugh now, whelp,” he growled. “But when I catch you, I’ll sell you to an ass-fucker with the biggest dick I can find. Then we’ll see who has the last laugh.”

“Sod off, you old pig,” she taunted. “A few more footraces like this and your heart will explode in your chest.” She dived through the door of an old auto parts store, knocking over shelves as she passed them, taking great satisfaction as Zarun grunted and cursed.

Ilara raced to an exit door that led to an auto graveyard, wiggling through the narrow exit. He’d struggle with the frozen hinges, trying to force the door open enough to get himself through, leaving her plenty of time to race to the end, climb the fence, and disappear into the rubble-strewn sectors of the city.

She was nearly through when Zarun’s hand grabbed at her, snatching her watch cap from her head. Her hair tumbled free, and she heard his gasp of surprise as she made it through. His laughter followed her as she raced across the cracked asphalt.

“I always thought you were too pretty for a boy,” he shouted. “When I catch you, I’m going to fuck you myself before I sell you to the perverts in the sex clubs!”

Ilara stopped and turned, watching him as he bent over, hands on his knees in an attempt to catch his breath. When he looked up, she gave him a feral smile. “When you catch me, it’ll be because I let you, Commander Zarun. And when that day comes, I’ll cut off your saggy old balls and fry them up for breakfast with my eggs.” She turned and jogged to the fence, satisfied that he wouldn’t catch her today. It wasn’t until she got home that she realized she’d likely put them all in danger of discovery.

* * * * * *

When Ilara jogged into the weed-choked schoolyard, Leonis was waiting, sitting atop a rusty set of monkey bars.

“One of these days those bars are going to be completely rusted through and you’re going to wind up impaling yourself,” she told him.

“There’s a cheery thought,” he said, shoving off to land lightly in front of her. He reached out and lifted a lock of hair. “Where’s your watch cap?”

“Zarun cornered me at the old junkyard. Bloody hell! He’ll bring out the sniffers for sure.” For one terrible moment, she couldn’t breathe. “We have to get the children out of here, Leonis. You and Maras have to take them someplace safe. Someplace away from me.”

The boy gaped at her. “Without you? Never! We’re a family, we stay together.”

She paced, thinking aloud. “He can deploy the sniffers, but he’ll have a hard time finding men willing to come into this neighborhood.” She paused, scanning the hostile landscape. “You’ll have to go deeper, somewhere no one else goes. It’ll make getting supplies in all the more difficult, but maybe you’ll be able to return once they stop looking for me.”

Leonis grabbed her arm, spun her around. “Not without you, Ilara. You’re the tie that binds us together.”

Ilara took the boy’s hands and fingered the tattoo on his right ring finger. She possessed an identical one; they all did. A shepherd’s hook surrounded by a ring, identifying those who bore it as under the protection of the Shepherd. He’d been so little when she found him. Barely six years old, covered in bruises and cigarette burns, Leonis had been wandering the seedy backstreets of Cyntur-Rho, crying for a mother who only cared about her next fix. An older man had been talking with him, a predatory gleam in his eye, trying to coax the boy into taking his hand. She hadn’t even thought about it, had simply reacted.

“Leave my brother alone, you filthy old sod,” she’d shouted when the man stroked the boy’s grimy cheek. “Touch him again and I’ll kick your balls up to your throat so’s they can play tennis with your tonsils.”

He’d barely weighed forty pounds, so skinny and frail she’d been able to swing him into her arms and haul ass down the street, disappearing into the night. She’d filled his belly and taught him how to lift currency packs and food from the market shelves.

Maras had come next, and after her, too many to count. Some had stayed until they were skilled enough to go out on their own. Others, too weak from malnutrition and neglect, had died. And still others went missing, victims of Mielak Caldur, the owner of several nefarious sex clubs in the Toru Sector, helped into that life of pain and misery by Caldur’s henchman, Zarun, the head of Toru City’s security force.

“They’re yours now, Leonis. Yours and Maras’s. You’re the Shepherd now.” The boy shook his head, eyes filling with tears. “Yes. You know this is how it has to be. I can see it in your eyes. It may take a day or two for him to gather the people he needs, but Zarun will come with the sniffers, and he cannot find you here.”

“But…” He nodded, and with that acknowledgment, the boy became a man. He took the money she handed him and tossed the belt aside. “Go and say your good-byes while I scout for a new place. Tell them they’ll have to leave everything behind. I’ll send Maras to the thrift to purchase more clothes for them. Nothing with your scent on it can follow us.”

Ilara choked back a sob. “I’ll never forget you.”

“Nor I you,” he said, hugging her fiercely. “Where will you go?”

“To someone who can get me off the planet quickly.”

Chapter Six

She didn’t go to the gladiator. Couldn’t chance bringing that kind of trouble to his beautiful, serene home. Instead, she went deeper into the devastation of Toru City, to a place no one would find her. To a place that once teemed with the noise of people hurrying to their busy jobs. She went to the downtown tube station.

Throughout the many years of the Colonization Wars, the devastating war of Terran expansion, the underground rail system played an important part in the Toru resistance. When the Terrans were routed, the members of the resistance melted away, and the tube was left to decay and ruin. It had been laser bombed hundreds of times during the fighting, and deep internal scars remained, making it a dangerous place to venture; no funds could be spared to rebuild the crumbling inner-city infrastructure. It was to this place Ilara had first brought Leonis after rescuing him from Cyntur-Rho, and it was to this place she returned.

The casallin-powered lamp generated enough light to allow her to see where she was going, and she would be eternally grateful to Leonis for pinching it for her. She dropped a handful of the glowing stones as she walked, ensuring she could find her way out once she settled on a place to feather her nest.

“This looks like as good a place as any,” she spoke aloud, looking around at the wide alcove that once housed the inner workings of the railway’s glide-track system. The door to the control room was rusted open, and she flashed her lamp inside, shrieking when she discovered a human skeleton sitting in an old office chair.

She stepped inside and looked around to see if there was anything worth scavenging. There wasn’t, of course, for anything useful had been taken years ago, but there was an ancient wooden desk and several shelves holding procedural manuals. She rolled the chair out into the alcove, skeleton and all, and set about breaking up the desk.

“Hope you don’t mind, mate, but a little fire might be nice, don’t you think? It’ll get chilly tonight. Wouldn’t want to freeze our arses off.” She uttered a nervous laugh. “Don’t talk much, do you?”

Wonder how much of this I can take before I go stark-raving mad. At one time, she’d craved solitude because it meant she was safe from those who would take advantage of a young, helpless girl. But she was used to human contact now. Used to the sound of children’s voices. And worst of all, she craved the warmth of Kei Rewu’s big body wrapped around her. “It’s going to be a long night, mate.”

She tore some crumbling paper from an old manual, piled some wood on it, and used her pen laser to set it ablaze. “Nice and cozy now, eh?”

* * * * * *

Kei prowled the house like a caged lion. A full week had passed since he’d caught Ilara plundering his garden, and his desire to plunder her again had increased with each passing day. Why didn’t she come to him? She’d enjoyed his body as much as he’d enjoyed hers, and he’d truly believed she’d show up on his doorstep for more. He snorted. His ego was getting the better of him. Despite his manager’s assertion, he guessed not every woman wanted him after all. Laughing at his own arrogance, he went into the media room to view the footage of his next opponent. He was hard at work studying the competitor’s weaknesses when the security system alerted him that someone was coming up the walk.

At last, he thought as he hurried to the door. She’d finally come to him. “Video on,” he commanded the unit. “Who’s this?” Because it certainly wasn’t Ilara. He opened the door, frowning down at an adolescent boy. “Who are you?”

The boy squared his shoulders and glared defiantly. “I’m Leonis, a friend of Ilara’s. I’ve come to see her.”

Now, that was odd. “She’s not here.”

The aggressive stance melted away and Leonis’s shoulders slumped. The boy paled. “But…sir, she said she was coming to you. She was going to ask you to help her get off world.” The boy trembled. “Gods help us, you don’t suppose he’s caught her?”

“You’d better come inside,” Kei said, stepping back to let the kid inside. “Tell me what’s happened.”

While Leonis filled him in on the incident at the market, Kei’s stomach knotted with fear. Commander Zarun had made it very clear that capturing the elusive Shepherd was a priority. The idea that the commander provided Mielak Caldur with young children for his sex clubs repulsed Kei. Worse still was the idea of Ilara in either man’s clutches.

“What makes you believe either of these men is responsible for the disappearances of these children of which you speak?” Kei demanded.

“We’ve seen them,” Leonis answered. “Twice, on Cyntur-Rho. Athara was eleven when one of Zarun’s men snatched her off the street in Toru City. Ilara and I saw her standing outside a club in the red light district on Cyntur-Rho. We managed a few words before her handler dragged her inside. She told us Zarun took her and that Caldur likes to train the girls himself. He kept her for two months before transporting her to the pleasure planet. Rumor has it he owns several clubs there that provide services to those with a taste for young children. Athara said the other two taken with her have disappeared. She fears they are dead and that she will soon be joining them.”

Kei got up to pace the room. “I know people who can verify these rumors. If you’ll meet with them, describe the missing children and the name of the club, I’m sure they can find out if your suspicions are true.” He stopped, looked down at the worried boy. “Let’s assume Zarun hasn’t got Ilara. Where would she go? Is there any place you can think of she might hide, a place the sniffers would have a hard time locating?”

A timer went off in the kitchen and Kei gestured for the boy to follow him. “I’m baking bread.” He pointed to the same seat where Ilara had sat and took the freshly baked bread from the oven, then replaced it with two more pans of dough.

Taking a knife, he sliced off several pieces of cooled bread, set them on a plate, then shoved them across the counter to Leonis. He rummaged in the fridge and brought out a crock of butter and one of homemade plum jam. “Eat,” he told Leonis, placing the butter and jam in front of him, along with a knife. “I remember always being hungry as a teenage boy. How many children are you caring for at the moment?”

“Fourteen,” Leonis said, taking a huge bite of the butter-soaked bread.

Kei buttered a slice of bread for himself and asked, “Where do they come from? Fourteen seems like so many.”

“Mostly from poor homes,” Leonis said around the food in his mouth. “Many families never recovered from the devastation of the Colonization Wars. My own mother was barely thirteen when a soldier raped her and she became pregnant with me. I was five when my grandparents died, leaving us alone. She couldn’t handle it, turned to drugs and alcohol. Ilara found me outside some dive, saved me from a pedophile. She couldn’t have been more than eleven or twelve at the time.”

Kei winced. Bloody hell. What a life she’d had. “Where could she have gone, Leonis?

The boy thought for a long moment, then snapped his fingers. “The downtown tube station. It’s where she took me when she brought me back here. No one goes near it anymore, so it’s safe. It was rebel territory, and you have to pass through some pretty hostile areas to get there. Security teams are afraid to go that far into the inner city.”

“Then I think we need to go and see if she’s there. If she is, I’ll bring her back here until I can make arrangements to move her off world.”

“You would do that for her?” The boy looked at him suspiciously. “Why? You barely know her.”

Kei nodded. “Because no woman should be used like that.” He gathered up some food supplies, set the timer on the oven, and filled a pack. “Ever used an ultra-glide scooter?”

Leonis smiled. “I’ve ridden a few.”

Kei chuckled. “Without permission, I assume.”

“Naturally.”

“Well, come along then. This time you have the owner’s permission. You’ll have to lead the way.”

Chapter Seven

Kei imagined they made quite the odd pair, cruising above the heads of pedestrians as they made their way toward the war-torn parts of the city. They had to increase their altitude as they approached collapsed, fire-ravaged buildings. Now and again, they came across families living in the gutted shells, laundry strung on bits of wire to dry in whatever sun managed to penetrate, and grubby, grimy-faced children playing among the rubble and broken glass. They gazed up at Kei and Leonis with vacant stares, already old before their time. It was depressing and appalling, and shame filled Kei that the citizens of Toru City could allow such a thing to happen.

Kei followed Leonis’s lead and dipped down lower over the crumbling barricades left over from the war. They twisted and turned, cruising through narrow passageways, going vertical over scraggly fencing and, once, gliding through an offshoot of the tube system before rising again to hover outside the building’s main entrance and stowing the glide cycles behind a pile of rubble.

“This way,” Leonis said, stepping through the frame of the glassless automatic doors. It was pitch black, and they paused long enough to engage their lanterns. The boy lifted his head and sniffed the air. “She’s cooking.”

Kei grunted and leaped over a small crater in the tile floor. “What could she possibly be cooking? Nothing lives around here.”

Leonis grinned. “Shows what you know, gladiator.” He sniffed again. “My guess would be targas.”

He gave the boy a horrified look. “Targas? Why, that’s nothing more than a distant cousin to a rat!”

“Right you are, but the meat tastes pretty good when it’s cooked over a fire.”

“Well, that decides it,” Kei said firmly. “She’s coming home with me whether she wants to or not.”

Leonis stopped, gave Kei the once-over, and nodded. “You’ll be good for her. She needs to learn that it’s all right to accept help. You aren’t out to use her, are you, gladiator? I wouldn’t take kindly to anyone who hurt her.”

Kei returned the boy’s knowing look. The boy had balls, he’d give him that, and it took a pair to threaten a man in his line of work. “No, boy, I won’t hurt her.”

The boy said nothing as he continued to follow the softly glowing casallin stones. They hadn’t walked more than ten yards when a shrill alarm sounded.

Leonis laughed. “She’s set up an early warning system, clever girl. I never even saw it.” He looked around and found the laser trip beam set inside a small drainage pipe. “She’ll climb, hide herself in the overhead piping. Keep an eye out because she’s probably got a stash of broken tiles and bricks up there, and she’s got wicked aim.”

The two approached slowly, looking around carefully for missiles aimed at their heads.

“There, up around that bend,” Leonis said, pointing toward a faint glow in the darkened tunnel. “Stay back a ways. I’ll go ahead and let her know we’re here.”

As much as he hated it, Kei hung back and let Leonis continue on. He watched as the boy leaned down and grabbed a brick. He tapped it on the wall in some kind of elaborate code, then tossed it away and motioned to Kei to come ahead.

There was a rustling and clanking overhead, and as Kei looked up, he saw Ilara clamber down from her hiding place. Suffering gods, she could kill herself swinging and sliding on the rotting pipe like that. He gritted his teeth as she swung from a thick piece of wiring and landed lightly on her feet in front of Leonis.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, hugging the boy fiercely. She turned a puzzled smile on Kei. “And you? It’s not safe to be seen with me.”

“We were worried about you,” Kei told her, stifling the urge to jerk her into his embrace. “We brought you some food.” He slung the pack off his shoulders, noting the hungry gleam in her eyes, and gestured to the scorched rodent ready to fall into the fire. “Get rid of that thing.”

The three of them sat around the fire devouring a meal of bread, cheese, fruit, and wine. Kei nearly protested when Leonis took a swig from the bottle, then stopped himself. The boy might be only fifteen, but he was a man by every definition of the word.

Kei looked around at the burrow Ilara had created for herself. Somewhere, she’d managed to filch a mattress, blankets, and a ratty little table for her lantern. Still, she was grimy, and there were dark smudges beneath her eyes that bespoke sleepless nights. And she was thinner, if such a thing was possible. He sighed. “Ilara, I want you to come home with me. You can’t continue to live like this.”

She shook her head. “I’m fine here, and I won’t have Zarun up your ass because of me.”

“Zarun knows better than to fuck with me. I’ll keep you safe. You’ll be warm and well fed.”

He could tell by the jut of that defiant chin that she was prepared to argue long and hard, but he had the answers to all her questions.

“And what of the children? Do I deserve to eat more than they?”

“I’ll make sure they’re fed.”

“How?”

“By opening an account at the market that Leonis can use to buy food.”

“That could get expensive.”

“I have more money than I can ever spend.”

“And how will Leonis carry all this food to their new shelter? On his back? Food for fourteen children?”

“I’ve given him a glide scooter.”

“Until Zarun sees him on it and arrests him for stealing.”

“I’ll give him a document stating it belongs to him.”

“Yes, but…”

He quieted her with a gesture and turned to Leonis. “Will you leave us a moment?”

Leonis grinned and chucked Ilara on the chin. “I’ll have a glide scooter to carry the food and to escape the security drones. And one less worry knowing you’re safe.”

Kei watched as the boy sauntered away, and when he was out of sight, he pulled Ilara to her feet and into his arms. “I’ve missed you, little thief. Haven’t you missed me, even a little?”

“That has nothing to do with anything,” she protested, as his lips nibbled at her neck. The simple fact was that she had missed him -- too much for comfort. She couldn’t count the number of times she’d almost thrown caution to the wind and gone to him. She melted against him, taking comfort in his embrace, and knew she would go with him.

“It has everything to do with everything, Ilara. You like me and I like you. You need a safe place to live, and I can provide that. You need to eat and gain some weight, and I can feed you. You enjoyed my body, and I certainly enjoyed yours. I want you with me, Ilara. Together, we can figure out a way to help not just your children, but all of the hungry children in Toru City. And I swear to you, if I find Caldur and Zarun are behind the disappearances, they will pay.”

“How? Caldur has the funds to do what he pleases, and Zarun covers for him. How can you stop them?”

“I know people.” He pressed a kiss to her full lips. “I have friends who will help. We can stop them, Ilara.”

“And if I refuse?”

“I’ll tie you up and take you with me anyway.”

He felt her melt into him once more as she sighed. “Why?” She looked up at him. “Why does it matter to you?”

“Because you’ve turned my well-planned life upside down. Because I can’t get you off my mind. Because I want you.” He kissed her then, a long, slow, deep kiss as he lifted her off her feet and pressed her against the wall. When she responded, eagerly returning his kiss, he pulled away.

“You’re manipulating me,” she said, lifting an eyebrow.

“Of course, I am. But can you honestly say you don’t want me?

“No, I can’t, though I wish I could. I’ve lived with the threat of men like Caldur and Zarun all of my life, but you’re more of a threat to me than they could ever hope to be.”

“How so?”

“Because a man like you could make me hope for something better, and hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me.”

Chapter Eight

They parted ways with Leonis at the entrance to the tube station. Ilara watched as he and Kei spoke. Leonis grinned and winked at her, then nodded at Kei and climbed on the glide cycle. His departure had her longing to follow him, to protect the child she’d raised for the past nine years. She hadn’t realized she was crying until Kei pulled her close and held her tight.

“He’ll be all right,” he said. “He’s a good man, and he’ll do a good job keeping the children safe.”

“I know.” Her voice cracked as he started the cycle and gestured for her to climb on behind him. “I just miss him. I miss all of them.”

He drew her arms around his waist and patted her hands. “We’ll figure it out. We’ll find a way to stop Zarun and keep all of you safe. Until then, comfort yourself knowing they won’t starve.

Behind him, Ilara sobbed. “You really are a wonderful man, but I don’t know how I’ll ever repay your kindness.”

“I don’t expect repay --” She heard his strangled reply as she slid a hand between his legs and stroked his cock to life. “Ilara, I’m liable to wreck the cycle if you keep that up.”

“Focus, gladiator. We wouldn’t want to have an accident before you’re able to put this impressive tool to good use.”

“You’re playing with fire, little one,” he managed to say, as she ran her hands across his chest.

“Mmm, good thing I like it hot.” She smothered a laugh at her boldness. She’d never been like this with a man before, but then she’d never known a man quite like Kei Rewu. On the one hand, he was arrogant and controlling, while on the other, he was generous and kind. An intriguing dichotomy she fully intended to explore until his fascination with her ended. She had no doubt it would. Her mother had always told her men were a fickle lot.

Ilara dipped her hand beneath the waistband of his pants and burrowed beneath his briefs to take him in hand, shrieking with laughter as the glide cycle shot vertical for no apparent reason. “Problem, gladiator?”

