“Lehar and I have figured out a safe way to get that collar off your neck. We’re in route to meet with a slave trader who will come aboard with his tools and remove it.”
She looks up at me with soft eyes and a bright smile. “Really? Does this mean that I’ll be getting a nicer one that isn’t so painful to wear?”
I jerk in my seat. “The collar pains you? Why didn’t you say so before now?”
“I’m the slave, remember? Slaves don’t get to choose whether they wear a collar or not. The collar is control. To be a slave is to be controlled.”
“Is that what you don’t like about your situation?” Waving my hand dismissively, I explain, “From now on you will not be forced to wear a collar or subjected to another being’s control.”
Tugging at the collar lightly, she beams up at me. I realize she’s waiting for the final proclamation. “You will free to make your own choices. If you wish to leave me, I will help you find the safest living situation. If you would like to stay with me, I will assist you in locating your mother or at least finding out what happened to her.”
“That’s really sweet of you, Tarion.” Chewing on her bottom lip, she seems deep in thought for a few moments. When she speaks, the words take a minute to sink in. “Just so you know, I’ve got no plans to leave you. I also think you’re perfect just the way you are, so I have no intention of trying to change you either.”
Pulling her closer into the circle of my arms, I enjoy the moment. “You don’t want me to be more attentive, less bossy or swear off my life as a raider?”
Laughing, she shakes her head. “I’m not looking to end up naked, bound and abandoned on some unpopulated island.”
Turning my head to stare at my first officer, I respond blandly, “I can see Lehar has been talking about things he shouldn’t.”
Cupping my face in both her hands, she turns my head back in her direction. “You’re missing the more important information.”
“What’s that, my sweet?”
“You and I becoming a couple.”
“I like the sound of that. It’s almost as good as you being mine.”
“I don’t mind being yours, as long as you don’t mind being mine.”
“Tarion of the Hielsrane belonging to a female? Never.” Noticing a look of disappointment jump onto her lovely face, I amend my statement. “My heart, soul and body may belong to you, but the rest of my free spirit is destined to roam the verse looking for action and adventure.”
Peering up at me, she beams. “I like action and adventure as well.”
“I’ve noticed that, my clever and resourceful brooder. Perhaps that is what makes you perfect for one such as me.”
“Yeah, that along with the stuff we can’t talk about in mixed company.”
I bark a laugh when Lehar makes for the door. Not being fortunate enough to have a brooder himself, I doubt he wants to hear about what I do with mine.
13
Carissa
Even though I know it’s inappropriate and sitting on his lap should be a hard no for me, I can’t get enough of being the center of his attention. Finally, I matter to someone and that’s a new experience for me. Tarion keeps me at his side all day long. The closer we get to Balar Prime, the more the dragon babbles about finding an ornamental collar to replace the painful metal chafing my neck.
In the meantime, he’s taken great pains to rub a healing salve on my neck, worried that he will accidentally trigger the device in my collar if he uses a dermal healer on my skin. The dream of being free of the last tangible evidence of my slavery thrills the hell out of me.
It’s easier to let him have control when it’s clear that he’s got my best interests at heart. The closer attention I pay to him, the easier it to see that he honestly does care about me. Does that mean I’ll always defer to him? No way. The thought doesn’t enter my mind for a second. I’m not even sure that’s what he’s after with me.
Watching the guy I’m slowly becoming obsessed with strut around his ship, it becomes increasingly obvious that he rules his world. His crew is a little standoffish with me and I have to remind myself that I’m the outsider that clobbered one of their crew and stole a fighter. Let’s just say I have some bridge building to do with them. It’s clear they admire and respect Tarion. His relationship with the crew is a strange mixture of authority, easygoing, light-hearted banter and implicit trust. I’m really warming up to the idea of throwing in my lot with the merry band of raiders. I don’t have a feel for the other ships in Tarion’s armada, but I find his crew endearing.
The moment the door closes behind us at night, I can’t stop myself from jumping him. His response is something close to shocked delight when I pivot him around until his back is against the wall. After tangling tongues for what seems like forever, his hands run down my back to squeeze each of my ass cheeks. It spikes my already growing arousal. Watching his eyes darken with lust flips all the right switches for me.
When he moves me back slightly, I think about running my tongue over every square inch of his gorgeous body. Tarion has other ideas though. “Come, my fierce beauty. Let us cleanse ourselves.”
Pulling at the magnetic seam of his uniform, I respond playfully, “Getting naked with you is always a good plan in my book.”
Swatting my hand away, he grabs me and tosses me over one shoulder. My face almost collides with his wing on the way past. As he walks, I run my hand under his wings and explore the part that connects to his body. His skin flows right
