Havoc (30 page)

"It's not good manners that'll win this day, luv. It's convincing Sayal we want her. That we love her, possibly enough to die for her.” His tone and his eyes grew serious, and he crossed his arms over his chest as if giving Elion time and space to think. “If we do this, it'll mean a big change for all of us. Well, unless we're killed of course. Are you sure? Are you sure this is what you want?"

"Because I'm the one who suggested dumping her?"

"No, because if our plan somehow miraculously works, she'll probably be on this ship with us for many years to come. Do you want her that much? We've only known her a short while after all. It's a significant step."

Elion considered. For Kels, having Sayal aboard would be no hardship. He was social; the more the merrier. She loved to fuck, and so did he. Yet he was right to ask. Of the two of them, Elion was far more the loner. In the years they'd been together on the
Nova
, he and Kels had mastered the art of staying out of each other's way, but with three, it could get tight.

Still, when he envisioned traveling with Sayal, showing her the wonders of the SenVerse, introducing her to all the sights and places he loved, knowing she'd love them too, his heart tripped along with fresh excitement. She was bright and beautiful and intellectually curious. He could teach her and learn from her as well. She filled a space in his soul that'd been empty too long. And if she'd been brain twisting him, well...in a way, he supposed it was what women had been doing to men for years.

And of course, he had to admit, the sex was fantastic. If there was a chance at sex with her and Kels both, he'd have to be crack mad to say no to that.

By the time he lifted his gaze to Kels's again, he found himself smiling.

"No,” Sayal said, moments after they'd explained their plan to her. “Don't even speak to me of such things. I will not have you putting yourselves in danger for me any longer."

They sat on Kels's big bed, the captain on her left, Elion on her right, the mattress sagging beneath their combined weights, and both of them out of their brains. Kels held her hand, probably hoping to soothe her, but she pulled from his grip. He and Elion exchanged glances, and Kels said, “It's a good plan. We've thought it through."

It was a patched scheme at best. “I know something of the EFC, and what I do know is all bad,” she said. “They're murderers, extremists."

"He is an assassin, true, but he always told me I could count on him should I need help,” Elion insisted.

She turned to look at Elion's unhappy face. “Even if you can trust this man, there's the rest of the EFC to consider. One person cannot hold back that black tide of hatred."

He and Kels kept glancing at each other, and she got the distinct impression they'd had a similar conversation before approaching her. Elion sighed and said, “Sweetheart, it's the best idea we've got. At least be patient enough to let me try to contact Lowan. If I can't, then we'll think of something else."

She put her hand on his thigh. “There is no solution to this except to leave me to my fate. It's all right.” She tried a brave but desperate smile. “I'm prepared to follow the path that destiny has set before me. But if you or Kels were killed...I couldn't bear it. Don't put that on my soul, please."

"Isn't that our decision?” Kels asked, bringing her gaze around to him. “If we want to fight for you, it's up to us, not you."

Sayal closed her eyes a moment, grasping for patience. These thick-skulled men. “Now you're talking nonsense. Why fight for me? What am I to you?” All her emotions tumbled together and pushed tears to the surface. She wasn't normally given to crying and hated that they'd see her eyes shining. She dragged her hands over her face to hide it, then took a breath. “I am a freak. I've known it, and now you do too. I should never have existed in the first place."

Elion rubbed her back. “But you do exist, and we're glad you do. We love you, Sayal."

She fairly leaped from the bed. “Don't say that. That's not what was supposed to happen."

"Oh,” said Kels, his expression growing hard. “You were supposed to use us, then go on to commit your noble deed. Wasn't that right? You're the fucking martyr. I remember now."

His sharp tone hurt as much as Elion's comforting words had. She shook her head. “I'm only trying to make things right."

"And what do you think we're trying to do?” Kels demanded. “We want you with us. Is that such an awful thing? In the real SenVerse, not on some luxury liner somewhere, people grow fond. They take care of one another.” He spoke as if explaining to a child, which perhaps she was since she felt such inner tumult as she hadn't since her mother had died.

"What if it's just...my ability?” she asked, giving voice to her deepest fears. “Because I have such feelings for you, I've influenced you to have the same for me?"

"It doesn't fucking matter,” Kels said. “Don't you see? That's how these things work, empath or no. Remember what I told you about triads?"