He hissed when she tightened her hand around his cock and pumped. “You’re going to pay for that, little thief.”

Ilara laughed softly and nipped the tender flesh just below his armpit. “Empty threats.”

His bold laughter was music to her ears as he teased back. “You’ll be singing a different tune when you’re flat on your back with your feet in the air and my cock buried deep inside you.”

“Not much of a punishment when you consider that’s what I’m aiming for.” She squeezed him tight, stroking her hand up and down, pleased at the groan that escaped him. “Of course, I’ll need a shower first and perhaps a hearty meal. A girl has to keep her strength up.”

The cycle went vertical again as Kei guided it over the fence surrounding his garden and set it down on the cobbled patio. He had no sooner dismounted than Ilara grabbed his hips and pulled him close. She didn’t waste words, merely tugged his pants down, took him in hand, then settled her mouth over the bulbous head of his dick.

“Stars!” he gasped, obviously surprised, then his hands went to her hair and he groaned. “Ilara, you don’t have to… Oh, mother of us all!” She swirled her tongue over the tip of his cock, savoring the taste of precum, then gave him a good, hard suck before taking more of him into her mouth.

What was it about this man that made her want to do such things to him? Not that she hadn’t had a man’s dick in her mouth before. She had, but not voluntarily. But with Kei, she wanted to experience every nuance of lovemaking. She wanted the taste of him as much as he wanted the taste of her. Wanted to feel his mouth on her, his cock inside her. Suddenly, it was important that she be able to make him feel all the things he’d made her feel from the moment he’d first put his hands on her.

Her other hand moved to cup his balls, gently manipulating them. She took more of him, increasing the suction as her mouth worked to make him cross-eyed with pleasure. His fingers tightened in her hair as she found just the right rhythm. His breath came in short, hot bursts that made her pussy clench with the need to be filled.

“Oh, what a sweet mouth you have,” Kei rasped. “But you have to…stop… Can’t…hold back much longer.”

His words came out on a groan that set her blood singing through her veins. When he tried to use her hair to pull her head back, she reached around and dug her nails into the cheeks of his ass. “Ah, gods…ah, fuck yeah!” The breath hissed through his teeth as he came with a shout.

Ilara wrapped her arms around him, resting her cheek on his belly as his breathing slowly returned to normal. What a sense of power it gave her, knowing she could make him shout at the sky as he’d done here.

“That was…astonishing,” he told her. “I’m surprised I’m capable of coherent speech.”

She caressed his taut ass, then tugged his pants back into place. “I bet I could bounce a sterling credit off that ass of yours. Perhaps I’ll try later -- after I’ve showered and eaten that meal you promised me.”

He took her hand and drew her to her feet. “Come inside then. Have your shower while I prepare a feast deserving of you. Just know…I intend to have you as my dessert.”

Ilara grinned as she followed him inside. He certainly filled out the supple material of those snug pants. Even now it was hard to resist the temptation to run a hand over those well-defined cheeks. “I think,” she said, giving in to temptation and patting him on the backside, “dessert is going to be my favorite part of the meal from now on.”

He turned and laughed as he lifted her off her feet and kissed her soundly. “Scamp. Go and have your shower. You know the way.”

Yes, she did know the way and that alone was a marvel to her. Never in a million light years would she have dreamed she’d not only meet Kei Rewu, but wind up in his bed! She bounded up the stairs and into his bathroom, peeling off her clothes as she gave the command for the shower to come on and up to temperature.

The citrus smell of his cleansing liquid permeated her senses, and she could almost imagine she was standing in his garden with the fruit trees in bloom. The water was hot and soothing, the soap slippery and rich on her skin as she washed. As an afterthought, she shaved her legs and underarms, remembering Kei liked smooth skin.

Ilara stepped out of the shower in a haze of steam and into a thick, fluffy towel held by the man she’d spent her adolescent years fantasizing about. Unbelievable. Those strong arms wrapped around her, lifted her, held her against his broad chest as he carried her into the bedroom and lay her down.

“Dinner’s in the oven,” Kei told her. “And I prefer to have my dessert first.”

Ilara shivered as he straddled her, ran his fingertips along her collarbone, and trailed them down over her breasts, her ribs, the points of her hips, her thighs, to her knees, then slid beneath them to lift her legs and set them wide apart.

“Look at you. Look how beautiful.” His voice was thick with desire and what she saw in his face made her feel beautiful. She was barely breathing and so aroused that when he leaned down to place a soft kiss on the inside of her knee, she moaned and nearly came then and there.

“Kei, please.” She sighed as his fingers stroked the soft skin of her inner thighs.

“No, Ilara, this is going to take some time. You’re going to be wet and weak and trembling before I take you.”

She watched through hooded lids as he settled himself tailor-style between her legs. Oh, flaming mother, his hands! Had anyone ever had such talented hands? They cupped her breasts, thumbs brushing her nipples to attention. He stroked, tracing the outline of each, concentrating on the sensitive undersides, moving back to pinch the nipples.

“Kei,” she gasped, arching into his hands.

“Just the beginning, little one,” he murmured. He took a foot in his hands, flexing and stretching it, pressing and massaging with his thumbs before running his tongue along the arch. “Such delicate little feet.” He nipped her big toe, and she gave a startled yip, then a shocked gasp as his lips closed over her toe to suck and tease.

“Oh. My. Gods,” Ilara cried. Nothing in her experience had prepared her for a man to suck on her toes, and he did it with such skill, the same way she’d sucked his cock earlier. He gave each toe the same treatment as his thumbs continued to stroke her foot.

“You like that?” he asked.

“Oh yeah.”

He chuckled softly. “Then you’ll love this.” Grasping her foot with both hands, he focused on a single spot on her heel, pressing hard.

“Oh!” Ilara screamed, startled by the sharp, quick orgasm that shot through her core.

“You’re welcome,” Kei teased. Then his hands were on the move again, testing the contour of a leg, tracing muscle and tendon with inquisitive fingers. “What lovely legs you have, Ilara. Long, deceptively lean, but strong, and leading to such a delicious prize.”

Ilara moaned when he pressed another kiss to the inside of her knee and those featherlight caresses moved slowly toward her pussy. She sucked in a breath as he traced her outer lips with an index finger, then exhaled an “oooh” as that finger slid inside, went deep.

“Mmm, so wet.” The finger withdrew and, joined with a second, glided back in and scissored open.

“Oh, flaming mother!” Ilara cried out. “Kei, please!”

“Soon,” he said. He moved to his knees, then stretched out, wedging his shoulders between her legs. His fingers pumped twice. “You wouldn’t deny a man his dessert, would you?”

“No! I mean, yes!” Seraphim’s belt, if he didn’t fuck her soon she was going to go mad! “I…oooh!” she howled when his tongue burrowed into her swollen flesh to lap at her clit. “I want you inside me!” His answer was another swipe of his tongue that almost sent her over the edge, but not quite.

Before she could protest, his fingers deserted her, and Ilara uttered a startled yelp as Kei flipped her onto her belly. “What the --” And then he pulled her to her knees and leaned over her, nuzzling her ear.

“In just a few moments, I’m going to fill your hot little pussy with my cock, Ilara. Can you feel it there, against your ass? It’s so hard, so hungry for you it’s throbbing.”

She shuddered. Could she feel it? Was he crazy? Of course she could feel it, and oh, how she wanted it. Wanted him to slide that big cock between her legs and shove it deep. She was beyond the point of tender lovemaking; she wanted it hard and fast. She wanted to fuck.

“Do it,” she growled, thrusting her hips back against him.

Oh yes, there it was, gliding through the folds of her pussy, pressing into her. The tip penetrated, and she hissed. Gods, he was huge; she’d nearly forgotten. And she wanted every centimeter pounding into her.

“More?” he asked.

“Yes!” she all but screamed. “I swear, if you don’t --” He drove into her then, balls-deep, and she nearly wept with relief. She gave a strangled cry as he eased back, drove in again, and kept on pumping.

Oh, flaming mother, he felt so good, so strong as he leaned over her, supporting his weight on his arms as he drove into her with long, measured strokes. No gentle mating here. This was pure, animalistic fucking, a conquering of her body that had her babbling and sobbing, begging for everything he could give her. She had to resist the urge to bare her teeth and snarl at him.

“More!” she barked. “Hard. Fast!”

Behind her, she heard him growl, a deep rumble in his chest; then he straightened, grabbed her hips, and gave her what she wanted, pulling her back onto his meaty cock as he thrust. Hard. Fast. Deep. “That’s it, take me. Take all of me.”

The sounds of flesh slapping against flesh, his demanding voice, the smell of arousal, the heat of exertion compounded the sensations flooding Ilara’s senses. “Yes, yes, all of you!” And there it was, building deep in her belly, flowing outward to her limbs, running up her spine, paralyzing her for a heartbeat before flooding her cunt with heat.

“Gods!” she sobbed. “It’s too much… I…ah, I’m coming. Don’t stop. Don’t stop!” Her body shuddered and jerked with an orgasm so intense her vision blurred and then he was there, tumbling after her, his cock slamming into her one last time as he shouted his own release.

Chapter Nine

Kei had always wondered why they called it the afterglow, but now he understood. He was sweaty, sated, and so relaxed he felt like he was floating. It occurred to him that he’d never felt exactly this way before, not even with Solae. There was a rightness about being with Ilara that he’d never felt with the other women he’d shared his bed with -- like a missing puzzle piece finally snapped into place to complete the entire picture. When she snuggled against him, resting her slender hand on his chest, it hit him like a nanojack. He was whole at last. Ilara completed the picture that was his life, and he wanted her to stay.

How was it possible, he marveled, for a mere slip of a girl to burrow into his heart in such a short period of time? I have to think about this, about how to tell her. How to make her stay. Intimidation and brute force wouldn’t work on his little thief; she was far too independent. He kissed the top of her head. “Are you hungry?”

“I’m always hungry,” Ilara said, grazing his nipple with her teeth. “But since we met, I can never decide what I’m most hungry for, food or you.”

Kei chuckled, caressed her bare shoulder. “It’s good to know the feeling is mutual, but right now, I think we could both use some nourishment. And I need to contact some friends, see if they can help us do some investigating. I want to know more about Caldur and Zarun.”

He rolled out of bed, taking her with him to the closet to grab the robes. “I’m going to have to get you some decent clothes,” he said, idly. “Can’t have you running around naked all the time, much as the idea appeals to me.”

“So, where’s the woman who belongs to this robe?”

Kei raised an eyebrow. Did he detect a hint of jealousy in her tone? “Happily married and living on Xat-Rah One, last I heard. No need to be jealous, little thief. She was just a friend.”

She frowned. “More than friends, I’d wager, since her robe is in your closet.”

Kei laughed. “Why, Ilara, I do believe you’re jealous!”

“Ha! When hell freezes over, as my mum used to say.”

Completely amused and charmed, Kei cupped a hand to his ear. “What’s that I hear? Why, it’s the devil himself calling down an ice storm.”

Ilara snorted. “I’m astonished your neck can bear the weight of your swollen head, gladiator.” She tied the belt at her waist with a vicious tug and started to stomp away.

Kei grabbed the belt, tugging her back against him. The robe gaped open and he allowed himself a leisurely perusal of her firm, lean body. He cupped her small breasts in his hands and leaned down next to her ear. “There are no other women, Ilara. You’re it, the only one I want.”

She turned in his arms and looked up at him with questioning eyes. “But how? Why?”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her until they were nose to nose. “Who can say why? We simply accept what is and go from there.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “Now, are you hungry for food?”

“Ravenous. Now put me down.”

“I think not,” he said, shifting her weight and tossing her over his shoulder. “It’s time you learned who’s in control around here.”

She shrieked with laughter as he carted her out the door and down the stairs to the kitchen. “Oh, I think I know exactly who’s in control around here, gladiator,” she bragged.

His intentions were pure, truly, they were, but when Ilara’s clever little hands lifted the back of his robe to caress his bare ass, his cock demanded he show her exactly who was in charge. “You want to play, little thief?” Kei growled. “I’ll show you what happens when you taunt a master gladiator.”

Exhibiting more control than he thought himself capable of, Kei placed Ilara on the kitchen island. “On your back, spread your legs.” When she didn’t respond quickly enough to suit him, he put a hand on her chest, pressed her down to the cool stone counter. She struggled to sit up, but he merely grasped her knees, yanked her legs wide, and hauled her ass to the edge of the countertop. She was his woman now, and something dark and primitive demanded she understand, accept.

“You’re mine, Ilara,” he said, dropping to his knees.

“No! I belong to me!” She tried to wriggle away from him, but he draped her legs over his shoulders and wrapped his arms around her spread thighs.

“You’re going to come screaming against my tongue. Then I’m going to bury my cock inside you and fuck you until you admit you’re mine.”

Kei lowered his mouth to her, taking her clit between his lips for a good, long suckle as she tried to fight her body’s response. She bucked, slapped the countertop, and pounded her heels into his back, but Kei held on, focusing all his attention on the swollen bud, laving it with his tongue as he stroked the surrounding flesh with his thumbs.

“Oh!” Ilara cried out. “You bastard! Youuuu…ah! I hate you!”

He shook his head, making loud sucking noises as he nursed. Time for a demonstration of just how much she hated him. He thrust a finger inside her, palm-deep, and her hips jerked helplessly. He added another to the mix, fucking her slowly, drawing out the pleasure until he thought she might stand on her head simply to be able to come.

By the gods, she was a wonder. The taste of her, the texture of her skin, the way her body reacted to his ministrations. His cock leaped, throbbing with the need to fill her and empty his aching balls into her heated core. But first, he’d promised to make her come screaming against his tongue. He held her open with his fingers and pressed the flat of his tongue against her clit, scraping back and forth against that hard kernel until she arched up off the counter to thrust her pussy into his mouth and screamed.

“Now,” Kei growled, flipping her onto her belly as he rose to his feet. He didn’t allow her any recovery time but stepped up behind her, lifted one of her legs onto the counter, and thrust deep. She moaned as he pulled out, pushed back in. “A couple of ground rules, my love. No more panties, ever. I want you free of encumbrances and ready to take me at all times.” He withdrew and drove into her again. “And there will be no more talk of leaving. You’re mine, Ilara. Say it.” He gave her another hard pump. “You’re mine.”

“No!” she protested, but her voice held none of its earlier conviction.

He gave her his cock, hard and deep as she liked it, then eased back until just the bulging head remained, making liquid sounds from his barely there thrusts. “Tell me,” he demanded, feeling like his balls might explode at any second.

When she didn’t respond, he hammered into her, fucking her hard as she panted and moaned. He could feel her -- feel her pussy begin to contract around him -- and deprived her of himself, again, barely allowing her the feel of him at her entrance. “Say it!”

“Yes!” Ilara screamed. “Yes, I’m yours!”

“Good girl,” he said and thrust deep.

He rode her hard, driving into her like a finely honed piston, gritting his teeth as she came, her pussy clamping around him like a vise, until she pulled him over with her.

“Ilara!” he shouted, burying himself deep as he emptied his balls. He curved his body over hers and pressed his lips to her ear. “It’s all right. I’m yours too, Ilara.”

She groaned beneath him. “You bet your ass, you are. But if you ever manhandle me again, you’ll be wearing your balls as earmuffs.”

* * * * * *

Kei engaged the kitchen com unit and hailed Solae, not surprised when Raav came on-screen. “Asirian,” Kei acknowledged.

“Rewu,” came the terse reply. Kei stifled a grin. Obviously, Asirian hadn’t forgotten finding Kei in flagrante delicto with the beautiful Solae. Not that they were actually doing anything, but the intent was there and Kei’s mouth was on Solae’s breast when Asirian kicked in his door. “I expect you want to talk to Solae.”

“Actually, I want to talk to both of you, if you have a few moments. We have a situation here, on Toru Two, and I’d like to hire you to look into it, if you’re available.”

Asirian raised an eyebrow. “Indeed. We’re always available, if the price is right.”

Moments later, Solae came on-screen, arms draped around her husband’s shoulders. “Kei! How wonderful to see you!” It was obvious by the sly expression on her face that she hadn’t missed her caller’s rumpled state. “And who’s that with you?”

Kei smiled and turned to Ilara. “Ilara Depherra, meet Solae O’bora and her husband, Raav Asirian. Solae is the former owner of the robe you’re wearing.” It was petty, he knew, but Kei hadn’t been able to resist the tiny dig at Asirian.

“How do you do?” Ilara inquired with her prissiest Brit accent.

Solae grinned. “Got yourself a sassy Earth girl, do you, my friend?”

Kei laughed. “Actually, Earth’s moon. Ilara was born in the UK dome where her parents worked.” He turned to Ilara. “Solae and Raav share our love of all things Earth.”

“That’s true,” Solae agreed. “Have you taken her there yet?”

“Not yet,” Kei said, raising Ilara’s hand to his lips to press a kiss to her palm. “But I will, once things are settled here. I’m calling because I need your help.”

Suddenly, Solae was all business. “It must be serious if you can’t handle it yourself, my friend. Anything you need, you know that.”

“I do.” He squeezed Ilara’s hand and continued. “In the time you spent here, did you ever hear of a boy the authorities called the Shepherd?”

Solae nodded. “Yes. Allegedly runs a gang of child thieves, or so law enforcement claims.”

“That might be technically true, but there’s much more involved than meets the eye. That’s where the two of you come in.” Kei nodded at Ilara. “Meet the Shepherd.”

Judging from the stunned look on her face, Kei’s declaration was the last thing she’d expected. “What are you mixed up in, Kei? You’ve heard the rumors about law enforcement there… If you run afoul of them you could be in for more trouble than you know.”

When Ilara snorted and folded her arms across her chest, Kei leaned in to press a kiss to her temple. “It’s complicated, Solae. Ilara’s been on her own since she was a young child. She, along with two older kids, has been taking in street children for years. Raising them, feeding them, and yes, teaching them to steal. They would starve otherwise, but that’s not the bigger issue.

“These abandoned children are being plucked off the streets of Toru City and sent to Cyntur-Rho to work in sex clubs that cater to those with a taste for children. These clubs are owned by a wealthy citizen here, Mielak Caldur.”

Solae’s lips drew back in a snarl. “Let me guess. Uran Zarun is helping him.”

“So you’ve heard of this, then?”

Solae took a deep breath and nodded. “One hears things, in our line of work, but I don’t think I ever took it seriously, and I had other things on my mind over the years. But there have always been rumblings that Zarun is dirty.” She looked at her husband, who nodded. “All right. We’ll get organized and be there as soon as we can. Look for us in thirty days, give or take. Raav just purchased a sporty little warp flyer, so we may make it sooner.”

“Thank you, Solae.”

“Not necessary, Kei. Nothing worse than a man who gets his charge from diddling kids. We’ll see you soon.” She turned her penetrating gaze on Ilara. “I look forward to meeting the woman who captured Kei’s heart. Just try and stay out of trouble until we get there.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ilara said, her expression pure innocence.

Solae laughed. “Oh, little girl, I know trouble when I see it.”

Chapter Ten

Time passed quickly as Ilara and Kei spent their days and nights getting to know one another. She had a new wardrobe now, one that she’d never dared hope for, and those new clothes hung in Kei’s closet, a testament to what their relationship had become. She was his woman, and as such, she shared his bed and his closet space.

