Page 8 of Master (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #3)

"You will not want to break this one," I assured the Kwado, swallowing the desire to kill them both and be done with it. “The pleasure she bestows can drive a one to oblivion.” It was a true statement, as my experience went.

“Really?” Ordeesia sighed with anticipation.

"As one who has tasted her pleasures, it is a most intense experience," I spoke the truth. From the finger Clara dug into my ribs, she didn’t appreciate the reminder.

Still, I had a con to sell. "You lose yourself to the pleasure. In order to experience her fully, we must secure you for your own safety.”

"Secure?” Ordeesia’s eyes widened, if that was even possible.

"Yes, the last time I did not secure myself, I nearly died from the mating." Beside me, I heard a faint giggle.

“I know of no such female that wields such pleasure.” Qaimus crossed thin arms over his barrel chest, unconvinced.

It was a risk, but I knew we'd have to take it to get out of this room without commotion.

“Show yourself, my sweet,” I murmured to Clara.

She stiffened, and for a moment, I expected her to refuse, then small pale hands appeared from underneath the cloak to push the hood back from her face.

"A human!" Qaimus breathed, regarding the woman at my side like nothing more than a prize. I wanted to punch his eyes off his skull.

"I'd heard Luarian bought one." Ordeesia scrambled to the edge of the bed, reaching out a webbed hand. Before I could react, Clara slapped her hand away.

“She’s feisty,” Ordeesia giggled.

I trailed a finger along Clara's soft cheek. From the look she gave me, I would regret it later.

"Humans give pleasure so intense it has driven males mad. It's why many consider them a treasure." I sold, although it wasn't far from the truth. She certainly drove me near madness with her soft, voluptuous....

Focus Tarook.

“Any partner she has must be bound to protect themselves.”

"Me first." Qaimus's gray tongue hung from the side of his mouth.

“I want to go first.” Ordeesia pouted, slinging the deadly whip again.

“You may go together. I am very limber,” Clara announced in a voice so sultry I felt it straight down to my cock.

She moved away from my side, stepping closer to the bed. I nearly snatched her back, but caught the conspiratorial glint in her eye.

"Lie on your backs side by side and my…." Her gaze flickered over me, heating my skin. "My companion will assist you while I prepare myself."

Prepare herself?

My momentary wonder dissipated at the clap of Clara's hands. She sank into a squatting position, legs spread wide, and began thrusting her bottom and hips up and down. Tearing my gaze from her jiggling ass to truss the Kwado to the bedposts was nearly undoable.

"Don't forget the gags," Clara purred as she danced around the room. "The screams of pleasure often draw others, and we don't want to get interrupted."

"Gags! Please gag us," Qaimus begged.

Damn, Clara was better at this con than me. I swiped what appeared to be pieces of their clothing from the floor, stuffing both Qaimus’ and Ordeesia's mouths.

Once the gags were in place, Clara stopped gyrating and faced me with hands on hips and a disgusted expression scrunching her face.

"Can we get the fuck out of here, please?"

The Kwado wriggled on the bed, but I couldn't tell if they'd realized our ruse or were excited about what they expected next.

I strode to the corner where two rumbled purple cloaks lay, grabbing one for myself and tossing the other toward Clara.

"Here, put this on."

Clara lifted the fabric to her face, issuing a gagging noise as she frowned. "What is this? It stinks.”

"Kwado robes." I nodded to the bed, where the couple glowered. "The staff will know the Kwado reserved a room here this evening. Hopefully, the guards will think we’re just a couple heading home after a night of pleasure.”

"Ugh," Clara gagged as she slid the robe over her shoulders. The purple fabric pooled at her feet, at least a foot too long.

"Keep it over your face." I pulled the edges of the hood together under her chin, the back of my fingers brushing her jawline. "There's no way you'll be mistaken for a Kwado."

The expression on Clara’s face relaxed into something that might almost be a smile.

“Exactly how limber are you?” I teased as we moved to the door.

“Pervert,” Clara snorted and elbowed me in the ribs, but the curve of her lips increased.

We waited until the sound outside the doorway suggested everyone focused on their own pleasure before slipping into the hallway.

Clara's hand gripped mine tightly underneath the cover of our cloaks, and I felt fear shudder through her with every step.

Unable to help myself, I slid an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, careful to keep our hands and face buried by purple fabric.

