No Mercy (11 page)

“Look at me,” he growled.

Lifting her gaze she met his stare, and he rewarded her with another slow thrust.

Suddenly his words made sense. This was so much more than fucking. It wasn't about getting off, satisfying a bodily need. It was the difference between living on Nutri-packs and dining at a gourmet restaurant. Zan had wanted her just for the pure pleasure of being inside her, of connecting to her flesh with his.

She'd been living on Nutri gel for a long time. Losing herself in his eyes, she tightened her inner muscles, letting him know without words that she got it. He needed this, and deep down she needed it too.

His lips trailed down her neck, the rasp of stubble contrasting with his soft lips and tongue. She tilted her head back to give him better access. Her hands roved his back, exploring and enjoying him. He stepped closer until her breasts crushed against his chest. She loved the way the crisp hairs on his chest abraded her nipples, just as his pubic hair tickled her clit. Instead of withdrawing completely, Zan gyrated, making his cock swivel inside her. She gasped and fisted his hair, bringing his face back up to hers.

Gia lost all sense of time, of place, of everything but the man who invaded her every sense. He stroked over her G-spot until her release was imminent.

“Come inside me. Now.” She squeezed him again for all she was worth.

He groaned and did, shooting his load inside her while she worked her muscles on him, coming in sync with him. The two of them shared the moment, gazes locked as intensely as their flesh.

“Well, isn't this sweet.” The voice was cold and mocking. Zan snarled and pulled out of her, blocking her naked body with his own.

The water shut off and a man who could have been Zan's twin moved forward. His eyes fixed on her, and she shivered. His yellow eyes held none of Zan's warmth, his fire. This man looked as though he could suck her soul out with his eyes and enjoy watching her suffer.

“Son.” He dismissed her and focused on Zan. “I see you've been busy. Now kill her.”

E
ven with his attention fixed firmly on his father, Zan heard Gia's surprised gasp. Did she really think he would follow Xander's instructions? He hoped that she knew him a little better than that by now. If not, they hadn't a prayer of getting out of this alive.

His father stood there, waiting for him to obey. Behind him, four large goons blocked the exit. His father's personal guard stood ready to protect their liege lord to the death, to do his bidding, no matter how despicable.

Forcing his shoulders straight so he looked less defensive, he stared his father down. “No need.”

Xander's lips twitched. “You came inside her. I witnessed the deed myself. You know my law—she must not live past the night. Or have you forgotten my code in the many years since you've last been home?”

Zan had never been one for prayer, but he uttered a silent one as he pulled a quiet Gia forward. Her lips were swollen from his kisses and his seed trickled down the inside of her thighs, evidence that might damn them both. Her green eyes were full of fear.

“Gia, activate your health guard.” He moderated his tone, making it nonchalant and easy. As if her life didn't matter to him one bit.

Her lips parted and he backhanded her across the face before she could protest. His hand connected with a sickening crack and he fought the urge to vomit. “I said now, woman!”

She slipped on the wet floor of the shower, but his grip on her arm kept her on her feet. A trembling hand rose to the spot where he'd struck. He narrowed his eyes and pulled his hand back in warning. Her free hand went to the inside of her elbow and she pressed. The soft hum of the shielding filled the silence.

Zan barely contained his sigh of relief when his jism vanished, obliterated from her skin as though it had never been there. He dragged her closer to Xander. “Go on, examine her.”

Gia whimpered when his father bent down and touched her pussy. The shield snapped as skin cells from his body dissolved on contact with her skin. “Incredible,” the older man breathed. “What is this device?”

“The inhabitants of a planet called Earth created it for all the people. It's to prevent the spread of disease and unwanted conception. You could have your medic examine her and all he would find was proof that she'd been fucked, but not who did the deed.”

Gia gave a slight shake of her head, to indicate that wasn't so. He'd reckoned that much, since she had turned it on prior to lovemaking, but what Xander didn't know might save them.

“Gia, deactivate it,” Zan said. She did immediately.

“Consequence-free intercourse,” Xander mused, and shoved Gia back at Zan. “This is a prize, though not the one I want. Where is the hybrid ship?”

“On the other end of the galaxy, most like. What do I care about a wee beasty when there are luscious women to be had.” He stroked down Gia's arm and felt her hair rise up. Nuzzling her neck, he kept a weather eye on Xander, surreptitiously blocking Gia's body with his own.

His father made a sound of disgust. “You always let your glands drive you instead of your ambition. I want that ship, Zan.”

Zan shrugged and cupped Gia's breast. “I lost it in a gaming hell a few decades back, on a space station in the Golith System to a fellow called Finn.”

“You bet it on a game of chance?” Xander was outraged. Shoving Gia aside he focused all his fury on Zan. “Do you have any idea what that ship could do?”