It was downright embarrassing, the way he showered her with things, and the guilt at her newfound largesse would have been unbearable if his generosity hadn’t extended to the children as well. True to his word, he provided them with enough food to fill them out, and it wasn’t long before their sweet faces lost that pinched, hungry look. And they had sufficient clothing. Not the secondhand castoffs they’d all grown accustomed to, but clothes that fit right and kept them warm. If she had any complaint, it was that she missed them terribly, but they dared not take the chance of her being seen with them. Toward that end, she didn’t even know where Leonis had taken them. All she could do was hope that Solae O’bora and her husband, Raav Asirian, would be able to prove, once and for all, that Caldur and Zarun were involved in the disappearances, and see to it they never preyed on innocents again. If they could manage that, Ilara figured she could deal with her feeling of inadequacy where the famous bounty hunter was concerned.

Ilara stretched, sighing with pleasure as Kei’s large hand covered her breast. “Good morning,” she said, snuggling against his hard body.

He nuzzled her neck. “Good morning to you too. You tossed and turned all night. What’s worrying you?”

It was downright disconcerting the way he’d come to know her in such a short period of time. “They’re arriving today.”

“Yes. Is that what’s bothering you?”

Ilara shrugged, hoping it seemed the casual gesture she was shooting for. “They’re strangers to me. I haven’t had a lot of luck with strangers.” She rolled onto her back and looked up at him. “You being the exception to that rule, of course.”

“Of course.” He arched an eyebrow, then leaned down to give her a kiss that would have made her knees turn to jelly if she’d been standing. “You’ll do fine. Besides, they’re friends.”

Ilara snorted. “You don’t like Raav Asirian one bit.”

“What?” he teased, putting on an innocent face. “What makes you say such a thing?”

“Maybe it’s because you get all puffed up and stern whenever you talk to him,” she said, nudging him onto his back. “It’s the same look you get when you’re about to enter the ring…that ‘I’m going to kick your ass nine ways to Komae Sector and back’ look. Do you deny it?”

She imitated the look and Kei laughed. “How can I when you look so fierce?” His breath hissed in when she slid her hand down to capture his cock. “Watch yourself, little thief, or you’ll find yourself flat on your back.”

She rolled on top of him, straddling his hips. “Looks to me like you’re the one on his back, gladiator.” She rose up, guiding him to her entrance, teasing him as she took him partway inside her.

“Umm-hmm,” he said, reaching between her legs. He pinched her clit and she gasped, lowering herself onto his length. He thrust up, burying himself deep. “Never tease a giant, little one.”

Ilara pressed her palms on his chest for support and began an easy rise and fall, tightening her muscles around his cock. “Giants fall hard when they topple, gladiator.”

“That they do, my love.” He reached up, teasing her nipples to diamond-hard tips.

Ilara threw her head back, thrusting her breasts into his hands as she rocked on his massive cock. Stars but she loved the feel of him, the way he filled her, the way his cock reached just the right spot when she rode him like this. It never ceased to amaze her that a man so big could be so gentle, so giving. He always saw to her pleasure, no matter how much he needed her.

“Yes,” she whispered, as his hands inflamed her. It didn’t matter where he touched her, every touch set her ablaze. A caress on her bottom, a stroke to her thighs, the press of his finger against her clit. Every touch aroused, urged her to take what she needed. Ah, there was that big thumb, stroking the hard bud, kicking her need up another notch until she was bouncing on that giant cock. “Ah! Flaming mother… Can’t wait… Now, come now!”

She rode him hard as she came, howling as he rolled her onto her back, thrusting hard and fast as his own followed. “Ah, gods, I love you. I love you,” she sobbed against his damp chest.

He went still above her and she turned her face away, desperately not wanting to see what was sure to be the look of pity in his eyes.

“Ilara. Look at me, sweet.”

She sobbed. “I can’t.”

“You can and you will,” he demanded, taking her face in his hands. “Did you mean it?”

“Yes,” she said miserably.

“Good,” he said, using his thumbs to swipe at the tears coursing down her cheeks. “It’s nice to know I’m not in this thing alone.”

“You…you feel the same?”

He laughed, kissing the tip of her nose. “You’re surprised that I do?”

Ilara frowned. “Then say it.”

“I love you,” he said, his cock going hard inside her.

“Again,” she demanded as he drew back and thrust into her.

“I love you.” The com monitor chimed, and he groaned at the sound of Solae O’bora’s voice announcing their imminent arrival. He reached over Ilara’s head and activated the com, acknowledging the woman’s message, then kissed Ilara. “To be continued.”

* * * * * *

“Kei!” Solae shrieked as he opened the door.

Ilara watched as the notorious bounty hunter launched herself at Kei, throwing her arms around his neck. The big gladiator reciprocated, hugging her tightly as he swung her around. From the look on Asirian’s face, he didn’t appreciate the intimacy any more than Ilara did.

Kei set Solae on her feet. “Asirian,” he said, offering his hand.

“Rewu,” the mercenary acknowledged, shaking hands with his rival.

Ilara hovered in the background, awkward in the formfitting dress she’d chosen, hating every moment of the reunion, wishing she could sneak back upstairs and hide in the bedroom. She hated that too, because she’d never been a coward, no matter how difficult the task she had to face. She was only slightly taken aback when she caught Asirian studying her intently, then relaxed when the celebrated mercenary gave her a wink. So, he wasn’t as hard as his reputation suggested. He stepped around his wife and smiled.

“I’m Raav Asirian,” he said, taking Ilara’s hand. “You must be Ilara.” He cast an amused glace over his shoulder at his wife. “You’ll have to excuse them; they’ve been friends for years.” He brought the hand he was holding to his mouth for a quick brush of his lips, and Ilara could barely contain a shiver of pleasure as his gaze swept leisurely over her body.

“Hands off my woman, Asirian,” Kei protested, but he was smiling fondly at Ilara.

Raav snorted. “Why should I, when you’ve got yours all over mine?”

“I know yours,” Kei pointed out.

“Yes,” Raav said, running a hand down Ilara’s back. “And now I know yours.”

Ilara laughed and stepped away from Asirian’s grasp, then looked at Solae. “I’m Ilara. Thank you both for coming.” She took a step back as Solae approached, focusing her attention on Ilara.

“You’ve gained some weight since I saw you on-screen,” Solae said, studying her intently. “Yet you still have a waiflike beauty that’s very unique. How old are you?”

Ilara was taken aback by Solae’s bold assessment and equally bold question. “I’m not sure. Near as I can tell, I should be around twenty.” She folded her arms under her breasts and gave Solae a once-over from head to toe. “You look a lot more…matronly…in person than you do in the pictures Kei used to have sitting around. How old are you?”

From the horrified look on the two men’s faces, the last thing Ilara expected was Solae’s delighted laugh. “Oh my, you are going to keep Kei on his toes, aren’t you?” She stepped across the invisible breach and shocked Ilara by hugging her and whispering, “I’m so glad he’s found someone to love.”

Kei cleared his throat. “Ilara, why don’t you show Solae and Raav to their room while I fix us some food? Then we can all sit down and discuss the best way to approach our problem.”

“Nonsense,” Solae said. “I know my way around. The room overlooking the garden, right? The one with the balcony.”

“You always liked the view from that room,” Kei said with a nod.

“That I did,” Solae said, turning to her husband. “And wait until you see the tub. We could practically swim laps in the thing.”

Raav chuckled and swatted Solae’s ass as they started for the stairs. “I like the sound of that.” He cocked an eyebrow at Kei. “Cook slowly, Rewu.”

“So, what did you think of them?” Kei asked when the couple disappeared up the stairs.

Ilara shrugged. “I liked them. They aren’t as fierce as I imagined.”

“Don’t let their good manners fool you, they’re both deadly opponents in their own right, but together, there’s no beating them. With them behind us, we’ll stop Caldur and Zarun, and we’ll find the missing children.”

“If they’re alive,” Ilara said with a sigh. “I’m afraid it may be too late for some of them.”

Kei pulled her into his embrace and kissed the top of her head. “We’ll help the ones we can, Ilara, and do our best to get justice for those who didn’t make it.”

Ilara’s arms tightened around his waist. “Thank you. And thank the stars above for bringing you to me, for making you love me.”

Kei laughed softly. “The stars didn’t do that, Ilara, you did.” He leaned down and kissed her, long and deep. “Now, if I remember correctly, Solae is a championship eater, so we’d best get busy.”

She pulled away from him and walked to the refrigerator, then peeked inside. “And what was her favorite thing to eat?” Ilara asked, pausing to look over her shoulder. “Besides you that is.”

“Just grab the box of eggs and some fresh vegetables,” he said, laughing. But the laughter died in his throat as Ilara bent over to rummage in the crisper. “Exactly what are you wearing under that dress, my love?”

“Why, exactly nothing, gladiator. Exactly as you ordered.”

“Good girl.” He was behind her in a heartbeat, lifting her off her feet and carrying her into the pantry. Suffering gods, would he never get enough of her? He bent her over the counter and kicked her legs apart, growling, “I’m going to fuck you now, Ilara, and I don’t care if you come or not.” He slid his fingers between her legs to find her wet and ready. He uttered a strangled noise as he positioned his cock against her moist lips. “You’re wet. For him or me?” He didn’t wait for an answer but thrust deep.

Ilara cried out as he drove into her. “For you!” she shouted. “Only for you, Kei.” He grasped the edge of the counter for support and drove into her as she levered herself back, meeting each thrust. “Yes, yes…fuck me…yours…”

“Ah,” Kei said, understanding. He slowed his pace, giving her long, slow thrusts, screwing his cock into her. “You’re mine, yes.” He pulled back and drove deep. “I’m yours, always. No one else’s. No regrets.” He let go of the counter and slid one arm down to lift her leg high. “Now,” he said. “Hang on tight, little thief, because I’m about to fuck you senseless.” He drilled his cock into her hard and fast, amazed when he felt her pussy clench and spasm around him. She was coming right along with him. He rammed balls-deep, roaring as he emptied his seed into her.

He eased her leg to the floor and leaned over her, nuzzling her neck. “Solae is my past,” he whispered. “You are my future, Ilara. Now, go upstairs and put on some panties. You’re to wear them as long as Asirian is here, is that clear?”

“Crystal.” Ilara giggled. “But you have to get off me first, gladiator.”

“Mmm, yeah, I hate when that happens. If it were possible, I’d carry you around impaled on my cock from dusk to dawn.”

Voices from the kitchen drifted through the door. “All right, you two, that’ll be enough of that. Your guests are hungry.” They hurriedly fixed their clothes just as the doorknob turned and Solae stepped into the pantry. “You,” she said, pointing at Ilara. “My husband tells me you aren’t wearing any panties. Fix that.”

Chapter Eleven

Brunch consisted of an egg pie filled with vegetables and some kind of sausage Ilara didn’t recognize, plus a variety of fresh fruit, and orange juice. They gathered at the kitchen bar, eating and talking of their various exploits until Ilara began to feel more at ease in the intimidating company.

“So tell me about these children of yours,” Solae said to Ilara.

Ilara swallowed a bite of pie and washed it down with juice. “Most of them come from poor families in Toru City, the children of stoners and prostitutes. Their fathers have long since left the families behind, and the mums simply abandon them. Others we’ve picked up on Cyntur-Rho, wandering the streets in search of whichever parent left them there. Again, it’s usually a mum working the clubs as a prostitute. That’s how I found Leonis. He was five or six at the time, some old sod was trying to lead him off. I figured he’d be safer with me than his mum, so I brought him back here. We take in as many as we can, feed and clothe them, teach them how to pick pockets.”

“And you think that’s an appropriate way for them to make a living?”

“Solae…” Kei cut in, but Ilara held up her hand to quiet him.

“No, I don’t think it’s an appropriate way for them to make a living,” Ilara answered, her stern Brit accent in evidence. “But it beats the institutions the government commits them to. I was forced into that system when my mum died, and I was brutalized more times than I can count in the so-called loving home environments.”

Ilara’s hand shook as she picked up her glass, swallowed more juice. “I was around nine years old when I was raped the first time, by one of my loving surrogate fathers. Since he set the example, the older boys in the house thought it was a fine idea to use me too.”

She rolled her shoulders, trying to ease the tension of talking about her childhood. The sickness rolling in her stomach was unexpected. After all, it had happened so many years ago, and she’d talked about it before without feeling this way. Still, she felt safe here, in Kei’s home, where she’d received nothing but unconditional acceptance for who she was. Clearing her throat, Ilara continued. “When I complained to the authorities, I was removed from the home and placed in a school for troubled children. Nothing happened to the surrogate, but the kids in the school stole everything I owned. The scars from the beatings have faded, but I remember every one of them. I escaped from the school when they took us to a children’s carnival on Cyntur-Rho. I was eleven.

“So, no, I don’t think teaching them to steal is the answer, but until some other solution presents itself, it’s better than the alternative.” She paused a moment and gave Solae a hard look. “That surrogate? His family still takes in kids. I see him on the street sometimes. He doesn’t recognize me, of course, but I know him, and sometimes I think about killing him.”

Solae placed her hand over Ilara’s fisted one. “I know the feeling well. So we need a plan. As you mentioned earlier, I’m too old to pass for a teenage girl at one of these clubs, but you’re not.”

Kei’s hand slammed down on the counter, startling the two women. “Absolutely not.” His face flushed with anger. “Commander Zarun now knows Ilara is a woman. If she shows her face in any of those clubs and he’s around, he’ll stop at nothing to get at her.”

“But…” Ilara began, but Kei was on his feet, leaning toward her, palms flat on the counter.

“I forbid it.” He glared at Ilara, then at Solae. “She will not be used as bait, Solae.” His gaze swiveled back to Ilara. “You will not buck my decision on this, Ilara. You set one foot in any of those places and I will blister your backside until you’re forced to eat your meals standing for a month.”

Ilara gritted her teeth and glared at Kei. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m not some helpless child. I’ve bloody well survived a long time without a nursemaid.”

“All right. We’ll find another way,” Solae said calmly. “You have a tournament on Cyntur-Rho soon, don’t you?” She turned to Ilara. “You have to learn to pick your battles, darling. Kei’s right, and even if he weren’t it would do no good to argue with him.”

Kei nodded in agreement. “Next week,” he said tersely. He looked at Ilara. “You’ll be coming with me so I can keep an eye on you.”

* * * * * *

The crowd at Galaxy Arena wasn’t at overflow capacity, as it had been with the death match months earlier, but most of the stadium seats were filled. Kei had a loyal following so the place was packed. At first, Ilara thought she would have a difficult time escaping the eagle eyes of her guards, but with all those people milling around, it would be fairly easy to slip away. She even knew where she would go for help with disguising herself. One of the many adventures Solae had told her about included a man named Alucard Ushan, a former bounty turned respectable business owner, if owning a strip club could be called respectable. Still, the man had a back room full of costumes she could utilize and silicon hair coloring to change the shade. Once she ditched her watchdogs, she’d head to the Open Flask and throw herself on Ushan’s mercy.

Ilara paced the length of Kei’s dressing room, waiting for the tournament to start. Just before he left the room, he’d gathered her in his arms and kissed her breathless, adding a stinging smack to her backside for good measure.

“Remember what I said, Ilara.” Then he’d set her away and strode from the room to face his next opponent.

She smiled when she heard the roar of the crowd and hurried to the door. Opening it, her face fell. The bastard had posted a guard outside.

“Did you need something?” the man politely asked.

“I just wanted to go watch the tournament.”

He nodded. “Just turn on the video screen on the far wall and you’ll be able to watch in comfort. There’s a replicator in the snack area if you’re hungry.”

Ilara nodded, clenching her teeth, and slammed the door in the guard’s face. “Well,” she muttered to herself. “As my mum used to say, there’s more than one way to skin a cat.”

Luck was her angel today. The bathroom had an actual window that opened. Unfortunately, it was a good twelve feet above the floor. What to do? Looking around, she spied Kei’s satin robe. It would be possible to use the belt to create a rope, if she could find something else to add to it to give it some length. In the far corner, she spied what looked like a pile of old computer units. Upon further inspection, she uncovered several lengths of cable that might do the trick.

The process took longer than she would have liked, but Ilara managed to strip the plugs off the cables and wire them together, wrapping them tightly. Lord, she hoped they held. Her weight was significantly more than when Kei had taken her into his home, and a twelve-foot drop would hurt like hell if the cable gave way. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she tossed the weighted end of the cable into the air…and missed the window lever completely.

Several tries later, the cable landed across the lever and Ilara was able to maneuver it so that it wrapped around the sturdy metal handle. She gave it a sharp tug, and the catch released, allowing the window to open with a bang as it bounced off the wall. The noise made her cringe. What if the guard heard it? She held her breath, waiting, but he didn’t come in.

Now came the hard part. Ilara pulled on the cable, testing it with her weight. Once again, her luck held, and she hoisted herself up the slim cable until she reached the open window. She shimmied herself through, then dropped lightly to the ground. There was no way she could reach the window to pull it shut, and she hoped the guard wouldn’t get in too much trouble for letting her get away. Moments later, she melted into the crowd and headed for the exit. She knew exactly where she was going and the quickest way to get there.

The Open Flask sat on the border between the classy establishments and the seedier clubs that catered to the lower classes. Ilara pushed through the door, squinting through the dim light in search of the owner. He was behind the bar, just as Solae had described him, tall and well built with hair the color of burnished iron.

“You looking for work, pet?” Alucard Ushan asked, giving Ilara the once-over.

She shook her head. “No. I’m looking for someone, and my friend Solae said you’d be the man to ask.”

Ushan raised an eyebrow. “Solae O’bora?” He smiled. “How’s she doing? I haven’t seen her on Cyntur-Rho since she brought in the pirate, Yega.”

“She’s doing fine. Married the mercenary, Asirian.”

“And do you have a man, love?” He gave her a dubious look and set his rag aside. “You don’t look old enough.”

Ilara smiled. “Looks can be deceiving, Ushan. I’m Kei Rewu’s woman.” That surprised him all right.

“I’d heard he’d taken up with a woman. So, what can I do for Solae’s friend?”

Ilara bit her lip. She was crossing a line here, and Kei would be furious with her. “I’m looking for a young girl. She was abducted from Toru City, and I believe whoever took her has her working the area around Barely Legal. I need a disguise, one that will get me inside the club without anyone recognizing me. Solae said you might be able to help me with that.”

Alucard Ushan folded his muscular arms over his chest. “Did she now? And what’s to prevent Rewu from coming in here and kicking my ass if I help you?”

Ilara’s expression was grim. “If he kicks anyone’s ass, it’ll be mine. Besides, he doesn’t need to know where I got the disguise. I’ll simply tell him I stole it.”

Ushan laughed. “In the back, behind the curtain. I’d go red if I were you.”

Ilara grinned. “Thank you, Ushan. I’ll bring the clothes back when I’m done.”

“Just go out the back door. If anyone asks, I’ll deny you were ever here.”

Once in the back, Ilara looked over the selection of costumes with a critical eye. Most were too revealing, catering to an audience with a preference for women, not girls. There were, however, a few that would pass muster. She selected a short pink dress with puffed sleeves and an empire waistline. Paired with white knee socks and black buckle shoes, she guessed she could pass for an adolescent girl.

The red, silicon-based hair color went on like a gel, and she brushed it through her hair, which she then twisted into dual braids. She grinned at her reflection in the big mirror. The hairstyle knocked off another couple of years and she figured she’d look about fourteen to some horny bastard with a taste for young girls. She stuffed her clothes in a duffel and pushed out the back door. She’d have to hurry because she figured Ushan was probably on the com with Solae O’bora, filling his friend in on Ilara’s plans. Which meant she had a limited amount of time to accomplish what she needed to do. The door closed behind her, and Ilara walked around the building and headed down the street to the seedier part of town.

Twilight turned the landscape gray, and Ilara imagined it was a perfect match for the faces of the people who cruised this particular neighborhood. The very air she breathed felt thick with despair and secrets. Young girls stood on the corners or strolled up and down the sidewalks, expressions hollow and listless. Their eyes no longer held the spark of humanity. Had Athara already met a similar fate? Was she even alive?