She did remember what he'd said when they'd stood in his cube what seemed like a year before. “That they form life bonds sometimes."

He pointed at her. “That the
best
of them form life bonds,” he amended. “I don't see how that's any different for us just because your bond runs a bit deeper. You don't think we'd want you without your psychic mojo working?"

"I don't know."

"Shut it off, then,” Elion suggested. “Can you?"

She tried but couldn't. Staring at them, at their beloved faces and their eyes filled with passion and concern, she could easily read what each was feeling, for they'd become so familiar and dear to her. There was no way for her to discern where her love for them began and her bond ended. “It doesn't seem to matter,” she said, her frustration coming through in her tone.

"It's because she's a woman,” Elion said to Kels.

Kels nodded. “Women's intuition."

"What are you talking about?” Fates, she felt ready to kick them in a fit of impatience, and that wasn't like her either.

Kels curled his fingers around the edge of the bed. “Nearly all women have a sense about things. We blokes don't have it. We're dense as lumber, but you birds can always tell what's going on with us. A gut sense, you might say."

"It's perfectly normal,” Elion said. “A good thing really. I think women need it to keep us men on the straight and narrow."

"So yours is a little sharper than most.” Kels lifted a shoulder. “That's all right. We need straightening sometimes. Right, El?"

Elion nodded as if everything crazy thing Kels said made perfect sense. “And the healing, I mean, that's quite nice too. It's reassuring to think we'll never be hungover."

"Or bruised or battered, least not for long,” Kels pointed out. “Love or no, I'm afraid our reasons for wanting to keep you are quite selfish and practical."

"Mm.” Elion flattened his lips. “We've been rattling around the SenVerse too long on our own. It's a miracle we haven't gotten ourselves killed already anyhow."

"Exactly. Having you along can only make our lives safer."

"And healthier,” Elion added.

"And look how your influence has brought us together,” Kels said, waving his hand between himself and his mate. “We were at a stalemate for years before you came aboard."

Sayal sniffled against the back of her hand, then put her fists on her hips, regarding them. “I'm sure I had nothing to do with that."

"Oh, sweetheart, don't underestimate yourself,” Elion said, shaking his head.

"Face it, Sayal,” Kels said. “You're not going to be rid of us easily. And we are going to try our plan, whether you like it or not. I'm the captain, and what I say on my ship goes."

"You should listen to him,” Elion said. “He's a stubborn fuck."

"I take offense to that. I'm a very good fuck."

"Well, yes.” Elion raised an eyebrow, and despite his cool demeanor, Sayal felt the heat in the room go up many degrees.

These two... What would she do with them? They were so...obtuse. Such men, letting their cocks do their thinking.

She ached with grief. If only she could stay with them. If only... “It's not going to work,” she said, dropping her gaze to the floor.

Kels got to his feet. “Saints, no wonder you and Elion get along. You're both incredible depressions. This won't work. We can't do that. Oh no, watch out, we'll all be killed!” He waved his hands in the air, then dropped his arms. “Have a little faith, Sayal."

He ran his hand over her shoulder, and she turned into him, unable to resist his warmth.

Elion came to her other side and slid his arm around her waist. “You're just not used to it; that's all,” he said. “Being wanted. Being loved.” His gentle voice was nearly her undoing. She could barely bring herself to look into his pale blue eyes. “You'll adjust. You'll see.” He caught the end of his sleeve around his hand and wiped a tear straggling down her cheek. “If you'll have us."

She didn't know which one to turn to first. Fortunately they seemed to understand and pressed in on either side of her, making a solid, comforting sandwich of their bodies, Elion's hands on her waist, the heat of his body soaking reassuringly into her back, and Kels's arms around her. She pressed her cheek against Kels's chest, hearing his steady heart beating in her ear, then turned to touch her lips to Elion's. He'd begged her forgiveness as soon as he'd come through the door, and she tried to put all her absolution into this single kiss.

"This is so much more than I deserve,” she whispered.

"Oh, I wouldn't be too quick to say that,” Kels said, his eyes crinkling with dry amusement. “Wait till you've lived with us a few months. You might decide we're your penance after all."