Until recently, Zan hadn't, at least not the full extent. “The damn thing couldn't communicate without driving people crazy. It was a worthless scow and I was glad to be rid of it. My woman here had a fine ship of her own, ten times as maneuverable as that beast and didn't need refilling half as often. It was close quarters, but we rubbed along just fine.”

So much depended on how much his father knew. Xander's biggest weakness was that he believed his son to be nothing but a skirt-chasing idiot. He'd given Zan immortality when he turned thirty-five but had been unable to interest him in leading an army or ruling the people of Hosta. Zan had become proficient at hiding secrets, like Isabella, and playing the part he'd been cast. Soft, weak willed, easily lead around by the dick.

Questions bounced around in his head. Did his father know he'd taken the living ship in retaliation for Isabella's death? Would he believe that five decades wouldn't have had an impact on Zan? Had he received reports of his son's activities? Zan knew he built a fortress out of lies and a strong wind would send it tumbling to ruins.

“Why did you return?” Xander tapped his finger against the cane he carried. Zan doubted it was to aid his father's movement. More likely some kind of weapon was hidden within. Even surrounded by his loyal guards, his dear old dad took no risks with his safety.

“To make peace.” The words didn't choke him the way they ought to. “Isabella would be dead by now anyhow, or stooped and gnarled with age. You were right to deny her immortality.”

“And what about this one? Do you seek her immortality?”

Zan grinned and shook his head. “Fuck, no. I like a woman learning how to please me, is all. This one has some serious talent, and with her shielding I can come in any part of her I want and not worry about it. Eventually I'll get bored and move on. Earth's full of ripe, juicy morsels. You want her when I'm through?”

Gia held her breath. He couldn't risk signaling her in any way.
Trust me, babe. I'm playing for our lives here.

His father's eyes narrowed in suspicion, and for a heart-stopping moment Zan worried he'd given himself away somehow, that his story was too incredible.

Xander moved forward and pulled him into his arms. “My son. It's good to have you back.”

“It's good to be back,” Zan lied with the utmost conviction as he returned his father's embrace.

 

Gia paced the tight confines of the cargo vehicle that Zan had shoved her in uncaringly. And naked. Even if she did manage to escape, she'd die of exposure in the frozen Northlands. Bastard son of a bastard. She slammed her fist ineffectually against the side of her metal prison, then turned her back and slid down the wall.

She didn't know what to think. Her cheek still stung from where Zan had hit her. He'd lied about her germ shield's abilities though, and she knew it was in order to save her life from his father, the madman who would see her raped to death. If Gia hadn't witnessed that scene firsthand in her dreams, she wouldn't understand her lover's most recent transformation, especially when he'd offered her to his father when he was done with her.

He must know she'd rather die.

Fatigue swept over her and she fought sleep, but the transport droned like white noise and the journey seemed unending.

Curling into a ball, Gia finally allowed herself to relax into sleep.

 

“But the planet, my garden
. . .”
Duffy clung to the make-believe reality he'd loved. Watching him accept that it was gone forever was almost too much to bear.

 

Gia awoke with a start, her heart in her throat, her breath coming out in sharp pants. She was aroused, her cunt wet from watching Zan, or a version of him, fuck Duffy. She'd always delighted in watching two men together. They were so rough with each other, and she liked learning how they craved being touched to bring the most pleasure.

But then the rest of the dream came back to her and she felt sick. How could Zan—the real Zan whose memories she shared—have done that? He toyed with Duffy's feelings, let him think that maybe someday that would be their future. Duffy obviously didn't know about the magical memory spooge, otherwise he would have expected to share Zan's memories, the way she herself did.

Other parts of the dream made no sense at all. What did his comment about ‘for pleasure instead of duty' mean? Had Zan screwed Duffy? She'd experienced his longing, but she didn't know if that was directed toward the man, the sex, or the tender scene he couldn't have.

One thing was for sure, she sure as hell couldn't trust him. The way he'd nailed her up against the bathroom wall, as though he cared about her, like he might even be falling in love with her. Well, it was all just a game to him, a trick to ensure her loyalty, like he's done to Duffy.

The old woman who owned the holosuite had been right; Zan was an excellent actor. Gia best not let herself forget it.

The vehicle slowed to a stop, and she pushed herself to her feet, tossed her hair out of her eyes, and got ready to get if the getting was good. She heard voices, deep and grisly, and though she couldn't make out the words, they sounded familiar. Had Fenton and some of his men come with them?

The door was opened and the brilliant sunlight practically blinded her. She moved toward the door, raising a hand above her face to shield her eyes. The air that swirled in was warm and dry, a blissful change from the continuous cold, especially in her unclothed state.

“Have a nice sleep?” Zan held out a hand to her. After what she'd seen him do to Duffy, what she suspected he'd done to her, she wanted to scratch his golden eyes out. Instead she made a noncommittal noise he could take any way he liked.