She approached a tiny blonde with sunken eyes. “Do you know a girl called Athara?” The girl just looked at her and shrugged. “She would be about your age. Dark brown hair, blue eyes, a little scar on her chin.”

“That’s Shiree,” the blonde said. “I haven’t seen her for a few days. Last I saw her, she had a date with a security guy.”

Ilara shuddered. “This security guy, what’d he look like?”

“Big guy, big belly, sweated a lot.”

“Crooked front teeth that look like he hasn’t tended them in years?”

The girl nodded. “That’s the one. I been with him before. He likes to hurt the girls. Likes to hear them cry. Shiree hasn’t been back since she went off with him. Probably won’t be either. Some of them don’t come back when they go with him.”

“Then why go with him?”

The girl shrugged and jerked her head toward the entrance to Barely Legal. “Boss inside chooses. We got no choice. Shiree, she’s mouthy. The boss sends the mouthy ones with assholes like that security fellow. He usually beats it out of them. The ones he can’t, they don’t come back.”

The blonde girl took a step back. “The boss is watchin’. You gotta go before you earn me a lickin’. Sorry about your friend.”

Ilara nodded and pasted a smile on her face, then turned to greet the manager of Barely Legal. “You got any openings for a dancer?” She forced herself not to gag when the man reached out and squeezed her breast.

“Small, but nice and firm. How old are you, girl?”

Ilara plastered a coy smile on her face. “I’m just the age the sign says, barely legal.”

He gestured toward the door. “Step inside. We’ll give you a trial run. The customers like you, we’ll talk a permanent gig. You wanna do more than dance, we’ll talk about that too.” The man ran his hand down her ass, testing each cheek. “Very nice. I can set you up with a list of clients who like underage pussy. Of course, I’d have to take you for a test drive first.”

Chapter Twelve

Kei had the security guard by the neck, the guard’s toes barely touching the floor as he interrogated him.

“Kei, darling,” Solae soothed. “The man can’t answer your questions with your shovel-sized hand around his neck.”

Kei blinked and choked down his anger. The guard sank to the floor, coughing. “Sorry,” Kei said. “But why didn’t you check the bathroom?”

“I’m sorry, sir. It never occurred to me she’d climb out the window. I mean, it’s twelve feet off the ground. A body’d have to be part monkey to do that. Besides, she seemed so ladylike and sweet.”

Kei, Solae, and Raav all snorted in unison. “I said she was trouble,” Solae pointed out, tapping her foot. “At least Alucard had the good sense to call me. Let’s go and get her.”

“I have a mind to beat her black and blue,” Kei grumbled.

Asirian clapped him on the back. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far, Rewu, but she obviously needs some discipline. I’d be happy to loan you my favorite paddle.”

Kei stopped and swiveled to look from Raav to Solae. “You’re kidding.”

Raav patted Solae’s bottom. “Not at all. My wife can be a very bad girl, can’t you, darling?” When she nodded and smiled, he turned back to Kei. “It adds a certain…element…to a relationship while getting your point across quite nicely. Only way to control an unruly female.”

“Suffering gods,” Kei muttered, going hard at the thought. “I still want to wring her damn neck.”

“Well, let’s go get her first,” Solae said patiently. “Before she gets herself into some serious trouble.”

Solae grasped Kei’s arm when they arrived at Barely Legal. “Don’t create a scene when we get in there, okay? For all we know, she could have made some progress. Let’s not blow it, but let’s get her out as quickly as we can.” She turned to her husband. “Raav, if she’s working the place, see if you can get the manager to send her to a private room in the back. Pay him whatever it costs to make it happen.”

With a plan in place, the three of them stepped into the club, and Kei thought he might actually have a stroke. There on the stage, swinging around a brass pole, was the woman he loved. His breath caught in his throat. “Flaming mother,” he cursed softly, as Ilara leaped, wrapped a leg around the pole, and hung upside down. “I’m going to kill her.”

A quick scan of the room got him a glimpse of Mielak Caldur studiously observing her performance. It was all Kei could do to restrain the urge to kill the bastard. “Caldur’s here, behind the bar, watching her. I swear, she won’t sit for a week,” Kei growled, watching Ilara bump and grind against the pole. He sucked in a breath when she leaned over, waving her firm little ass in some pervert’s face. Asirian had to restrain him when said pervert tucked a bill into Ilara’s lacy panties and patted her butt.

He knew the moment she saw him. Her eyes widened slightly, but that was the only acknowledgment she gave him. He made his way to the stage and took a seat. She never missed a beat as she tilted her chin, offered a coy smile, and danced away from him.

Kei slumped in his chair, assuming a casual posture. Reaching into a pocket, he pulled out several bills, waving them at Ilara as she swung around the pole. She had no choice, she had to come to him, and she did, bold as brass, crawling to the edge of the stage. He went rock hard when she lifted her dress, slid her hands up her bare belly to her breasts. She took them in her hands, threw her head back, body undulating suggestively. When she thrust her pelvis toward him, he tucked a bill into her panties, pressing his middle finger against her clit through the pink silk. She hissed and he gave her a humorless smile. She was in damned big trouble and she knew it.

“Come closer, little girl,” he urged, holding up a large bill. “There’s plenty more where that came from, but I want to see what I’m paying for.”

He hadn’t thought she’d really do it, but she moved to the edge of the stage. With a little giggle, she dropped to her knees, legs spread. Sliding her hands down her body, she lifted her dress to show him her lacy pink panties again.

“Is this what you want, big guy?” she taunted, dipping her hands between her legs. “You just slip that bill anywhere you want, mister.”

So, she wanted to live dangerously, did she? Kei accepted the challenge and slid the neatly folded bill through one leg of her panties, tucking it between her pussy lips. He tugged on one braid until her face was close to his. “I’ll be removing that with my teeth later. Meet me in a private room,” he growled. He released her just as the music ended, relieved that he wouldn’t have to endure the sight of some pervert trying to put his hands on her.

At Solae’s signal, Kei got up and followed her to the private room where Asirian waited. “The manager’s going to send her in when she finishes this dance. Bastard charged me a thousand Alliance marks for a private dance.”

“You’ll get your money back, Asirian,” Kei growled. “But I’ll expect the two of you to leave us alone when she gets here.”

Solae shook her head. “No way in hell, my friend. You’re too angry. You can deal with her once you get her home.”

Kei gritted his teeth, then nodded. She was probably right. If Ilara mouthed off at him now, he might do something he’d regret later. He was having a difficult enough time with the whistles and catcalls that indicated Ilara’s routine was over. He took a deep breath and unclenched his fists. There would be hell to pay when they got back to Toru City.

When the door opened and Ilara stepped inside with her duffel, he took it from her and emptied the contents on the room’s small table. “Get out of that ridiculous costume and put on your own clothes.

Ilara gaped at him, then folded her arms over her chest, chin tilting defiantly. “In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re not alone in here.”

“You weren’t alone out there either, but that didn’t stop you from letting those men stuff money into your pussy.”

“I -- they did nothing of the sort!” she shrieked. “You’re the one who stuffed money in my crotch.” She jammed her hands on her hips and leaned forward, her face in his. “And you’re one to talk, Mr. Big-Time-Isn’t-My-Body-Brilliant-Gladiator. I’m not the one who goes around exposing my body to every slavering woman with eyes in her head! Do you think I haven’t seen them trying to lift that damned loincloth to get a peek at what’s beneath?”

Kei was dumbfounded that she had the gall to compare the two incidents. “I was working! It’s an occupational hazard.”

“So was I!” Ilara shoved him so hard he stumbled backward. “You’re just mad because I had the nerve to disobey one of your high-handed commands.”

“High-handed…” Kei sputtered. “I hope whatever you found out was worth what it’s going to cost you when we get home, little thief. Now, dress or I’ll do it for you.”

She straightened her shoulders and glared at him as she yanked the dress over her head and threw it in his face. “I’ll let you all be the judge of what I learned.” Reaching for her fluttery silk top, she drew it on, then started yanking bills out of the waistband of her lacy thong.

When she hooked her finger inside the leg, Kei barked, “Leave it. I told you I’d remove it myself.”

Ilara hissed. “Bastard.” But she left it where it was and pulled on her trousers. “Happy now?”

Kei snorted and quirked a finger at her. “Come here.” When she hesitated, he repeated himself. “I said come here, Ilara.”

She looked at Solae and Raav, both of whom held up their hands and stepped back. “Cowards,” she muttered, prompting a bark of laughter from Raav. She took a deep breath and went to Kei.

He pulled her onto his lap, locking his arm around her waist. “Sit while you can, Ilara, and tell us what you learned.”

Ilara sat, holding her body stiff, no doubt to keep from leaning against his supporting arm. His dick went hard, and he heard her soft gasp, but if she thought that would save her the spanking she so richly deserved, she’d better think again. “Talk, Ilara, before I turn you over my knee in front of Solae and Raav.”

She wriggled her ass until it was snug against his erection and gave him a smug smile. “I talked to a young girl outside who knew Athara. The manager changed her name to Shiree, according to this girl. She said Athara tended to be mouthy, and when the girls are mouthy, he gives them to Zarun for an attitude adjustment. She hasn’t seen Athara since Zarun took her away. Some of them don’t come back from their time with him, so it seems likely she’s dead.” At that, she slumped against Kei.

“I’m so sorry, Ilara,” Kei soothed, unraveling the braids to let her hair fall around her in a cascade of red curls.

“Me too,” she said, her voice cracking. “I should have done more to protect her.”

“You did all you could, love.” He set her on her feet. “Come now, let’s go home.” He took her hand and led her to the door. “You took a very dangerous chance coming here, Ilara. Caldur was here, watching you dance. He could have had someone take you out of here and we’d never have known where to find you.”

“That could be true, but I had to do something. I’m sorry --”

Kei cut her off with a chop of his hand. “Sorry for disobeying me, or sorry you got caught?”

“Not as sorry as she’s gonna be,” Solae muttered to her husband.

During the trip back to Toru City, the four of them talked about various approaches to penetrating the veil of secrecy surrounding the child sex trade in Toru City and on Cyntur-Rho.

“I think it’s time I call my old friend Magistrate Uhorru and see what passes for society in Toru City,” Solae mused. “Perhaps he can get Raav and me an invite to one of Caldur’s parties. If we can get inside his home, maybe we can search the place and find some kind of evidence against the bastard.”

“Wonderful idea, darling,” Raav said. “I haven’t seen you in a fancy party dress since we attended the embassy party to celebrate passage of the galactic tribunal legislation. I always enjoy seeing you in dress.”

Solae snorted. “You only like me in a dress because it offers instant access, Asirian.”

“That is true, my love. There’s nothing quite like the sight of your sweet ass framed by black silk.”

Solae laughed. “If you goose the thrusters on this chariot, I’ll put one on for you when we get back.”

Asirian chuckled and shoved the stick forward, prompting his wife to laugh as Cyntur-Rho disappeared behind them at subsonic speed.

* * * * * *

Ilara yelp as Kei dragged her up the stairs behind him. “Let go, damn you!” she yelled, attempting to yank her arm from his grasp. Rather than fight her, he simply dropped his arm around her waist and hauled her off her feet, carrying her like a recalcitrant child as her arms and legs flailed at him. To her everlasting mortification, he paused at the door and looked down the stairs at Solae and Raav.

“Good night, we’ll see you in the morning,” he said pleasantly, then stepped inside the room.

With a simple “door lock,” Ilara was trapped inside with him. When he set her on her feet, she shrieked in fury and lunged, hoping to scratch his eyes out. Treat her like a child, would he? Not in this lifetime. But he parried her move easily, brushing her away like a pesky mosquito, then calmly doffed his shirt and kicked off his boots.

She backed away, a gasp of outrage flying from her lips. “You don’t seriously think I’m going to let you touch me,” she spat.

Kei laughed and stalked her across the room. “Oh, I’m going to do more than touch you, Ilara. I’m going to paddle your cute little ass and then I’m going to fuck you speechless.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” she challenged, narrowing her eyes at him.

“Oh, I dare, my love. After the stunt you pulled tonight, I dare.”

He lunged at her, and she darted left, away from the bed, but she wasn’t fast enough. His fist closed around her shirt, and with a quick jerk, she was in his arms.

Ilara cursed and flailed as he hauled her across the room to the bed. “You bastard!” She swung her raised elbow back. He grunted and she was pretty sure she’d blackened his eye, but it did her no good. Almost before she could blink, she was facedown on the bed, and off came her trousers, panties and all.

“You son of a filthy, goat-fucking trog!” The curse earned her a sharp rap on the backside and she screeched in rage. The mattress tilted and then he unceremoniously hauled her across his lap.

“I told you what would happen if you disobeyed me, didn’t I?” When she didn’t answer, he gave another stinging swat. “Didn’t I?”

“Yes!” she shrieked, trying to lever herself off his lap.

“Suppose Caldur had gotten his hands on you?” Kei said conversationally. “Or worse, Zarun.”

“I said I was sorry,” she wailed, though she was pretty sure all her squalling wasn’t helping matters at all.

“And I told you I thought you were only sorry you’d been caught. You’re about to be sorrier, little one.” His hand came down on her bottom in a series of stinging swats… Whap, whap, whap…then he paused, caressing her throbbing flesh. “Now, that’s a pretty pink ass, my love.”

“Why you…!” She was about to spit out a series of inventive curses when that big hand came down on her upraised ass again. Whap…whap…whap…whap.

“That’s for displaying yourself to the perverts in that bar.” He smoothed his hand over her stinging ass, letting his fingers burrow between her cheeks. She moaned in humiliation at the wetness he found there. “Well, now, this is a surprise…you’re turned on.”

“N-no.” She tried to swallow a sob.

“Liar,” he said with a husky laugh. His fingers delved into her pussy. “Never again, Ilara. No man touches you but me.”

“No one,” she whispered as he stroked her.

“Good girl,” he purred, pulling out. “Now, I want you to move to the middle of the bed and get on your hands and knees.”

“Why --” She received another sharp smack on her tender bottom. She moaned and scrambled to do Kei’s bidding.

Chapter Thirteen

Ilara trembled as she waited on hands and knees for Kei. Moments later, he appeared by the side of the bed with a black velvet pillow.

“Now,” he said, sliding a thick bolster pillow beneath her tummy. “Lower your upper body to the mattress but keep your lovely, blushing ass in the air.”

Ilara groaned. Oh, Merlin’s whiskers, she knew what he was going to do and she wanted it, despite the fact that he’d just paddled her ass. She turned her head to watch as he pulled off his pants. Seraphim’s belt! Was it possible for him to be even bigger than he normally was. He leaned forward and gave her a light smack.

“Eyes forward, spread your legs.” He climbed on the bed behind her and knelt between her legs, taking her ass in his hands.

Oh bloody hell, the man was a magician. She nearly screamed as he traced the edges of her pussy with his thumbs.

“Mmm,” he murmured. “This is the prettiest pussy in the world, baby. Do you remember what else I told you I was going to do to you?”

She gasped as both thumbs dipped between her cunt lips, stroking slowly. “Yes.”

“Say it. Tell me what I’m going to do to you.”

Ilara took a ragged breath. “You’re going to fuck me speechless.”

“Good girl.” He rewarded her by spreading her cheeks and putting his mouth on her pussy.

“Oooh.” She gasped as he nibbled and licked. This was new. He’d never eaten her pussy from this position, and she shrieked when his tongue wandered to her perineum, then flicked the tiny rosebud of her ass.

“You like that too,” Kei said, then gently bit her bottom. “Do you trust me, baby?”

“I…yes, I trust you.” She inhaled sharply when his thumb drew the moisture from her core and spread it over the tiny opening. “Oh!” she squeaked as his thumb pressed inside. Her pussy contracted, pulsing wildly.

“I have a toy I’d like to try on you,” he whispered darkly, pressing his thumb deeper. “It’s no wider than my thumb, and you like that, right?”

“Yes.” She sighed. And she did like it, especially when he pressed his mouth against her pussy, sucking noisily as he tormented her ass. He gave her clit a good hard suck, then asked, “Do you want to try it? If you don’t like it, all you have to do is tell me and we’ll stop. But it’ll feel good, baby, that little toy in your ass and my cock buried in your pussy.”

Ilara hesitated. The one thing no one had ever done to her was fuck her ass, and the thought frightened her, even as it aroused her. But this was Kei, the man who loved her, whom she loved.

“It won’t hurt?”

“No, baby. There might be some initial discomfort, but it’s more pleasure than pain.” He leaned down and resumed feasting on her throbbing cunt as his thumb worked inside her.

“Oh, gods,” she moaned. “Yes, if it feels anywhere near as good as what you’re doing now, yes.”

“I promise it will.” He eased out of her, and a minute later, she felt something cool on her burning anus. “Just some lubricant to make it comfortable for you.”

Ilara’s breath hitched in her chest as something slick and hard probed her rear opening. The toy.

“Here it comes. You tell me if you want me to stop.” He stroked her bottom as the plug pressed past the tight anal opening and pushed inside.

Sweet shining stars. The long, narrow plug advanced slowly as Kei crooned words of encouragement.

“Oh, that’s so sexy. I wish you could see your sweet little ass spreading, opening to take it all in. I’m so hot for you, baby. I can’t wait to bury my dick in your hot pussy. And someday, when you’re ready, I’d love to fuck this pretty little hole too.”

Ilara could feel her cheeks heating with a scalding blush. He’d never talked to her this way before. Oh, they’d talked dirty, but not like this. The words, and the sound of his voice, were so erotic that her pussy was completely drenched.

At last, the plug was seated deep inside her ass. “Does it hurt?”

“No. It feels…exotic. Kei?”

“Yes, love?”

“Will you please fuck me now? I want you inside me so badly, I can hardly stand it.”

He laughed softly. “It will be my pleasure.”

Ilara moaned as the head of Kei’s cock parted the slippery folds of her pussy. She nearly groaned as he paused at the entrance of her core.

“Can you feel it? Can you how feel hot and hard I am for you, my love?”

“Yes,” she rasped. “Oh, please!” He gently bumped her clitoris with the head of his cock and Ilara cried out. “Oh, suffering gods, what are you doing to me?”

“I’m getting ready to fuck you, baby.” He teased her opening with tiny thrusts, withdrawing and thrusting, keeping one hand on her ass to keep her from pushing back against him. “Your pussy’s so pretty and pink. Do you want my cock inside you?”

“Yes!” she wailed, frustrated that he wouldn’t give her what she wanted.

“Do you want it bad?”

She panted. “Bad, Kei. I want it real bad.” He gave her an inch, thrusting slowly, in and out, but never giving her more. She was practically sobbing, her need for him was so great.

Ilara thought she might die if Kei didn’t fuck her. He’d taken her to heights unknown before, but nothing like this. Her body quivered and burned with desire. She wanted to fuck, needed to fuck. She wanted him to plow into her and take her with an animal frenzy. Always before she’d wanted him, but never like now. This was beyond anything she’d ever experienced.

He gave her another inch and she hissed. “More, I need more.”

“Then have more, my love.” He gave her more but still withheld complete penetration. “Is that good? Do you like how my cock feels inside you?”

“Yes, yes,” she said. “Oh gods, Kei, you’re killing me!”

“Well, we can’t have that, can we?” he teased, pulling out.

“Keiii!” Oh stars, if he left her like this she’d surely die. But then he was there, poised at her entrance, his hands on her hips.

“Now,” he rasped and buried himself balls-deep.

“Ye…oooh!” Ilara screamed as he drove into her, pumping his meaty cock hard and deep. She came, hard.

Oh gods, it felt so good -- he felt so good. She moaned as his hard length speared her. Over and over he drove into her, his strong hands on her hips, pulling her against him as he fucked her. Every time his hips collided with her bottom, he jostled the plug buried in her ass, adding a new level of sensation that drove her wild.