She slipped her fingers over his shirt and let her head rest against him. Behind her, Elion tightened his embrace, his hands moving over her belly. “Now, don't frighten the girl. She's had enough trouble for one day."

"I don't know what's wrong with me,” she murmured, and a shudder ran through her muscles. “I've become so emotional. I can't keep my thoughts straight."

"It's like you're blooming,” Elion said soothingly, sliding his hands under her shirt to her bare skin. “You're becoming more human, I suppose."

She stiffened and stared into Kels's eyes. “It's what he wanted."

"The Prime?” Kels scoffed, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Fuck him. Is it what you want?"

She considered Elion's analogy. Perhaps it was truth. Like the beautiful biolume tattoo, her submerged emotions were blooming, dancing through her soul, sparkling and brilliant even to the point of casting her reason into shadow. She pressed her hip against Elion's groin, and almost incidentally, the ridge of his erection nudged her. Desire flushed through her, fiery and intense, and like a ricochet, it washed over her from Kels as well. They wanted her, both of them.

And she wanted them.

A tempting, syrupy heat spread through her as Elion stroked her. It slipped through her veins, pooled in her pussy. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply of Kels's scent, leaning on his strength while Elion's fingers dipped suggestively below the waist of her pants. Her skin grew sensitive. Kels tipped up her chin to kiss the corners of her mouth, her chin, the tip of her nose, her eyelids.

A thousand protests rose and fell beneath the surface of her thoughts, but then Elion slid one hand up to her breast, and the protests faded away. She loved his unhurried caress, his brushing fingertips over her tightening nipple. Kels had the edges of her shirt and pulled it over her head. His gaze settled on Elion's fingers teasing her tit, and Sayal couldn't help a small, lusty sigh. Primes were sexual; so were humans. Considering her genetics, was it any wonder these two flipped her on so readily?

But it was more than that. Far more. This emotion, this deep ache that racked her, that brought an almost palpable yearning to her soul, this desire to share all she was with them—that was something the Prime could never teach her. It was love. Love and trust and friendship—all the wonders her mother had hinted existed yet could never fully give her. However undeserving, Sayal had discovered them here with Kels and Elion, and she would be forever grateful to whatever Fates had guided her to them.

She put her hands on either side of Kels's face and brought him down for a kiss while Elion played with her nipples. There was no point in asking if they loved her. It was clear in their eyes, in the stroking of their hands over her skin. There was no reason to ask if they were sure they'd risk everything to save her. Their hearts spoke through their lips and their bodies as they cradled her between them, shielding her from all evil, from doubt and fear.

She pressed her bottom against Elion's erection while she reached down and found Kels's cock, an iron bar beneath his fastener. She had to have them both or die of wanting, but how?

She turned to Elion, hungry for his mouth, which he readily gave, his tongue gliding over hers as Kels's had done. She sighed into Elion's mouth as Kels bent to suck at her breast, his hands spanning her waist. Already moisture soaked her swelling pussy, but this delight was not to be rushed.

While Elion played at her lips, Kels loosened her pants and slid them down over her hips, and she lifted her feet free. How strangely erotic it was to be naked while they were both fully clothed. Perhaps it made their desire for her that much more poignant. Their voracious gazes dragged over her, and she cupped her breasts while they watched, and rubbed her thumbs over her damp nipples, rubbed her thighs together.
Mm, yes
... This energy smoking between them felt like...paradise. Steamy, indulgent paradise.

She backed slowly toward the bed, and of course they followed. A thrill of power sang through her. Here she'd been thinking she was a slave to their desires, but perhaps they were all equally enthralled. “Come,” she said softly, sitting on the edge, and they stood on either side of her.

Gazing into Kels's eyes, then Elion's, she opened the fasteners on their pants and brought out their cocks. Both were formidable and beautiful in their stark masculinity, thickly veined and hot with life. She kissed Elion's first, tasting precum on her lips, then rubbed her mouth over the big, round head of Kels's dick while his fingers coasted over her hair. Wasn't that what he'd called it when they were in the arena? Even that brief memory goaded her desire. With gentle pressure, she brought them closer together so she could easily suck each in turn. She bobbed down on Kels's length, then switched and pushed her wet, voracious mouth over Elion's. While she sucked one, she stroked the other with her hand, and their moans brought her joy.