the trade of food stuffs and other goods and, of course,
women.
“Will you be away all day?”
He stroked her back. “Yes. If I can steal away for lunch,
I will, but it’s likely you’ll have to eat that meal alone. For
that, I apologize.”
“It’s all right. I understand.”
He believed she truly did and thanked his lucky stars
he’d chosen such an independent and considerate woman.
“What am I supposed to do all day?” She glanced
around his spacious quarters. “It won’t take me long to
clean.”
He frowned. “You will not clean my quarters.”
She looked surprised. “But I’m your bride.”
“I have a cleaning service.”
“Cancel it.”
“What?” He didn’t understand her desire to clean their
shared space. “It’s no problem, Hallie, and costs nothing.”
“But this is my home now. I should keep it tidy for us.”
He started to argue with her but wondered if he hadn’t
wounded her pride in some way. Women from her planet
were raised extremely traditionally. The home was their
domain. Memories of his mother resurfaced. Though she’d
been a pureblooded Harcos woman, she’d taken so much
pride in creating a beautiful, welcoming home for her
family. “All right. I’ll cancel the service, if that will make
you happy.” He caressed her cheek. “But if you decide
you’d like to turn over the housekeeping to someone else,
you need only ask. The cleaning crews do a very good
job.”
She glanced around the room with a critical eye. “If you
say so…”
He smiled at her little dig. His gaze dropped to his
watch. “I have to go soon. Let me give you the quick tour
and explain the control consoles.”
She followed him around his quarters and paid close
attention when he pointed out the various control pads
around the apartment. They were all touchscreen and
voice-activation capable. When he started to walk her
through the entertainment screens, she rolled her eyes and
stopped him. “Just because I’m ignorant of technology
doesn’t mean I don’t know how to read, Vicious. I’m not
illiterate.”
Abashed, he hastily apologized. “I’m sorry, Hallie. I
didn’t mean to offend you.”
She crossed her arms. “I can do math too, you know.”
He smiled now. “Yes, I’m sure you can.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I may not have had the same
access to schools that you did but I found a way to learn
the things I was denied. I’m not stupid.”
His smile disappeared. He reached for her and dragged
her into his arms. He kissed the top of her head and rubbed
her arm. “I never said you were. I’m sorry if I made you
feel belittled.”
“I won’t embarrass you,” she promised, her voice
muffled by his chest.
“Hallie,” he whispered, his heart aching for her. When
he’d shown her his office just a few moments ago, he’d
noticed her gaze lingering on his wall of commendations
and diplomas and degrees. He’d been lucky enough to earn
a coveted spot in the military university and had studied
hard. He knew firsthand that his educational background
had opened up doors for him that even his talents as a
battle commander never would have.
Was she afraid that he would think less of her for her
lack of a formal education? Or was it even deeper than
that? Was it a fear of embarrassing him in front of his
superiors by making some misstep? He knew there were
some who would criticize him for taking a so-called
backwater bride instead of going through one of the
Harcos matchmaking services, but he’d always known he
wanted a bride of new blood. He had every confidence in
Hallie.
“I like you just the way you are, Kitten. You don’t need
a degree to earn my respect. It’s already yours.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist and embraced
him tightly. “You’re really good at saying the right thing.”
He snorted in amusement and combed his fingers
through her hair. “We’ll see if you think that in a week.”
She laughed. “I’d say the odds aren’t in your favor.”
“Not at all,” he agreed with a smile. Though he hated to
go, he knew it was time. “I have to report to the bridge,
Hallie. Use the communication console to contact me if
there’s any kind of problem. Report any emergencies the
same way.” He touched her collar. “You aren’t allowed
free rein on the ship for some time yet. You are to stay
inside our quarters unless I’m escorting you. Is that
understood?”
She nodded dutifully. “Yes.”
“There are men on this ship who are desperate for
wives, Hallie. Please understand that I’m not trying to
keep you sequestered for no good reason. Also, it’s
tradition for a bride to remain unseen for the first month.
We wouldn’t want bad luck, would we?”
She smiled at his teasing question. “No, definitely not.”
“If there’s an emergency of some kind, the doors will
open automatically.” He took her hand and led her to the
entranceway of their apartment. He touched the screen
there and brought up the emergency exit plans. He opened
a small cubbyhole hidden behind an emergency placard
and showed her a flat metallic card. “This is an emergency
override key. It will open any door on this ship.” He
tapped the screen and brought up a map. “Follow the red
lights to this rendezvous site. If I’m not able to reach you,
one of my men will see to your safety. They’ll protect you
and keep you safe for me.”
She gripped his hand. “Is that likely? I mean, does that
happen often?”
He shook his head and cupped her face. “No, Kitten, but
I want you prepared just in case. We’re in a war. There
are no guarantees.”
“I understand.” She studied the emergency plans, no
doubt committing them to memory as easily as she had the
Grab maps. “What about you? How will you get off the
ship if we take fire?”
“There are escape pods available in the upper decks for
the officers. You needn’t worry about me.” But it touched
him that she did.
Her fingernails bit into his skin. “You’re not one of
those go-down-with-the-ship types, right?”