“Yes, yes! Give it to me,” she sobbed. “So good…so good.”

Ilara felt as though she would burst into flames. In the nearly two months she’d lived with Kei, he’d had her in almost every way a man could have a woman, but it had never been like this before.

“Again,” he demanded. “Come again, Ilara.”

“I can’t,” she wailed. “It’s too much…too much.” But her body didn’t believe her, and neither did the man riding her so hard and so deep.

“You will,” he growled and reached between her legs to pluck at her clit.

“Oh, flaming mother,” Ilara cried. She uttered a strangled cry as she came.

“Ah, fuck, yeah!” Kei roared as he rammed deep one last time. He held her tight against him, filling her with his essence.

Ilara groaned and stretched out on her stomach when Kei eased the bolster out from under her.

“Are you all right?” he asked. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“Not unless a person can die of orgasm overload.”

He reached for her, and Ilara let him drape her across his chest. “What you did tonight was very dangerous, Ilara, and I want your word it won’t happen again.”

Ilara sighed. She’d known they’d have to talk about it sooner or later, and she didn’t know how to tell him she couldn’t make such a promise. “I can’t do that, Kei. If one of the children is in trouble and comes to me, I can’t not try to help.”

“Damn it, woman --” He would have gone on a rant, but she placed her hand over his mouth.

“Hush for a moment. I can’t promise not to help when they need me, but I will promise not to take off without letting you know.” She replaced her hand with her mouth, kissing him long and slow. “You can’t keep me locked behind these walls forever, Kei. One of these days, I’m going to have to venture out on my own again.” She rested her forehead against his. “I’m used to taking care of myself, and I know how to stay safe.”

He sighed. “I just don’t want any harm to come to you.”

“I know, and I don’t want to get hurt. I’ve found something with you that I’d never hoped to experience. How could I ever have imagined a love like this existed? I never thought… But I’m still a wild thing, Kei, and you can’t keep me penned in forever.”

Kei rolled onto his side, taking her with him, snuggling her close in his arms. “You are a wild thing, little thief, and it won’t be forever. Just promise me that if you have to go somewhere, you’ll let me know. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go, baby.”

Ilara laughed softly. “Well, you certainly proved that tonight.”

“I guess I did, if your howling orgasms are any indication. Now, let’s get some sleep. We’ll talk about this more in the morning. If Solae’s plan works, we won’t have to worry about Zarun or Caldur very much longer.”

“Well, I hope they don’t get up too early,” Ilara said, uttering a jaw-cracking yawn. “Because you’ve worn me out.”

A loud cry echoed down the hallway and Kei laughed. “I don’t think we have to worry about them waking us up. Sounds like they’re still enjoying themselves.” He gave her a squeeze. “You liked it too, didn’t you?”

Ilara snorted. “What was your first clue?”

“Well, all that caterwauling was a pretty good sign. Sooo…you’d like to do it again?”

Ilara laughed and wiggled her bottom against him. “Suppose I disobey you again, real soon, and we’ll find out.”

His cock went hard. “Ilara,” he whispered, lifting her leg back across his hip. “Do you have one more in you?” He thrust, filling her.

“Always,” she moaned as he reached around her to stroke her clit. He took her hard and fast, making her come quickly, then followed her over. He was still inside her when they dropped off to sleep.

Chapter Fourteen

“What’s that smell?” Ilara asked, stepping out of the shower with Kei.

He raised his head and sniffed. “Coffee,” he said, smiling. “They’ve been to Earth.”

Ilara inhaled deeply. “It smells wonderful. Do you eat it? Does it taste good?”

Kei chuckled. “I take it your mother was a tea drinker.” He wrapped a towel around his waist and gave her bottom a light swat before heading into the bedroom. “It’s a drink, and a bit of an acquired taste. Taste tends toward bitterness unless you sweeten it and add milk.” When she followed him out, he leaned down and kissed her.

“Huh,” Ilara grunted and dried herself briskly. “What’s the point if you have to sweeten it and add milk to make it taste good?”

“I think it’s the caffeine. Solae and Raav swear by the stuff. I never much cared for it when she’d come to visit.” He tossed his towel on the bed and dressed quickly. “We’d better get downstairs. Solae isn’t known for her skills in the kitchen, and I’d like to eat something that hasn’t been burned to ashes.”

Sure enough, as they approached the kitchen, they heard Solae’s voice. “How do you turn this goddamned thing on?” Ilara grinned at the grim expression on Kei’s face when they heard a pan being slammed on the range top. “Why can’t he get a replicator like a normal person?”

“Where did you ever get the idea you were normal, darling?” Raav’s voice teased.

“I don’t have a replicator because I prefer to eat real food, darling,” Kei said, stepping into the kitchen. “Replicator food is fine for you barbarian types, but we civilized folk like to know exactly how our meals started their lives.”

Ilara giggled when Solae snorted in disgust and moved around to take a seat at the island bar. “By all means, cook away, my friend,” she said, giving Ilara a wink. “We cretins will just sit back and let you serve us.” She patted the seat beside her. “Come sit beside me, Ilara. I heard you screaming last night; the big brute hurt you?”

Ilara winced as she slid onto the barstool. “Er…um, no, he didn’t,” she said, feeling a flush rise in her cheeks. Surely, Solae didn’t expect her to discuss her sex life in front of the two men. She was way out of her element with the galaxy-hopping siren sitting beside her.

Solae patted her back. “Don’t worry,” she said as if reading Ilara’s mind. “You don’t have to give up the details. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. ”

Ilara grabbed the cup of coffee Kei had doctored and put in front of her. She took a huge gulp and nearly choked. “Bloody fucking hell!” she cursed. “What’s in this, acid?” She gaped at Solae. “Flaming mother, you actually pay for this stuff?”

Solae took the cup from her and took a sip, sighing. “I’ll have you know that’s premium stuff. Jamaican Blue Mountain, straight from the Caribbean islands on Earth.”

“And they’re welcome to it,” Ilara said, making a face. “I’ll stick to tea, thank you.”

Solae rolled her eyes. “How very British of you. Kei, make your girl a cup of tea. I don’t believe she has the palate for coffee.”

“You can say that again,” Ilara muttered, smiling at Kei as he handed her a cup of tea. She took a sip, then turned back to Solae. “So, tell me about this plan of yours. How can Magistrate Uhorru help us?”

Solae chuckled. “So, it’s right down to business, is it? No girl talk?”

“Yes, it is. And it’s not girl talk if the room is filled with big, strapping men.”

Raav laughed and kissed his wife’s cheek. “She’s got you there, darling.”

It was with no small sense of relief that the conversation turned to mission planning while Kei mixed up a batch of waffles for breakfast.

* * * * * *

“Stop worrying,” Kei told Ilara as they sat at the huge desk in his office later that evening. “Solae knows what she’s doing. She’s done this kind of thing hundreds of times. So has Asirian. If there’s evidence in that house, they’ll find it.”

Ilara shifted in her seat as they watched the wall monitor. “It’s very unnerving observing it unfold like this. Suppose something goes wrong? What if they get hurt? We’ll be sitting here watching it like it was one of your films.”

Kei lifted her onto his lap, smiling at her contented sigh as she snuggled against him. “Some of Asirian’s men are stationed close by, and they’re watching too. If anything goes wrong, help isn’t far away.”

They watched, intrigued, as the air taxi pulled up in front of a glass and steel mansion. Solae and Raav stepped out of the cab, pausing to look around as though fascinated with the landscaping.

The grounds were planted with mature trees, most of which twinkled with thousands of tiny white lights, giving them a magical air. Exotic birds, several of which Kei recognized as peacocks, strutted gracefully across the manicured lawns.

“Why, it looks like a fairyland,” Ilara said, awestruck. “How can someone who lives with such beauty be so ugly?”

Kei gave her a squeeze. “I wish I had an answer for you, love, but I don’t. All I can do is promise you that his next place of residence won’t be nearly so grand. Look, they’re going inside.”

As Solae and Raav climbed the stairs to the grand entrance, the doors were thrown open and Mielak Caldur himself greeted them.”

“Captain O’bora, Captain Asirian,” their host gushed. “I’m so pleased to meet you at last.” He took Solae’s hand and brought it to his lips. “You are even more lovely than your photographs, my dear.” He released her hand and turned to shake Raav’s. “You are a lucky man, Captain.”

Raav gave him a stiff bow and shook hands. “Indeed I am, sir. A circumstance my wife reminds me of on a daily basis.” He offered Solae his arm, and she took it, laughing softly.

“My husband is such a tease, sir. I only remind him once a week.” They followed Caldur into the grand hall. “And may I say, you have a wonderful home?” She uttered a wistful sigh. “I might consider settling down if I had a place like this to come home to.”

“I’m flattered you’d say so, my dear,” Caldur said, puffing up with pride. “Please feel free to look around. Perhaps you’d like the name of my architect. I know he’d love to have the distinction of building you your dream home.”

Solae smiled. “Why, I’d absolutely adore it if you would do that for us. How generous!” She turned in a full circle, noting every ingress and egress. “I don’t suppose…but no, I couldn’t ask it of you.”

“What, my dear, you have but to ask.”

“Well, I was going to ask if we could take a peek at your blueprints. I do so admire the layout of the place. Oh, and your landscaping is exquisite. Did you plan the grounds yourself?”

Caldur laughed, clearly charmed by the renowned bounty hunter. “Actually, I did, for the most part, but I had a designer draw up the plans for me. He’s the same fellow who’s responsible for the Toru City Botanical Park.”

“Oh my, I’ve been there. It’s stunning.”

Kei chuckled. “That’s a girl, pump him up. Look at him preen like a peacock. Solae O’bora wouldn’t know the inside of a botanical park if it bit her on the ass.”

After a few more moments of chitchat, Caldur left Solae and Raav to mingle and went back to greeting his guests, many of whom were still arriving. Taking two glasses of wine from a passing tray, Raav guided Solae onto the terrace.

“How are we coming through?” he asked, pushing a tiny button to activate his receiver.

“Loud and clear,” Kei answered. “Those lens cameras work better than I expected. We’re recording everything, so there’ll be lot of footage to go through, but better to have too much than not enough.” He chuckled. “I’d forgotten how adept you are at stroking the male ego, Solae darling. You had the bastard eating out of your hands.”

Solae smiled and looked into her husband’s eyes. “Yes, I do believe we’ll be invited to look at the blueprints for this monstrosity once the party gets rolling.” She draped an arm around Raav’s neck, plastering her body against his. “Time for a little make-out session, so it doesn’t look weird if we’re found someplace we don’t belong.”

“Excellent idea, darling,” Raav purred. “And where shall we start, hmm?”

Kei and Ilara exchanged amused glances when Raav winked for the camera.

Solae chuckled. “How about a kiss?”

“Ah, a kiss. Where, exactly?”

Solae gave him coy smile. “Why, you might start by kissing my ass, darling.”

Chapter Fifteen

Kei’s assessment of the amount of footage they’d have to go through was correct. Solae and Raav had been at the party for two hours before Caldur approached them with his architect in tow. They took another hour going over the blueprints and bullshitting the architect, convincing the man they’d contact him when they returned from a nonexistent mission.

As the evening grew later, and the guests became well oiled on their host’s liquor and food, the dancing started. In spite of himself, Kei was impressed with Asirian’s skill on the dance floor. He led Solae around the room, each of them taking the opportunity to scope out the placement of security cameras and personnel. When the music slowed down, Asirian pulled his wife close, blatantly caressing her ass. Kei watched, completely nonplussed. Whatever he’d felt for Solae was a thing of the past. He looked down at the woman dozing in his lap and felt a sense of contentment he’d never known before. They would expose the evil perpetrated by Caldur and Zarun. He would see Ilara and her beloved children made safe, and then he’d marry her. He drew her closer and closed his eyes.

Kei woke with a start and looked at the wall screen. Solae and Asirian had just breached Caldur’s office.

“We’re in,” she said as she crossed to the media cabinet. “You’re the expert hacker, darling. You check his computer while I go through his media files.”

Raav grinned, sat down at the desk, and cracked his knuckles. “Happy to, darling.” He fired up the computer, hands hovering over the keyboard. His fingers danced over the keys and then he smiled. “Not much security. Either he’s ignorant about security or he doesn’t think he has much to worry about. Let’s turn off the security cameras in this area, shall we?” With a few more keystrokes, he disabled the security in the office. “Rewu, split your screen so you can keep an eye on the hallway, will you? Let us know if anyone approaches.”

“Will do.” Kei shifted Ilara in his lap and tapped a couple of keys to display the hallway as well as the office. He heard Solae gasp. “What? Have you found something?”

“Digital recordings. There’s one here with Ilara’s friend’s name engraved on it.” She pulled the data chip from its storage slot, then inserted it into the display screen and hit Play. “Oh, suffering gods, Kei.”

Kei watched with horror as a young girl was brought into Caldur’s bedroom by Zarun himself. His gut clenched. “I can’t watch this, Solae. Turn it off before Ilara wakes. Can you get out of there with those chips?”

“Absolutely. We’ll take them all.” She turned to her husband and Kei saw a look of pure rage on Asirian’s face.

“He’s a dead man,” Asirian said through clenched teeth.

“That goes without saying, darling, but not tonight. Is there anything on that computer worth loading to your dataport?”

“Oh yes.” He plugged a data recorder into the computer and began the download. “Digital images too, much like what you were looking at. Rewu, shall I send these to the magistrate’s office?”

Kei smiled coldly. “Oh yes. To the magistrate’s office, to Galactic Security headquarters, and to the editor of the Toru Times. I want these bastards exposed to every news organization and governing agency available.”

Raav’s fingers flew. “Done. I also sent the files to my brother. He’ll make a point to have his men harass Caldur’s ships. I expect his men will be more than happy to wreak a little destruction in Caldur’s clubs too. Before we’re done with him, we’ll bleed his bank accounts dry.” He manipulated the keyboard once more. “There, I fixed it so he can’t delete these files in case he gets nervous. They’ll stay in a hidden file that only we’ll be able to access.”

“Someone’s coming up the stairs, you two get out of there,” Kei warned.

“On our way,” Asirian said, stuffing his recorder in his pocket. “Come along, darling, or we’ll soon have company. We’ll see you shortly, Rewu. We’re going to make our excuses to our host and head back. Best put on a pot of coffee, we’re going to be up late going through all this data.”

* * * * * *

Ilara paced the kitchen, anxiously awaiting the arrival of Solae and Raav. Kei had told her about the information they were bringing back, informing her that she would not be allowed to view the digital image chips Solae had stolen from Caldur’s office.

“Too traumatic,” she muttered under her breath. “I’ve had plenty of trauma in my life. I can handle anything Caldur and Zarun can dish out.” She glared at Kei, who stood at the kitchen counter watching her every move. “It’s not polite to stare, gladiator.”

“It’s not polite to mumble either, Ilara,” he said, coming around the island to catch her fisted hand in his. “I would save you the pain of seeing what those men did to your children, love. Can’t you understand that?”

Ilara sighed and stepped into his embrace. “I understand, but I have to know. Don’t you see?”

“Haven’t you had enough pain to deal with? Must you take on more?” His arms tightened as he held her. “What little I saw was not pretty, Ilara.”

“Very little in my life has been pretty, Kei, until you. If I can’t handle it, I’ll leave the room, all right?”

“All right. I don’t like it, but I’ll trust you to know your own limits.”

“Thank you,” she said, then turned as the front door opened. “They’re here.”

* * * * * *

The extent of Caldur and Zarun’s depravity was much worse than any of the four had imagined. Kei gripped Ilara’s hand as she sat stunned watching the two men train innocent children to prostitute themselves. They were so young, some as little as five and six years old. Not all of them were Ilara’s children, but there were plenty of them too, and she raged inside for each one.

Kei watched helplessly as Ilara pulled into herself. He could feel the walls he’d so patiently pulled down going up again, stronger this time, he was certain. Beside him, she uttered a strangled cry as a young, dark-haired girl appeared on-screen. Zarun shoved the child into a room dedicated to inflicting pain.

“Athara,” she moaned. She watched, stiff with rage as Zarun began to torment the girl, telling her what he and Caldur intended to do with her. “Oh holy gods! I can’t watch!” She raced out of the room.

Kei watched in horror as the two men donned shiny black headgear. Only their eyes and mouths showed through the masks. They stripped and Caldur crossed the room to adjust several cameras. Kei shuddered in horror when the man grinned at his partner and said, “Let the show begin.” He leaped to his feet. “I’ve got to see to Ilara.”

Solae stopped him with a gentle touch. “Let me. She won’t want to be touched by a man right now.”

“But that’s just what she needs, to feel the difference.”

“Not right now, Kei,” Solae said patiently. “She’s too raw. Let me go to her. You and Asirian look at the data. Find out if and when that abomination was distributed, and to whom. Snuff films are still illegal. We’ve got proof of both men’s culpability, now we need to follow the trail to their distribution network. If it’s the last thing we do, we’re going to shut this entire trade down and see everyone involved punished.”

“Those bastards are dead,” he snarled.

Asirian came up beside him and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Let Solae tend to your woman, my friend. You and I will put together enough evidence to shut this thing down; then we’ll go after those two bastards.” When Kei hesitated, Asirian squeezed his shoulder. “You can’t help her right now, Rewu. Concentrate on what needs to be done, and let Solae comfort the girl.”

Kei nodded. “I’m going to kill them with my bare hands. Before I’m done with them, they’ll beg for death.”

“I couldn’t agree more. Now, let’s upload the files from Caldur’s computer. He’s kept meticulous records, the stupid bastard. Evidently he felt safe enough that he didn’t bother to encrypt them.”

Kei stalked to the media cabinet and removed the digital images, carefully replacing them in the storage container. “We can put the files up on the screens in my office. I don’t want Ilara to see any more of this crude filth.”

Asirian nodded and followed Kei to his office. “Nice setup.” He handed Kei the data chips. “The file titled Inventory contains a list of all the children Zarun and that foster care asshole provided Caldur. It also contains what he paid for each unit, as he called them. We’ll hack into their financial records to verify the deposits. Both of them have off-world accounts on Toru Four, so I imagine that’s where we’ll find the financial history behind Caldur’s operation. The other file we need to look closely at is the one titled Distribution.”

Kei nodded and brought up both files, grimacing at the results. “Suffering gods, look at how many people he’s got doing his dirty work for him. There must be a dozen sources supplying the bastard with victims. This is worse than I ever imagined.” He went back to the file menu to read the contents and clicked on one called Target Images. A list of pictures appeared and Kei clicked on each one in turn, bringing up images of children Caldur wanted to add to his stable. “Son of a bitch.” A picture of a teenage boy and girl popped onto the screen. “It’s Leonis and Maras, the oldest of Ilara’s children. I know these kids, Asirian; they’ve been to my home, I’ve fed them and washed their clothes. Ilara will be beside herself. She loves those two like they were her own.” His shoulders slumped. “What am I saying? She loves them all like they were her own, but these two are special. She took Leonis in when he was six years old. He’s fifteen or sixteen now. What the hell am I going to do? If anything happens to these two, she might never recover.” He clicked on another picture and held his breath. Smiling out at him from the monitor was his beautiful Ilara.

Chapter Sixteen

Ilara lifted herself off the cool tiles of the bathroom floor at the quiet rap on the door. She knew without asking it was Solae. Only another woman would know what she was going through right now. She wiped the tears from her face. “Come in,” she said, her voice cracking.

Solae hunkered down beside her, looking her in the eye. “Ilara, you know what happened to my mother and sister, so you know that I’ve been where you are.” When Ilara nodded, she continued, “The way I see it, you can let what’s happened drag you under and ruin your life, or you can dry your tears and get to work making sure Caldur and Zarun pay for what they’ve done.”