Clara's trembling subsided, and I felt her arm slip around my waist. I knew she felt safe with me, despite being pissed about the sex.

Why did that matter so much?

I'd fucked dozens of pleasurers in my one hundred and thirty years of life. It was just sex, nothing more, just like with any other pleasurer. Now that I'd rescued her, she'd settle with the rest of the humans on Tau Ceti and disappear from my life.

Why did the idea bother me so damn much?

At the end of the hallway, we veered left into a small alcove and through another doorway into complete darkness.

Clara let out a small gasp and clutched my waist tighter.

I didn't bother pulling the light from my belt—no need.

Another couple of steps and the door opened onto the brightness of the dock.

“We made it.” The happiness in Clara’s voice squeezed my heart.

The scream of an alarm made us both jump.

“Dammit.”

“What is that?” Clara mumbled, scrunching her shoulders toward her ears.

"My guess? They've noticed you're missing."

“Shit!”

“You can say that again.”

While the guards and dock personnel sprinted toward the main exits, I spotted my skiff sitting behind a larger transport.

“Come on,” I took off toward the ship, pulling Clara beside me. "Don't run. Walk like you're above everything that's happening. Kwado are notoriously arrogant."

It was too easy. We strode across the width of the dock without bother. A couple of guards eyed us warily but, like I'd hoped, seemed to regard us as uninteresting.

"God, this thing stinks.” Clara sloughed off the robe the second I closed the hatch of my ship behind us.

"Sit down and strap in." I pointed to the co-pilot's chair. The skiff was small, with room for only four passengers. It was fast, though, and easy to maneuver, which was why I chose it.

Clara plopped into the seat, sliding into the safety harness as I took my spot in the pilot's chair.

With a flick of the button, the engine hummed to life.

The Hartouk Lenaii, like every other ship of its kind, sported a large interior dock connected to the outer docking doors by a long tunnel.

The outer doors opened and closed based on sensors indicating the approach of an arriving or departing ship.

The only thing that would stall the doors was a security lockdown.

A lockdown like the alarms announced.

I gunned the engines, shooting into the tunnel. Clara let out a squeal, her gaze trained ahead as her fingers gripped the safety harness.

We flew by the first sensor panel, a green light heralding the opening of the outer doors. I let out a sigh of relief, but increased our speed for good measure. Up ahead, the blackness of space appeared as a dark triangle, growing incrementally larger as the outer dock doors opened.

I glanced at Clara, thankful to see relief on her face, but only momentarily before fear widened her eyes.

"The door looks like it's closing."

"Fuck." I gunned the engines, ignoring the second sensor that flashed red.

“What do we do?” The fear in Clara’s voice made my stomach hurt.

“Keep going.”

Clara leaned forward, gripping the edge of the control panel so tightly her knuckles turned white.

This would be close.

I angled the skiff to fit through the triangular-shaped hole that minimized with every second.

“Shit!” Clara hissed as we drew closer. “Shit… shit… shit… shit....”

She screamed, slamming her hands over her eyes as we skated through the dock doors and into space. I wouldn't dare tell Clara, but we'd only cleared the opening by a few inches. Too close. My heart raced with adrenaline.

“We’re out.” I patted her knee, and she slammed her hand down atop mine, squeezing tightly.

“What now?”

"Now we set course to rendezvous with the Bardaga," I grinned at her, returning my attention to the controls. "Make yourself comfortable. There's a food replicator on the wall and a bathing room at the back of the ship.

Clara slipped out of the safety harness. Her light footsteps told me which part of my ship she explored. The sound of her movements conjured a strange sense of comfort within me. She was safe. I’d kill to keep her that way.

Hopefully, our escape spurred her to forgive me for my earlier lack of control. I didn't regret it. I would never regret getting to hold her… taste her… and know the exquisiteness of being sheathed deep inside her.

When Emmy first came aboard the Bardaga, I wondered why my Chieftain seemed so taken with such a tiny, fragile creature. Now I understood.

My fingers flew over the components, engaging the protective shields and setting the autopilot to the rendezvous coordinates. It would take a few days to reach the Bardaga… days I intended to spend getting to know Clara and, hopefully….

“Freeze fucker!”

I spun in my chair to find her standing behind me, a blaster pointed at my head.