“No.” He could see the fear in her eyes. Her silent plea
reached him loud and clear.
Please don’t leave me
. “I’m a
colonel, not an admiral. This ship is under the command of
the sky fleet. I’m a land corps man.”
Her brow furrowed in confusion. “Is there a book I can
read or something? A manual, maybe?”
“There is, actually. You can access it on one of the
devices in the living area.” He glanced at his watch and
grimaced. “All right. I have to go. I’ll have lunch dropped
at the door.” He tipped her chin and forced her gaze to
meet his. “You will eat everything on that tray.”
“What if I don’t like it?”
He considered her query. “All right. You may choose to
not eat one item.”
She didn’t look happy about the stipulation but didn’t
fight him. “All right.”
“Good.” His gaze moved over her. “Now take off the
shirt.”
“What?” She touched her chest. “But then I’ll be
naked.”
“That’s the point.”
“But it’s daylight.”
“And?”
“And I can’t go running around your home naked all
day!”
“You can and you will.”
“Vicious…”
“Hallie.” He spoke her name firmly, his tone brooking
no refusal. She glared at him but peeled out of the shirt and
handed it over. His appreciative gaze traveled her curves.
“Beautiful.”
“I feel ridiculous.”
“You should feel sexy.” His hand snuck out and dragged
her tight to his chest. “You
are
sexy.” His hand drifted to
her tight little ass. He gave it a playful swat and she
yelped. He soothed the red spot with his palm and kissed
her lovingly. “I want you to get comfortable with your
body, Hallie.”
“By walking around naked all day?” She glanced at the
door. “What if someone comes by? And what about
lunch?”
He handed her the shirt. “You may put on the shirt to
answer the door for your food delivery. No one else will
come by my quarters so you don’t need to worry.”
“Just this shirt?” She gazed at the too-large item of
clothing. “Can’t I have some shorts?”
“That depends on what you’re willing to do for them,”
he countered. He wondered how far she was willing to
take their negotiations.
She chewed her lower lip and shook her head. “Never
mind.”
He laughed at her response. What in the world had she
conjured in that mind of hers? Probably something much
worse than he’d intended. “Come here and give me a
kiss.”
She rose on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. He
deepened the kiss and suddenly wished he could say the
hell with duty and carry her back to his bed. Growling, he
pulled away from her mouth and touched his burning lips
to her forehead. “I’ll see you this evening.”
Certain he wouldn’t be able to walk away if he lingered
even a moment longer, he patted her bare bottom and
quickly left his quarters. He waited to hear the three beeps
signaling the lock had engaged behind him. It wasn’t that
he didn’t trust Hallie. She was a smart young woman who
wouldn’t knowingly put herself in danger. No, he just
didn’t trust all the other swinging dicks on this ship.
As he stepped into the elevator at the end of the
hallway, he silently willed the hours of the workday to go
faster. He wanted Hallie—and he wanted her now.
Chapter Five
Hallie stared at the bed and let those amazing memories
of her first night with Vicious invade her mind. Of all the
things she’d been expecting, the passionate awakening of
her sexuality hadn’t been one of them. Under his masterful
hands, she’d come to realize the depths of sensuality. That
man, that big, scary stranger, had worked her body with
such skill. Even now, it made her breathless just to
remember his touch.
She eyed the chain mount that he’d partially destroyed
last night. This morning, he’d picked up the chain and
taken it into the room where he’d kept her restrained. She
didn’t ask why he’d changed his mind about her wearing it
and he hadn’t volunteered his reason. Something had
happened between them in that moment last night.
Even though it had killed her to hook that chain to her
collar, to submit to his whims and to basically make
herself his pet, she’d done it. He’d shown her such
patience and tenderness. She’d been dreading the moment
he would take her and make her his wife in full but he’d
made the experience so beautiful and satisfying. After
what he’d given her, she thought it only right to give him
something in return.
When he’d jerked the chain free, she’d been stunned.
His sweet kisses and gentle caresses when he’d joined her
in bed drove away any worries she’d had about upsetting
him. Maybe he didn’t need that kind of total submission
after all.
Her gaze drifted back to the bed. When she’d asked
about the laundry after their morning shower, Vicious had
mentioned that most of his things were bagged and taken to
the laundry by the cleaning crew. She pulled back the
cover on the hastily made bed and saw the rumpled and
stained sheets. Heat flooded her cheeks at the sight of
pale-pink streaks. The evidence of their coupling stared
her in the face. She quickly jerked the sheets from the bed
and bundled them up in her arms. It was a strange thing to
feel so embarrassed by but she couldn’t help it. Some
things were private and this was one of them. She really
didn’t want strangers in a central laundry facility gawking
at the sheets upon which they’d consummated their bond.
Hallie made her way to the small room off the kitchen
where Vicious had briefly pointed out the laundry
facilities for their private use. She studied the strange
contraptions. He hadn’t explained how they worked. She
figured he’d probably never used them. They sure didn’t
look as if they’d ever been in use.
She tapped the touchscreen pad mounted on the wall
next to the two box-like devices. A variety of options
popped up, all of them confusing. She suddenly yearned