Ilara blew her nose. “Kei isn’t going to want me anywhere near this, you know that.”

“I do know that, but ultimately it’s your decision.” Solae sat down beside her, draping an arm around her. “He’s a good man, and he loves you. He’d do anything in his power to protect you, to keep you safe. I’ve been the focus of his protective nature a time or two, and he can be pretty formidable, but he’s not unreasonable. My guess is he understands how important this is to you, and he’ll let you help, so long as you agree to certain protective measures.”

Ilara snorted. “He’ll try and lock me up like he did at the arena.”

“Raav and I won’t let that happen.” At Ilara’s skeptical look, she clarified. “Look, Zarun wants you, and I’m willing to bet Caldur does too, thanks to your little performance at Barely Legal. Kei will see the logic in your participation. He won’t like letting you put yourself out there, but using you as bait is a surefire way of luring one or both of them into our web. We just have to make Kei see things our way.”

“All right, but he’s going to be madder than a nucleohornet, and I’m in no mood to be paddled again.”

Solae laughed. “You really didn’t like it?”

Ilara gave her a casual shrug. “It was…stimulating, and what came after the spanking was damned intense.”

Solae stood and pulled Ilara to her feet. “Come on. The men are in Kei’s office making plans.”

As Ilara followed Solae down the hall, she found herself wishing she could be as tough and self-confident as Solae. The woman was a dynamo and beautiful to boot. She could see why men were drawn to her, why Kei had loved her. She sighed. No, she would never possess Solae O’bora’s self-confidence, but she could be tough. Taking a deep breath, she walked into the office and saw her picture and those of Leonis and Maras up on Kei’s wall screens.

“So, we’re to be next, are we?” she asked stomping to the desk. “Well, I say bring it on. If I was that easy to catch, Zarun would have had me long before now.” When Kei opened his mouth to speak, she cut him off with a gesture. “No, Kei. You don’t get to tell me what to do this time.”

He looked at her, eyes narrowed, and Ilara knew he was struggling to hold his tongue. When he took a deep breath and gave her a curt nod, she knew she’d won. She wouldn’t be made to sit back and let the others decide her fate or the fates of the children.

“I agree. But you’ll do exactly as you’re told, Ilara,” Kei warned. “I won’t have you running off on your own, getting yourself hurt, or worse. These men are not playing, and they will think nothing of killing you. I’m not about to let that happen. Are we clear?”

Her eyes widened with surprise at his agreement. “Crystal. Now what’s the plan?”

“Asirian’s already convinced me that you’re the key to this whole thing, much as I’d like it to be otherwise. Come sit with me and we’ll show you.”

Ilara laughed and rounded the desk. “You’re just looking for an excuse to get me on your lap, gladiator,” she teased, settling herself across his knees.

“Always, love, but we do have a pretty good plan mapped out. Asirian, dazzle our girls.”

Kei brought up a map of Toru City, and Asirian went to stand next to one of the large video screens.

“We thought the safest place to set up a meet would be in Founder’s Square,” Raav explained. “We’ll place men on the roofs of these buildings here.” He pointed to several buildings surrounding the square. “Solae, Kei, and I will be here, here, and here.” He pointed to three alleyways with three views of the massive fountain in the center of the square. “We’ll contact Caldur and Zarun, make arrangements for them to meet you by the fountain. We’ll let them know you have proof of what they’ve been doing and if they want that proof back, they’ll have to return the remaining children to you at an appointed time.”

Ilara nodded. “All right. What’s to keep them from sending in their own men to take me out?”

Raav chuckled. “Nanobots.” Seeing her confused look, he grinned and held out his hand. “Tiny little robots filled with sleeping gas. Solae and I will be touring the new police stations around the city, thanks to the magistrate. We’ll be dropping thousands of these little bugs, preprogrammed to release the gas and prevent Zarun from using his men. More of them will be deployed at Caldur’s place as well. He won’t be able to use his thugs.”

Ilara plucked the tiny robot out of his hand. “It looks rather like an ant, doesn’t it? And the sleeping potion won’t harm them?”

“Nope, they’ll just go to sleep.” He held up a black bodysuit much like those Solae often wore on missions. “This is the latest in body armor. Lightweight and comfortable but guaranteed to deflect all but the most lethal laser attacks. We figure they’re going to want you alive, so they won’t use full-power lasers, if they use them at all. It’s been our experience that men like Caldur and Zarun tend to underestimate a woman’s abilities.”

“And what happens once they bring the children into the square?”

“You’ll have some dummy disks in a small case. You’ll set the case on the edge of the fountain as the children approach you. Once they reach you, you’ll have to get them moving. Kei and a couple of my men will be waiting with several glide scooters. You’ll run to the alleyway and transport the children back to his place while we deal with Caldur and Zarun. If all goes as planned, they’ll be in custody before the sun rises on the morning of the mission. Any questions?”

Ilara shook her head. “None at all. Seems pretty cut and dry. When will you send Caldur the message?”

“In a day or so,” Asirian answered. “Kei and I are compiling more data for the galactic authorities. We want to present them with more than enough evidence so they’ll have to lock these guys up forever. As soon as they’re in custody, we’ll begin the raids on Caldur’s clubs. My brother should arrive on Cyntur-Rho any day now.”

Ilara sighed. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to thank you for what you’re doing.” She rested her head on Kei’s shoulder. “You either, gladiator.”

Kei stroked her hair. “Just promise me you’ll stick to the plan and stay safe. I intend to keep you around for a good long time.”

Ilara yawned and snuggled deeper into his body. “And I plan to be around for a long time.”

“Good. Then let’s get you to bed before you fall asleep in my lap.” He stood up, holding her in his arms. “Good night, you two. We’ll see you in the morning.”

“I’m not really sleepy, you know,” Ilara told Kei as he climbed the stairs.

He raised an eyebrow, giving her an amused look. “Is that right?”

“Yes. In fact, I’m so not sleepy that you’re going to have to think of a way to tire me out.”

He shifted his grip, tossing her over his shoulder. “Oh my love, I can think of infinite ways to tire you out.” She shrieked with laughter when he swatted her ass and took the stairs two at a time.

* * * * * *

Kei set Ilara on her feet in the middle of the room. What was he going to do with her? She was determined to put herself in harm’s way, and there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about it. Gods, she was a hardheaded wench! Thank the stars she’d agreed to the plan, and they could keep her as safe as possible in a situation like this.

Standing behind her, he fisted his fingers in her glorious hair, pulling her head back. His mouth hovered above hers, nearly touching. “I’m going to ride you hard tonight, little thief.”

“Yes,” she whispered, turning her head for his kiss.

His mouth crashed over hers, taking her in a ruthless, demanding kiss. Reaching around, he cupped a small, firm breast in his hand, tormenting the nipple until it stood at attention. Suffering gods, she was so responsive to his every touch, pressing her body back against his as he ate at her mouth, his hand skimming from her breast to the juncture of her thighs. He should be gentle with her tonight, considering what she’d witnessed, but somehow he didn’t know if he could. He needed her with a fierceness that tested his well-honed control. Wresting his mouth from hers, he took a step back.

“Turn around, Ilara.”

When she did as he demanded, his jaw clenched. The desire simmering in her deepened the violet of her eyes, and her lips were swollen from the ferocity of the kiss they’d shared. She was his match in every way, and he’d never wanted her more. He moved to the bed and sat down, removing his boots. “Take off your clothes, slowly.”

“Yes, Kei,” she said, her eyes smoldering. She toed off her sandals and kicked them across the room. He held himself in check, watching as she ran her hands over her breasts, to her hips, and caught the hem of her gauzy shirt.

Ever-so-slowly, she lifted the top, gasping as the fluttery hem danced across her distended nipples. She’d learned much over the months they’d been together, he thought, knowing just how to arouse him, her sultry movements poking at his carefully held control. She was a woman aware of her body and its effect on her man. She drew the pretty top over her head and tossed it aside. Of her own volition, she cupped her breasts and walked slowly to him, stopping to stand between his parted thighs.

Kei’s cock throbbed as Ilara leaned forward, offering her breasts to him.

“Take me in your mouth, gladiator.”

He groaned and sucked one berry red nipple between his lips. He slid his hands inside the waistband of the matching skirt, skimming it over her hips until the garments pooled at her feet. She kicked them aside and clutched at his hair, holding his mouth against her breast.

“I love you, Kei,” she breathed, tossing her head back as his teeth scraped each taut nipple.

His teeth closed over a nipple, biting down until she cried out. “Mine,” he growled. “All of you, every inch of this glorious body.”

“Yes,” she moaned, pushing him back on the bed. “I need to feel you. Under me, over me, inside me, everywhere. Starting here, with your cock in my mouth.”

Her fingers tugged at his breeches, and he lifted his hips to aid her as she yanked at them impatiently. She tossed them aside and leaned down.

“Holy mother of creation,” he cried hoarsely as she took him deep into her hot, moist mouth. With one hand stroking his balls and the other wrapped around the base of his cock, she sucked him with skill, uttering satisfied little growls each time his dick twitched and leaped.

Holy gods, her mouth was magic, so greedy and tight around his hard length. Her tongue licked, her teeth nibbled, and Kei thought he might just lose his mind as she continued to torment him. He lifted her hair so he could watch as his cock disappeared into the depths of her mouth as she took more and more of him.

“Ah, Ilara,” he groaned. “Stop love, I’m going to come.”

She released him for a moment. “But I want you to. I told you, I want all of you.”

Then she was over him again, sucking him deep, head bobbing up and down as she devoured him. He thrust his hips, driving his cock into her as his balls tightened. With a harsh cry, he arched, spilling into her mouth in hot, frantic gushes. He hooked his arms under hers and dragged her over him, kissing her deeply. There would be very little sleep for either of them tonight, for he could already feel his cock struggling to revive. She wanted all of him, everywhere, and that’s exactly what he intended to give her.

Easing farther up on the bed, Kei lifted Ilara until she straddled his head. “Hold on to the headboard, love,” he told her, then grasped her hips and pulled her down to his waiting mouth. A shocked “oh!” escaped her as he burrowed into her pussy, licking and nibbling until she writhed above him.

“Oh, Kei!” she cried, as his tongue stroked her swollen clit.

Yes, this was what he longed for -- Ilara’s responsive body quivering with the pleasure he brought her, and her moans of ecstasy as he brought her to climax after climax with his mouth. The cries of need his cock elicited from her as he thrust deep inside her tight sheath. He stroked her swollen flesh, sliding two fingers deep, relishing her cry of desire. She wriggled and squirmed as he fucked her with his fingers.

“Fuck me.” She panted. “Oh, Kei, I need you to fuck me.” She hunched against his mouth and fingers, unable to control the urge to mate. He stroked the sensitive rose of her anus, and she nearly screamed.

Kei growled against her pussy. He swiped his fingers through her gathering cream and pressed his thumb into her anus. She moaned, pressing against his thick thumb. “More?”

Ilara shuddered. “Yes,” she groaned. “Oh, yes.”

“Mmm,” he purred against her clit, and her body jerked above him. “Do you want the plug?”

“Yes!” she shouted. “Ah, gods, do it.”

Kei chuckled and opened a drawer built into the headboard, extracting an anal plug and an oily lubricant that warmed on contact. He coated the plug, then his thumb, and stroked the tender flesh of her ass, slipping his thumb inside once more.

“Now,” he said, his voice husky with need. “Now you’ll come for me, Ilara.” He thrust his thumb deep into the tender flesh of her anus and closed his lips over her clit.

Suffering gods, she was yowling like a feral cat! His thumb danced inside her tight little hole as he drew on her clit, sucking and licking the swollen bud as Ilara howled above him. He knew the moment she was ready to come, her body clenching tightly as his fingers and thumb drove deep one last time. She bucked and sobbed as an intense orgasm shook her to the core, her cream soaking his fingers.

Kei slid from beneath her and climbed to his knees. “Easy, love,” he crooned. He drew her back against him, kissing her shoulder, her neck, the curve of her ear. “We’re not done, Ilara.” He pressed his thick cock against her. “I’m going to fill your pussy with my flesh, little thief, but first, I have something special for this sweet ass.” She shuddered in his arms. “Now, I need you to bend over and rest on your elbows, put your tight little ass in the air for me.” He reached for the lubricant, coated his fingers, and stroked her tiny back entrance. His dick leaped in anticipation. “This one’s a bit larger, baby, to prepare you for my cock one day.”

Ilara sucked in a breath as Kei’s hands parted her buttocks. A finger stroked her anus, and she shivered with a dark anticipation. Never in her life would she have thought she’d actually want someone to take her in such a manner, but as Kei’s big finger slid into the tiny opening, desire snaked up her spine as it had done last night. He leaned over, nibbling on her cheeks, his silky hair brushing over her bare flesh like a thousand little lips. The finger probed deep, fucking in and out as her pussy wept. Flaming mother, if he didn’t fuck her soon she would lose her mind completely.

A groan escaped her as a second finger parted the tight anal ring. It stung a bit, but as the narrow tunnel became accustomed to the feeling, it ceased to hurt and began to feel…deeply arousing. As did the finger Kei had just applied to her clit. Oh, mother of us all, she needed to be fucked. When his fingers left her, she nearly cursed him. “Don’t. Don’t stop. Oh, steaming mother of lust, if you stop, I swear I’ll kill you!”

“I have no intention of stopping, my love,” his deep voice answered. “I’m going to slide this little toy into your tight ass, and then I’m going to fuck you. You want me to fuck you, don’t you, Ilara?”

Of course she did, was he crazy? “I -- Oh, gods’ blood.” She gasped as the plug spread her open.

“You’re going to be so tight when I put my cock in you,” Kei went on, pressing the toy deeper as he spoke. “I’ll enter you slow, so you can feel every inch of me stretching your pussy.” The toy moved inexorably deeper, opening her wider. “It’s going to hurt, I won’t lie to you, but it’ll feel good too. I’m told there’s a thin line between pleasure and pain, and we’re going to explore that line tonight.” He stroked her clit as the plug finally popped in completely.

Ilara moaned, overwhelmed with the dark pleasure that washed over her. Kei’s finger played in her pussy, dipping inside, then stroking her clit until her ass quivered with anticipation. His cock throbbed between her legs, waiting for a turn to glide into her. Gods, she wanted it so bad. “Kei,” she pleaded. “I need…”

“Yes,” he murmured, leaning over her, positioning his cock at her entrance. “Here I come.”

He was right, it did hurt, but at the same time, there was an underlying pleasure that outweighed the burning slide of his shaft as it slowly pressed against the walls of her vagina, stretching her until she felt she must surely burst.

“Oh, flaming mother,” Ilara moaned as he filled her with a final thrust.

He stopped, giving her a moment to adjust to the increased pressure of his cock and the plug. “Do you feel it, Ilara?” He eased back an inch and pushed in again. “I feel it. I feel the plug pressing against me, and your pussy holding me so tight I can barely stop myself from coming. I need to fuck you. I have to fuck you now.”

Ilara gasped as Kei withdrew and shoved back inside her. How was it possible for such bright pain to give so much pleasure? He was big, but with the plug in place he felt doubly so, and while there was a distinct burn, she wanted more. She wanted him to move inside her as he’d always done, hard and fast and so deep that he seemed to touch the very core of what made her a woman. She pressed back against him as he drove into her, and heard him groan.

“Yes, Ilara,” he rasped. “Take me. Take all of me. Fuck yourself on my cock.”

She cried out as he slammed into her, withdrew, and went deep again. “More,” she shouted. “Hard, Kei. Fuck me hard!”

With a feral growl, he grasped her hips and drove into her hard and fast, their bodies slamming together amid animalistic grunts of pleasure. She heard a voice shouting, “Fuck me,” and realized it was hers. Her body demanded all he could give her and gave all she had in return.

“Ah, gods’ balls, I’m going to come,” Ilara cried. “Oh, Kei, I can’t…”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her up against him so she straddled his thighs, taking him deeper still. She curved an arm around his neck, arching against his chest, sobbing as his cock pumped hard and deep. She clung to him, meeting every thrust with one of her own, crying out when his hands cupped her breasts, rolling her nipples between his fingers.

“Ooooh!” she howled, digging her fingers into his skin as she came.

“Marry me,” Kei growled; then his own release took him and he roared his satisfaction to the world.

Ilara couldn’t hold herself upright and fell forward on the bed, Kei following her down. Her body continued to tremble and little starbursts of pleasure washed over her as Kei stroked her skin. With a gentility that belied the violence of their coupling, he eased the plug out of her and tossed it aside.

“I meant it, you know,” he said softly, moving her hair aside to press a kiss to her damp shoulder. “When this is over, I want you to marry me.”

She sighed when he pulled her against him, cupping her breast. “Yes. When it’s over, I’ll marry you.” Yes, she thought, as her body sank into sleep. When it was over, she’d marry him. If she was still alive.

Chapter Seventeen

Three days after Solae and Raav’s adventure at Caldur’s party, Ilara’s communicator chimed. She reached for it, aware that three very anxious pairs of eyes were watching her every move.

“Don’t bother trying to record this, you little bitch,” the man said. “It’s jammed. We got your message, and you tell your watchdogs we’ve agreed to the meet and the terms. But I got news for you, little girl. Before I’m done with you, you’re going to beg for death.”

Ilara gritted her teeth when someone in the background cried out in pain.

“You’re going to be there for the exchange, right? You better not have made copies of the vids, bitch, or this is what will happen to you.”

Another anguished cry came across the line, and Ilara forced herself not to respond. The hand resting in her lap tightened into a fist, and she inhaled sharply.

“I’ll be there, and as for the copies, I guess you’ll just have to take my word for it, won’t you? But don’t worry too much, I’m at least as honest as you are, Zarun.”

“You’d better come alone, girl, or I’ll kill every motherless one of them before your eyes.”

She looked at Kei’s frowning face and forced a calm she didn’t feel. His expression told her he wasn’t happy that she was taunting Zarun. Solae and Raav, on the other hand, were grinning like proud parents. “Yes, just you and me, old man. Bring the children or the deal’s off.”

“Oh, I’ll be there with your worthless little band of thieves, girl.” He laughed. “But I’ll make the best of my last night with the little darlings. You can count on that.”

With a shaking hand, Ilara disconnected. “The signal was jammed, no recording. They’ve agreed to our terms. What time do we leave tonight?”

Kei looked at Raav. “As soon as the street crowds die down. We’ll stay on the back streets, stake out the square to make sure no one gets there before us.”

Ilara nodded, got up, and took a deep breath. “I…need some time to myself, if you don’t mind. I’m just going out to the garden.”

As she hurried from the room, she heard Solae say, “No. Let her go, Kei. She has no idea how many children we’ll be able to recover. She needs to mourn the lost ones.”

Mourn the lost ones. Yes, there was that, but mostly, she just needed to be alone. It would be over soon, and life as she knew it would never be the same. How could it be that her life, her choices, had come to affect so many people? When had she grown up and started making such momentous decisions? She stepped out into the garden and inhaled the heady scents of herbs and blooming flowers. The day she’d taken Leonis under her wing was the day she’d given up making selfish decisions. Somehow, one had grown into two, then two more, and more after that. She’d become a mother at the tender age of eleven and now, at twenty, there was nothing she wouldn’t do to save her children. She walked out onto the carpet of lush grass and stretched out, closing her eyes, but even the warmth of the sun’s rays couldn’t chase the chill of death from her bones. Zarun would pay for what he’d done, she’d see to it if it took her very last breath.

She lay that way for a long time, eyes closed, face to the sun, until she heard the door open and Solae’s voice called to her.

“It’s time, Ilara.”

“Already?”

“Yes.”

Ilara smiled, feeling the grip of Solae’s hand on hers. “I’m scared.”

Solae laughed softly. “You should be. I’d doubt your sanity if you weren’t, but it’ll be all right. We’ll be with you, and you know we’ve got mad skills when it comes to operations like this.”

Ilara sat up and faced her. “And Kei, does he have mad skills for operations like this?”

“Ah,” Solae said. “So that’s it. Yes, actually, and you’ve seen him fight. The man can protect himself.”

“But the people we’ll be confronting have no scruples. They’d kill us all without blinking an eye.” She took a deep breath, trying to contain the tremor in his voice. “I’m sorry I ever came here, Solae. Sorry he ever got involved with me. His life was so ordered, so serene, before I came along. My presence has…tainted that tranquility.”

She scowled at Solae’s bark of laughter. “You make him sound like some kind of monk. Has he never told you what he did before he became a gladiator?” Ilara shook her head. “He was a bounty hunter, darling, one of the best. That’s how we met. So, believe me, nothing about your life’s circumstances has shocked him.”

Ilara glided to her feet, scowling. “Why that sneaky bastard. Why didn’t he tell me?”

“The Shepherd and a former bounty hunter, and you with a price on your head. Is it any wonder?”

“I suppose not, but he’s still a right shit. He could have told me after he moved me in here,” Ilara huffed, then smiled. “But we have been a bit busy getting to know one another.”

“Yes,” Solae said dryly, hooking arms with Ilara. “It’s rather hard to miss that, what with all the caterwauling.”

Ilara snorted. “You’re one to talk. You and Raav are at one another like a bloody pair of hammock rabbits.”

Solae laughed. “Yes, we are, but you two certainly give us a run for our money.” She drew Ilara to a stop at the door. “Do you love him very much?”

“With every breath.”

“Good. Then don’t do anything foolish out there tonight, because it would devastate him if he lost you.”

Ilara nodded. “Don’t worry. I know exactly what I have to do, and I’ll do it.”

“All right then, let’s get our gear and get under way,” Solae said, pulling the door open. “We need to be in place before Caldur and Zarun send out their recon thugs.”

“You think they’ll do that?”

“Absolutely, and if they spot us before the meet, we’re in deep shit. You’re right about these men. They’d kill us all and wallow in our blood.”

* * * * * *

Ilara dressed quickly, donning a lightweight, armored bodysuit similar to what Solae wore, then hurried down to Kei’s office, where everyone was waiting for her. She met Kei’s worried eyes with a confident smile.

“Don’t worry, gladiator, I’ll behave myself,” she chirped.

Kei chuckled. “Now, why don’t I believe that?” He gave her a stern look. “Seriously, Ilara, no funny stuff or there’ll be hell to pay.”

Ilara nodded as Asirian motioned to her. “Here’s an equipment belt for you. I’m only giving you the basics.” He strapped the belt to her waist and held up each item as he secured it. “Beam knife.” He held up a small, black-handled knife with a red button above the grip. “It’s just a regular knife until you press this button; then all you need to do is swipe it in an arc and it’ll slice through a man like butter, but it’s an up-close weapon, not much reach.

“Stunner baton, just like the security force uses. You get close enough to touch someone with this, it’ll scramble their brains long enough for you to restrain them.” Next, he held up an odd-looking pistol with a wide barrel. “And speaking of restraints, a multiload restrainer with shocker feature. If you have more than one man coming at you, just point it in their direction and pull the trigger. It shoots out a thin titanium net -- looks like a spiderweb -- that traps your enemies and gives them a nice little zap to subdue them.”

Ilara gaped at him. “You call this basic equipment?”

Raav shot her a grin. “Absolutely. The rest of us have toxin guns with glow darts, handheld shocker cannons with blinder ordinance, and military-grade laser pistols -- in addition to what you have.”

“Gods’ balls,” Ilara said, impressed with the array of weaponry at their disposal. “You don’t muck about, do you?”

Raav’s mouth tightened into a straight line. “Not with these bastards.” On impulse, Ilara threw her arms around him. “Thank you,” she rasped. “Oh, thank you for wanting to help.” She stepped away, embarrassed by her emotion.

Asirian tipped her chin up with his index finger. “No need, little one. It’s our privilege to bring those kids some justice.” He gave her a wink and turned to Kei. “We’re just about set. One more look at the layout and we can go.”

Ilara took a deep breath. “I’ll go ready the glides.”

“Ilara,” Kei said, following her to the door. “What’s wrong?”

She reached up and touched his cheek. “Just nerves, I guess. If anything were to happen to you…”

He leaned down and lifted her up, kissing her gently. “Nothing’s going to happen to me, little thief. We’ll get the kids back and put these bastards out of business permanently. Trust me.”

“I do. I trust you, Kei, and I love you…so much. No matter the outcome, you’ve made my life so much more than I ever imagined it might be.”

He kissed her again, then set her on her feet and gave her a gentle nudge. “Go get the glides ready.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, snapping a jaunty salute. When he laughed and turned back to Solae and Raav, she headed outside.

He kept the ultra-glide scooters in a small storage unit beyond the rose garden. She opened the doors to the shed and unclipped each of the scooters and guided them outside.

She heard a frightened cry and turned to see a young child drop from the back wall and hit the ground hard. He couldn’t have been more than four years old and was obviously frightened.

“What’s this?” she asked, hurrying to him. “Are you hurt? How did you get over the wall?”

The boy picked himself up and dusted himself off. “The bad man put me over,” the boy said. He extracted a ribbon-tied box from his jacket pocket. “He said I was to make sure the Shepherd got this.” He looked at her finger and nodded. “He said you’d have the mark on your finger.” He handed her the box.

A sense of foreboding skittered up her spine as she took the box and untied the ribbon. After opening it, she folded back the red-stained tissue paper and gasped in horror. Inside the box was a severed finger with a jagged scar marring the tattoo. It could only belong to Leonis.

“Oh, suffering gods,” she sobbed. “What have they done to you, my baby? What have they done?” A piece of plastic poked out from the wrapping and she pulled it free to read the note tucked inside:

I have something you want. Meet me at the old school and you can save his life. If you don’t come alone, the boy dies. It was signed, Zarun.

From over the fence she heard a voice. “He says come alone, girl, and come fast.” Footsteps hurried away before she could respond.

Ilara knelt in front of the little boy. “What’s your name, darling?”

“Garr, miss. Are you really the Shepherd?”

“I really am,” she said, smiling tenderly.

“Can I stay with you?”

Ilara hugged the boy. “You certainly may,” she said, then held him away from her. “But right now, I have to go somewhere on one of those scooters.” She picked him up and set him on one of the glides. “What I need you to do is stay right here until I’m gone, okay? Then knock on the door, go inside, and give this package to whomever you see, all right? You tell them I had to go help someone and that they’re to take you inside and give you something to eat. Tell them that you’re a big boy, and you can stay in the nice house by yourself until they come home. Okay? And tell the big man with the black hair I said to hurry. Can you remember all that?”

“Yes. Give them the package and tell them I’m a big boy and I can stay here until you come back. The big man should hurry.”

“That’s right. Now, you stay right here until someone comes out, okay?”

The boy nodded and she gave him a fierce hug. “You’re a good boy. I’ll be back, I promise.”

Ilara straightened, took a deep breath, and climbed on a glide cycle, engaging the GPS.

* * * * * *

Kei shook his head. “There’s a small alcove in the clock tower,” he told Asirian. “The repairmen use it when they need to work on the mechanism. It’s the perfect hidey-hole for your best sniper. He’ll have a clear shot at anything that moves, and anyone thinking to use the fountain for cover would be pinned down, caught in the crossfire.”

“How did you know about this place?” Solae asked, an amused expression on her face.

“My father built it. When I was a boy, I’d take girls up there to make out.”

She snorted. “Typical.” Looking at the clock on his desk, she frowned. “I wonder what’s taking Ilara so long. I’d better go check on her.”

The two men nodded absently and went back to studying their layout, debating last-minute changes. Kei looked up when she rushed back in, breathless, small boy in tow.

“She’s gone!” Solae exclaimed, handing Kei the box and the note. “Tell them what she said, darling.”

The boy held up his fingers as he ticked off Ilara’s instructions. “The Shepherd said I was to give you the box and tell you I’m to stay here while you’re gone. She said she had to go help someone and to tell the dark-haired man to hurry.” He continued to hold up one finger, his little faced scrunched in concentration, then he grinned. “Oh, and she said I could have something to eat.” As if on cue, his little stomach growled. “I haven’t eaten in a long time.”

“Solae, could you?” Kei’s heart thumped, and he swore he could feel the blood draining from his face. His fingers shook as he read the note, then opened the box. He uttered a strangled cry as Solae led the boy from the room.

“He’s got Leonis. If he’s killed that boy, Ilara will lose her mind. I’ve got to find her.”

Raav nodded. “Do your glides have GPS nav?”

“Yes!” Kei exclaimed, jumping to his feet. He strapped on his equipment belt and put his hand on Raav’s shoulder. “Settle the child in and follow through with the plan. I’m going after Ilara.”

“I’m going with you,” she said, returning to hand the child to Raav. “She may need a woman.”

Chapter Eighteen

Ilara maneuvered through the darkness with unerring skill. These were her streets and she knew them as well as Zarun. Better really, because the big man was too afraid to venture into the threatening veil of silence that swallowed up these neighborhoods at night. There were no streetlights to guide the way, no clean streets or well-kept storefronts to give the illusion of safety. Despair dwelled here, eating away at the residents until little humanity remained.

A dark figure loomed from a doorway and Ilara ascended out of reach. “Come here, girl,” a harsh voice called to her. “I’ll give you a ride that scooter can’t.”

Ilara shuddered. She’d seen the man before, so stoned on stardust he could barely walk. He was a doorway dweller, one of the many who slept in front of burned-out buildings, hiding in the gloom, waiting for some hapless soul to pass by so he could rob them. She hovered just out of his reach and dug into her pocket for a handful of credits. It wasn’t as if she’d need them where she was going.

“Here you go,” she said, tossing the bits of carbide metal to him. “Go get yourself something to eat and get off the streets tonight. Trouble’s coming.”

He squinted his eyes. “Hey, I seen you before,” he croaked. “Thought you was a boy.” He stuffed the credits in his pockets. “Have a care, girl. Trouble’s already here.”

Two blocks to the south, Ilara veered left, ascending past the crumbled ruins of a church. No one would ever bother to rebuild it. The gods had long since abandoned the residents of old Toru City. Ahead of her, she spied the rusting playground equipment where Leonis had played as a child. Tears welled in her eyes. They’d been happy here, she and the children. They’d made a family within the walls of the abandoned school -- laughing, arguing, loving one another with the fierceness of those too long denied. And now Zarun dared defile her home, turning it into a place of pain and captivity. She was going to kill him for that alone.

The little glide scooter made no noise, emitted no smell, but a block away from the school, Ilara was swarmed by scentbots. The tiny computer bugs crawled all over her, in her hair, down her neck, burrowing into the crease of her underarms, gathering her unique odor before buzzing away to inform their controller of her arrival. There would be no ambushing Zarun. Shit, she was dead meat. She took the beam knife from her utility belt and tucked it into a boot. Might as well meet the enemy head-on, she decided, and she dropped down to the play yard. Zarun stepped out from the shadows to greet her.

“We meet at last,” Zarun said, leering. “Park that scooter and drop that tool belt, girl.”

Ilara switched off the engine, but the tracking device continued to function. With any luck, Kei would notice the tracker flashing and know where to find her. She unhooked the utility belt and draped it across the handlebar.

“After you,” Zarun growled, giving her a little shove into the room.

“Where’s Leonis, you old fart?” she demanded.

Zarun grabbed a handful of her hair and shook her. “You’d do well to watch your mouth, bitch. Treat me right and I may let you live.” He guided her into the cafeteria where Leonis was secured to a chair. “There’s your little mutt. Not much of him left after my men got through with him.”

“Let me go, you filthy bag of goat shit,” Ilara snarled, struggling to get to the boy.

He hurled her at Leonis’s feet. “You’ll pay for that, cunt. Say good-bye to the scabby little bastard before I put him out of his misery.”

Ilara scrambled to her knees and touched Leonis’s face. Oh, suffering gods, his eyes were nearly swollen shut, and his lips were split. Blood clogged his nose, which had obviously been broken. “Leo, it’s Ilara. Sweetheart, can you hear me?” She took one swollen hand in hers. “Squeeze my hand if you can hear me, love.” His fingers twitched against hers, and she sobbed. “Oh, my darling boy, what have they done to you?”

“Shouldn’t have come,” Leonis whispered through cracked lips. He took a deep breath and moaned. “So…thirsty.”

Ilara climbed to her feet. “He needs water.”

“Tough shit. Let the little bastard die thirsty.”

“You son of a pestilent, dick-sucking whore, you said you’d let him go!”

Zarun leered at her. “I lied, you stupid whore.” He looked her up and down, licking his lips. “But I’ll make you a deal, you suck my pestilent dick and I’ll let you get the little fucker some water.”

Ilara glared at him. “He gets the water first, and I get to clean him up.”

“Done,” Zarun agreed. “But if you try any funny stuff, he dies while you watch.”

Tears streamed down her face as Ilara ran to the kitchen. She filled a pitcher with water, grabbed some towels and a cup, then ran back to Leonis. “Here, love, I’ve got some water here. I want you to take a sip for me.” She held the cup to his ruined lips and dribbled some water into his mouth. He coughed and groaned but managed to drink a little. “Good job, mate. Now, I’m going to drag one of the children’s beds over here and lay you down. Can you move?”

“Yes,” Leonis whispered. “More water.”

She held the cup to his lips once more, unaware of the tears still flowing down her cheeks. When he’d had enough, she dragged a bed over to where he sat.

“Take the restraints off so I can lay him down,” she demanded. To her surprise, Zarun complied. Lifting one arm, she draped it over her shoulder and lifted the boy to his feet, wincing when he cried out in pain. “Almost there, love, easy does it. Okay, and now we’re sitting down. That’s a boy. Lie back, darling, I’m going to swing your feet up.”

Weary beyond belief, Ilara reached for the water and towels. She looked up at Zarun. “Tell me something. How does a man become so vile and greedy he’s willing to sell innocent children to a bunch of perverts?” She poured water on a towel and began cleaning Leonis’s face. “You must have been human at one time. Tell me how you can justify rape and murder, Zarun. Did your daddy fuck you up the ass? Is that it? Or maybe your mommy sold you to the highest bidder.”

The blow, when it came, wasn’t unexpected, but Ilara felt a sense of accomplishment as she tasted her own blood. She’d hit a nerve. He had a weakness and she could exploit that. If she got him angry enough, she could distract him from Leonis, possibly even lead him away from the school and deeper into the city where she just might be able to end his miserable life.

“That’s right, you nasty old fuck,” she taunted. “Hit the little girl. Does it make your dick hard, Zarun? Is that the only way you can get off?” She backed away from Leonis, dodging when Zarun swung again. This time he missed and she danced out of reach. “Do you have to beat the wife to fuck her? Or maybe she won’t let you, hmm? Does she smell the scent of little girls on you? Is she repulsed by you like all the women you ever wanted? Is that why you go for helpless little girls?”

With an outraged roar, Zarun lunged, nearly catching her. She sprinted to the front of the room, away from Leonis. “I’m a little old for you, aren’t I, big guy?” She gave him a taunting smile. “But then, maybe it’s the breasts. They are small. Kind of like a little girl’s, don’t you think?” She unzipped the front of her bodysuit and exposed her breasts. It took everything she had not to gag as Zarun licked his rubbery lips.

“I will have you, you little cunt. I’ll have those nipples in my mouth, and when I do, I’ll bite them off and swallow them. I’m going to fuck that little ass, girl, and I won’t be gentle about it. I’m going to do to you what I did to that little bitch, Athara. You saw the vid, you heard her screams, her pleas for death.”

Ilara’s breath hitched in her chest. Yes, she’d seen enough of the vid to know how poor little Athara had been savaged by Zarun and his henchmen. She bared her teeth in a parody of a grin. “Maybe you will, and maybe you won’t, but it makes no difference, you pussbag, because my friends have the original vids and all of Caldur’s records. They’ve probably already called and awakened the magistrate. He and Solae O’bora are friends, you know.”

Ilara backed out of the door. “Either way, you’re a dead man, Zarun, because Kei Rewu is going to hack you to tiny pieces.” She faked a stumble and sprawled on the ground just outside the door. True to his nature, Zarun seized on her perceived weakness and charged. Ilara rolled to her feet and sprinted to the wall that surrounded the play yard. “You want me, come and get me.”

* * * * * *

Kei and Solae jumped off their scooters and raced into the school. “Ilara!” Kei bellowed. He looked at Solae. “Oh gods, he’s killed her.”

She placed a hand on his shoulder. “We don’t know that.” She pulled her laser pistol and switched it to disable. She was just about to tell Kei they should split up when they heard a groan and the scrape of a chair. Kei started toward the sound, but she restrained him with a touch. “Easy does it, it could be a trap.”

They crossed the room with caution, peering in the door to the cafeteria. Leonis was on one knee, struggling to stand. Solae entered to the right, going low, sweeping the room with her pistol. Kei was behind her, high and to the left, ready to lay down cover fire, but Leonis was the only occupant. The boy gained his feet, crying out in agony. Kei leaped to him, catching him before he could fall. Laying him gently on the bed, Kei dropped to his knees.

“Where’s Ilara? Leonis, was she here?”

“Zarun…drew him away…into the city.” The boy moaned. “Hurry.”

Kei got to his feet, voice trembling with rage. “Call for medical, he’s hurt bad. I’m going after Ilara.” He turned to leave, then leaned down, putting his mouth to the boy’s ear. “Maras and the children?”

“Safe,” Leonis whispered. “Get…her…back.”

“Count on it, son.” He stroked the boy’s blond hair. “I’ll kill him for you. For her too, and all the children he’s hurt. You just get well.”

Kei gave Solae a quick hug. “Tell the doctors I’ll pay for his care. I want the best for him.”

Solae nodded. “Be careful, my friend, and leave your GPS on so I can follow you after the medics get here.”

“Absolutely,” he said grimly. “Watch your back; you never know who’s around.” He bounded from the room.

Kei boarded the scooter and put it in a fast climb, shooting out over the rooftops of the deserted city, hoping he could find the tube station in the dark. Surely that’s where she’d be leading Zarun, but there were lots of dark holes and hiding places between here and her old lair. If she could keep Zarun chasing her, she could lead him into a deadly trap. If he knew his Ilara, and he did, that’s exactly what she had planned for the murdering bastard. Impalement on a rusty metal post would appeal to her sense of justice, considering the way Athara had died.

A huge chunk of cement block loomed in front of him, and Kei veered away. “Gods’ blood,” he cursed. He had to stop worrying about what was happening to Ilara and start concentrating on safely guiding the scooter through the scabrous remains of the once-proud city. Otherwise, he’d wind up skewered on a hunk of rusty steel.

With the absence of the moon, the darkness seemed a menacing presence. Now and again, he would hear the hiss and yowl of shadow cats fighting over a meal of targas. He grimaced, remembering Ilara cooking one of the huge, ratlike rodents for her supper. He looked down and saw the deep blackness of a bomb crater. He was getting closer. Then came a sound he would remember for the rest of his life -- a soul-wrenching scream of pain. Ilara!

Chapter Nineteen

Ilara screamed as Zarun’s knife plunged into her shoulder. Oh, Almighty Mother of us all, she’d never felt pain like this before! She felt around for some kind of weapon, and her fingers closed over a chunk of brick. She swung with all her might, grunting in pain as the brick made contact with Zarun’s thick skull. His glasses went flying and he howled, instinctively covering the injury with his hand. Ilara kicked, catching him under the chin with her combat boot, and rolled away.

She scrambled to her feet, left arm swinging uselessly at her side, and raced toward the gaping black maw that marked the entrance to the underground tube system. If she could lose Zarun in here, she’d have a chance to escape. She knew every bomb crater, every nook and cranny, every artery in this section of the underground.

Son of a stump-humping trogg, it hurt! She stumbled on, leaving a trail of blood as she made her way to the little nook where she’d left her belongings when Kei had come for her. She fell through the opening, stifling an agonized scream as the knife shifted in her shoulder. Feeling her way around, she found the small bag of clothes she’d tucked away in the office.

“Ah, fuck,” Ilara cursed between clenched teeth. She yanked the knife out and pressed a pair of cotton panties against the wound, struggling to stay conscious. Hurry, hurry. Have to bind this sucker up tight. Strap the arm to my side. More fumbling in the bag. A long-sleeved shirt. She cut the sleeves out, draped it over her shoulder, and pulled it under her arm. Using her free hand and her teeth, she tied the sleeve into a knot as tightly as she could. Next, she found a bra, fumbled with the hooks, then draped it around her neck, fitting her elbow into one of the cups. It would do for a sling until she could get to a hospital. Her head snapped up at the sound of rubble shifting. Zarun was gaining on her. Was it too much to hope that she could have hurt him? Gotta go, gotta keep moving. She reached into her boot for the beam knife and staggered into the tunnel.

“You’re losing a lot of blood, girl,” Zarun shouted, his voice booming off the tiled walls. “Pretty soon you’re going to start to feel light-headed, if you’re not already. Come to me now, and I’ll kill you quick once I’m done with you.”

Ilara gritted her teeth and kept moving. Did he really think she’d fall for his promises? She stumbled on, her wounded shoulder throbbing with every beat of her heart. He was right; she was feeling light-headed. How much farther could she go? How could she possibly protect herself from Zarun, wounded as she was? She clutched the beam knife in her hand. It would be so easy to end it all right here. All she had to do was put the knife to her throat and press the little red button. The laser would slice through her neck, killing her instantly. Better that than the torture that awaited her at Zarun’s hands if he caught her. Because he’d kill her slowly, she knew, despite his promise to do otherwise.

At last, Ilara reached the three-way artery in the underground tunnel. One of them was clogged with rubble and another led to a bomb shaft that could be climbed to the street above. But for the life of her, she couldn’t remember which one. She lifted her head, sniffing for fresh air or the hint of a draft. To the right, it had to be. She’d climbed out of it before and was pretty sure it was in this section of the city.

She was so tired, so damned tired. It felt as if she’d walked for days. Had the artery always been this far away or was she getting weaker, slowing down? In the distance, she heard Zarun cursing as he scrambled over the rubble. Gods’ balls, he’s going to catch me.

Kei leaped off the glide and struck a casallin stone against a chunk of rock, setting it aglow. Holding it aloft, he began to search. He hissed when he saw blood and hurried to the entrance. The bastard had hurt her, spilled her blood. Zarun would die slowly for this. He raced ahead, heedless of his own safety.

Suffering gods, there were three tunnels! Which way had she gone? He held the glowing stone close to the ground, looking for a sign of which way she’d gone. There! A small boot print in the dusty rubble. But hers wasn’t the only one. Zarun was behind her. Just how far, he couldn’t guess. He turned right and loped after her, moving as quietly as possible.

Why had she done it? Why had she gone after the boy without telling him? Because the bastard had threatened to kill the boy if she didn’t come alone. She wouldn’t have believed the bastard would let either of them live, but she’d been certain she could beat him at his own game. After all, she’d avoided capture all this time. But Zarun knew her weakness, and he’d lain in wait, taking Leonis by surprise to use against her. Foolish woman. She had too much pride for her own good.

Kei closed his fist over the glowing stone, fearful it would attract attention. He didn’t want his prey to know he was tracking him. A flash of light ahead told him he was closer than he dared hope. He stumbled over a piece of broken track, stifling a curse. The light flashed in an arc, turning in his direction. Kei ducked, flattening himself against the track.

“That you, girl? You backtracking me?” Zarun taunted. “Come on out, and let’s get this over with. Sooner or later I’ll find you, and it’ll go harder on you the longer I have to climb over all this rubble.”

The light turned away and Kei heard the man howl in pain. “The next rock you chunk at me’s getting shoved up your ass, bitch.” Another howl and a thump as the rock hit its mark and hit the ground. Slowly, Kei got to his feet and continued on.

* * * * * *

Ilara nearly screamed in frustration. She’d taken the wrong tunnel! The chamber was blocked off by tons of cement and jagged steel. It was over. The children would never be safe, and she would die in the cruelest manner imaginable. Fear pricked her scalp as she looked up. Nothing but pipe and dangling wires. There was no other choice; she had to climb.

The going was tough with just one hand to grab at supports, one arm to pull the weight of her body, but somehow she managed. She’d made it halfway to the ceiling when Zarun found her.

He shined a light over her. “Where do you think you’re going, you stupid bitch? Think you’re going to sprout wings and fly away?”

Ilara sat on a chunk of rock trying to catch her breath. The light-headedness eased when she stopped climbing. “I figure you’re too fat and heavy to climb very high,” she said, trying to keep a conversational tone to her voice.

Zarun merely laughed and searched for a handhold. “I may be fat and old, but you only have one arm to work with. I figure that makes us about even.” He pulled himself up.

* * * * * *

There was no more time for stealth, he had to get to her, and fast. Kei held the lighted stone in front of him and bounded across the debris-strewn floor. Zarun was climbing, slowly, but his gradual advance forced Ilara higher and higher toward the ceiling of the thirty-foot cavern. He stumbled over a jagged chunk, fell, and rolled, gaining his feet again, but it cost him precious seconds. A gap in the track loomed and Kei’s muscles bunched in response as he leaped across the crater.

Zarun was getting closer now, forcing Ilara onto a wide exhaust pipe. She grabbed a long dead electrical cable and edged farther out over the chasm. Gods, if she fell…

He felt like he was moving in slow motion. The blood pounded in his ears as he forced himself to greater speed. Finally, he burst into the light of Zarun’s discarded lamp.

“Ilara!” Kei shouted.

“Kei!” she sobbed.

Zarun turned, looking down. “Won’t do you any good, gladiator. She’s already dead!” He turned back and scrambled higher up the wall of debris.

“Ilara, don’t move, sweetheart, I’m coming for you.”

Zarun reached the top and Kei roared in frustration. He didn’t dare take a chance on deploying one of his many weapons for fear of dislodging the rubble clogging the tunnel. He pulled the grappling device from his utility belt and looked for a place that might be stable enough to hold his weight. Much of the conduit was still attached to the ceiling in places, so he took a chance and deployed the grapple. Luck was with him when the hook fell neatly into place just a few feet from Ilara. Now, if only it would hold. He took a leap of faith with the thin rope, and it held. Hand over hand, he began pulling himself up.

Zarun stepped onto the exhaust pipe, which groaned under his weight. A bright light appeared in the distance, along with the sound of heavy feet running in their direction. The cavalry had arrived at last.

Kei watched in horror as Zarun made a grab for Ilara. She screamed in pain, twisting away from him. “If I’m dying, I’m taking you with me,” Zarun wheezed, lunging for her again.

How she managed to keep from falling, Kei couldn’t guess, but she maintained her balance and leaped toward one of the cables dangling from the ceiling, holding on precariously with one hand.

“I don’t think so,” Zarun growled, snagging the tail end of the cable as it swung toward him. He gave it a hard yank, trying to dislodge her.

Where she found the strength, Kei couldn’t say, but suddenly the beam knife was in her bloody left hand. Her jaw clenched as she struggled to flick the button to activate the weapon. And then it was on, and the beam sliced diagonally through Zarun, from shoulder to waist. Zarun’s mouth opened in a gasp of surprise, before his body separated into two halves and tumbled thirty feet to the floor.

Kei stared in horror as Ilara’s grip began to slip. She dropped, caught herself, and moaned in pain. “Hang on, Ilara,” Kei demanded, his heart and emotions kicking into overdrive as he struggled to get to her. “Don’t you let go. You hang on, do you hear me?” He pumped hard, hand over hand, demanding more from his body than ever before. If she could hold on for just a few more seconds, he’d have her. He couldn’t lose her now, not when he finally understood what it meant to truly love someone. By all the stars in heaven, he’d give up his own life to save hers.

He never let her out of his sight as he climbed harder and faster. Blood poured from the wound in her shoulder and he knew it wouldn’t be long before she lost consciousness. It was a miracle she’d managed to hold on as long as she had.

Their eyes met over the span of space separating them and Ilara smiled. “I love you, Kei,” she said weakly. “Take care of the children for me.” Her smile faded and her head fell back at the same time she lost her grip on the cable.

“Nooo!” Kei bellowed. With one hand holding tightly to his only means of survival, he lunged for her. Terror engulfed him as he felt the heavy material of her bodysuit glide against his fingers as he struggled in vain to stop her fall. And then his hand snagged on her collar, jerking her to a stop in his grasp. Sweet suffering Seraphim, she was as lifeless as a rag doll dangling from his fingers. “Ilara! Don’t leave me, sweetheart!”

Slowly, he began his descent, arms burning from the effort to maintain his grip on the rope and Ilara. He’d never been so grateful to see Solae’s and Asirian’s familiar faces rushing toward them.

“Let her go, Rewu. I’ll catch her,” Asirian bellowed from the floor. Kei shook his head, too afraid to let the love of his life slip through his fingers.

“Kei, for the love of gods, drop her!”

With his fingers losing their hold on her, Kei roared out his anguish, closed his eyes, and opened his fist. When Kei dared peel open his lids, Asirian was rushing her to a waiting medic.

The second his feet touched the ground, Kei raced to Ilara’s side. Suffering gods, she was so pale. He lifted her good hand, so cold to the touch. The look on the medtech’s face worried him as she scanned Ilara’s body with a nanotech magnetic imager. “What?” he asked, frantic.

“She’s lost a significant amount of blood, sir. Now, I need you to step back and let us work.” The tech turned to her partner. “I need the arteriofuser, now,” she barked. “There’s a slight nick in the artery, and we need to stop the bleeding.”

The woman stuck a slender, metal wand directly into the wound on Ilara’s shoulder and pulled a pair of protective glasses over her eyes. “You’ll need to turn your head, sir. The light from the laser could damage your eyes.”

Kei closed his eyes tightly, grimacing at the sound of searing flesh and the smell of sizzling blood. When he opened them again, the flow of blood from Ilara’s shoulder had ceased.

“Resonant brace,” the tech ordered and was handed a length of metallic cloth. Her partner nudged Kei aside and assisted the tech in securing the cloth around Ilara’s shoulders. He handed the tech a small canister with a spray nozzle, which she sprayed over and around the material. She looked at Kei. “The liquid activates the ultrasound components and directs it into the wound. It also hardens the material around the brace, immobilizing the patient. We can’t take a chance of reopening the wound while transporting her. She’ll need blood when we get her to the medunit.” She stood and waved to another tech. “Bring up the ventrosupporter; let’s get some oxygen into this patient.”

Kei’s shoulders sagged when the medics completed the work of stabilizing Ilara and began the trek back to the tube entrance. Solae approached and patted his back.

“She’s going to be okay, Kei,” Solae assured him. “She’s a tough little thing. I didn’t give her half the credit she deserves. That girl has more grit than some men I know.” She urged him forward. “Come on, let’s get out of here. We’ll meet them at the medical facility.”

Kei turned and glanced at what remained of Zarun’s body. Already, the targas were beginning to feed. “She always said she’d wind up killing him before it was over.” He sighed, scrubbing his hands over his face. “I just wish she’d found a less dramatic way to go about it. I thought… I was so afraid I’d lose her.”

Asirian smiled, draping his arm over his wife’s shoulder. “I know what you’re saying, Rewu. I’ve been in exactly the same place a time or two, myself. It’s damned disconcerting to realize you love someone that much. Especially when they think nothing of grabbing a tiger by the tail.”

Solae snorted. “Please,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Neither one of you would know what to do with a tame woman. You’d be bored stiff, and you damn well know it.”

“Absolutely, darling, but if you insist on rubbing our noses in it, I’m afraid you’ll have to pay the price for your insolence.”

Another snort. “I’m simply trembling with fear, Asirian.” She slid from beneath her husband’s arm and picked up her pace. “Get a move on, boys, or they’ll have her fixed and released before we get there.”

Chapter Twenty

Ilara woke in a full-body regeneration tube and cried out in a panic. She pounded at the clear cover with her fists. “Let me out!” she screamed, then sobbed with relief when Kei’s face appeared above her. Oh, thank you, gods, for letting me live. But she had to touch him, taste him, to know he was real. She clawed at the tube.

“Open it,” Kei ordered the nurse.

“Sir, she needs at least another hour of regeneration to be completely healed.”

“And I’ll see to it that she gets it, but right now she needs to know she’s safe.”

The cover slid back and Ilara bolted upright, gulping for air. “I…I thought it was some torture device of Zarun’s. I forgot.” She shuddered, remembering. “I’ve never…killed…a man before.”

Kei knelt by the machine and took her hand. “If ever a man needed killing, it was Zarun. I’m just sorry I didn’t do it for you.” He brought her palm to his mouth and pressed his lips to it. “Suffering gods, Ilara, you scared me half to death. What in the name of all that’s holy did you think you were doing running off on your own like that?”

Ilara shuddered. “He said he’d let Leonis go, but I had to go alone.” She closed her eyes for a moment, then met his gaze. “When I realized he wasn’t going to let him go, I lured him away. Is he all right? Is Leonis alive?”

“He is, and recovering nicely. They’ll be releasing him today. You too, if you’ll stay in the regenerator for another hour.”

She clutched his hand tightly, fearful of losing that contact. “You’ll stay with me? Where I can see you?”

“I’ll be right here, love.” He stood and leaned into the tube, pressing his lips to hers. “And when you wake, I’ll take you home.”

“Kiss me again. I need to feel you.” Ilara clung to him, burying her fingers in the silk of his hair. Heaven help her, she’d felt so desolate at the thought of never seeing him again, never waking to the feel of skin next to hers in the middle of the night, never having his arms enfold her when the dreams came.

When his lips slanted over hers, Ilara took his face in her hands, relishing the feel of the rough stubble on his cheek, the softness of his tongue as it slid against hers, and she knew she was safe at last.

“I love you,” she murmured when he broke the kiss.

“And I you. Now, lie down and let the machine do its work. The children are at the house, and they’re anxious to see you.”

“Yes, one more hour and we can go home.” Home. How that word resonated for her. Who would have imagined she’d ever find a place where she really belonged? A place where she was cherished and safe. And most importantly, loved. She sighed and closed her eyes. What was one hour compared to a lifetime?

* * * * * *

The front door burst open as Ilara and Kei came up the walk, children spilling out onto the front lawn, laughing and crying as they swarmed her. She knelt, arms held wide as they threw themselves at her. With a joyful laugh, she was bowled over flat on her butt as they rained kisses and hugs on her.

“Easy does it, children,” Kei declared, laughter in his voice. “She’s just recovered from her injuries.”

One by one, the children peeled themselves off her; then Leonis was there, holding out his hand to pull her to her feet. She sobbed.

“Oh, my beautiful boy. No one has ever looked so good to me.” She threw herself in his arms, hugging tightly, bawling like a baby.

“Hush, Ilara,” he softly scolded. “It’s over. Zarun’s dead, and Caldur’s locked up. We’re safe now, thanks to you and your friends.”

She stood back, touching his sweet face, a face that just hours ago had been so battered he could barely speak. “Thank the stars, you’re all right.” She turned a radiant smile on the children hovering around her. “All of you are all right.” A puzzled frown marred her brow. “Where’s Maras?”

Leonis looked over her shoulder at Kei, then tugged on Ilara’s hand. “She’s inside…with her mother. Asirian’s brother found her on Cyntur-Rho, she’d been abducted and forced to work as a prostitute.” At Ilara’s questioning look, he said, “Come inside and they’ll tell you all about it.”

When she stepped inside the house, Solae embraced her. “I don’t know whether to hug you or kick your skinny little ass,” she said, settling for another hug. “You put Kei through hell, you know, and for that alone I ought to horsewhip you.” She tugged on Ilara’s hand. “Come into the media room; there are some people you should meet.

“You know Maras, of course, but this is her mother, Kasha.”

A very thin young woman stood and crossed the room to embrace Ilara. “Thank you for taking such good care of my little girl.” Tears coursed down the woman’s cheeks. “I…I never meant to leave her alone. They…they took me, and I didn’t have a choice…”

Ilara patted the woman’s back. “It’s all right. She’s safe, they’re all safe, and so are you.” She smiled at Maras. “I’m so happy you’re back together again, though we’ll miss Maras desperately.”

“But we’re not going anywhere,” Maras chirruped. “Didn’t Kei tell you?”

Ilara frowned and turned to look at Kei, who hung back, shaking his head. “I was going to tell you when the work was done, but I’ve purchased the old school. We’re meeting with an architect next week to discuss the plans. It’s -- I hope you’ll approve -- but it’s going to be a homeless shelter for women and children. There will be classrooms, a health clinic, and a new playground. I’d like to call it Depherra House. I thought Kasha could run it. She managed a residential facility before… Why are you crying?” Kei asked when Ilara started bawling. “I thought you’d be pleased. “It was your home for so…”

Ilara silenced him by leaping on him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Shut up and kiss me, you amazing, wonderful man.” His arms closed around her, and he took her at her word, taking her mouth in a slow, deep kiss that left her knees weak.

“Solae,” a deep voice called from across the room. “I’m thinking we might want to have a wedding before those two set a truly bad example for the youngsters.”

Ilara blinked, feeling her cheeks heat, as she turned to find the man who belonged to the voice. Her eyes narrowed as she looked between him and Asirian. There was no doubt they were related. She gasped. He could be none other than the notorious pirate, Fyn Du-ket. “Wedding?”

Solae raised an eyebrow. “You did agree to marry your gladiator, didn’t you?”

“I… Yes, I certainly did.” She gaped at the pirate. “And you’ll be marrying us?”

Du-ket gave her a wicked grin. “I’d say I earned the privilege, beauty. After all, my men and I single-handedly shut down those clubs and sent quite a few bad guys to meet their makers.”

“I…” Ilara said, dazed. “I don’t know what to say.”

Kei draped an arm over her shoulder and leaned down. “Say yes, little thief. We have all these witnesses and enough food prepared to feed an army. A wedding and a party seem like just the thing to celebrate the demise of Zarun and Caldur.”

“And I have just enough time for both before I’m off to locate a runaway heiress and return her to her father,” Du-ket added.

Ilara looked around the room at all the happy, loving faces and couldn’t think of any reason to say no, except for one. “And this wedding you want to perform, will it be legal? You are a wanted man, after all.”

Du-ket and Asirian burst out laughing. “Not to worry, Ilara,” Asirian said. “He’s been exonerated of the really serious crimes and made restitution for the rest.”

Du-ket snorted. “It’s true, and it’s damn near cleaned me out. I now have to work for a living.”

“I’ve heard about you, the pirate who steals women’s hearts. So you’re an honest man now?”

Du-ket gave her another wicked grin. “Oh, my sweet, I may have turned over a new leaf, but I’m still an unquestionable rogue.”

“So, what do you say, Ilara?” Kei asked. “You already hold my heart in your hands.”

“And you’ve stolen mine, gladiator, so you leave me no choice but to say yes,” she answered, taking his hand. “Get on with it, captain. I can’t think of anyone better to marry us than the thief of hearts.”

THE END