Hearts of Ishira (Hearts of Ishira Saga) (78 page)

She came over and over again as the men worked her, thrusting powerfully into her, filling her more completely than she could have thought. And being sandwiched between them was freeing in a way… she could move her torso and hips as she wanted or needed to, could offer her breasts for Hunter’s mouth or her neck for Jace’s kisses, could use the little bit of freedom her hand had to press Jace’s fingers more tightly to her clit, to wordlessly beg for a firmer touch there, for more pressure from Hunter’s mouth, just… more.

Finally, reaching a height she had only ever experienced once before, her body spasmed in one very long, very hard, muscular contraction. Her breath left her. Her body arched between them, held there by her passion and theirs, and she felt them spasming inside her, heard Hunter’s shout of completion, felt his cock swelling and jerking in her as he came. Jace was a second behind him, his body hard in hers, filling her with his life force, his arms tight around her ribs, his face buried in her neck. With both of them coming inside her, Arianna opened her mouth on a silent, breathless cry and her body simply exploded.

It seemed to go on and on, her walls and ass tightening around them both, clutching them inside her body, milking them. And the men kept touching her, not letting her come completely down from that. Every touch brought another shudder, another shivering cry from her throat, another spasm of ecstasy. Finally, when she could take no more, she slumped against Hunter’s chest and wept with her ecstasy.

Minutes later, she shuddered when Jace slid from her ass, shivered as his body heat left her back. She was barely aware when he brought several cloths and gently bathed her ass, then when Hunter slid free, bathed her center as well. She was still gasping with ecstatic sobs, still spasming occasionally when Jace hit a tender spot. Hunter held onto her, his arms wrapped tightly around her, kissing her forehead and temples as she simply lay against his broad, strong chest, accepting Jace’s tender ministrations.

When he was done, they stood her between them and finally removed her gown, then because her legs seemed incapable of holding her, Hunter chuckled a bit smugly, picked her up and carried her into his bedroom. She was vaguely aware of the sounds of water as the men cleaned themselves, but was grateful for their presence when they snuggled close to her in the bed, both holding her, touching her, caressing her sweetly and without demand, until she slid into the deepest sleep she’d ever known.

She was out in space once more, this time without Hunter grounding her. A bit frightened, she cast about, searching for Sean’s mind. With a glad cry, she found him and sent herself toward his ship. But there was a faint shimmer, off in the distance, well behind the refugee transport. Pausing long enough to alert Sean that she was nearby, she tested her limits by seeking out the other vessel.

It was long and sleek, much larger than the Thorsani transports she’d seen, and the minds within were considerably different from anything she’d yet experienced. She dove into the head of one of the beings. It was completely oblivious to her presence. She looked through its eyes, which was dizzying, since it had so many of them. Singling out just one view, she saw what the creatures looked like.

Solvari!
Sean’s mind roared. She hadn’t been aware that he’d followed her, but she was grateful for his presence. She followed him back to his ship, into his mind for a moment.

They’re trying to find us!
Ri cried, her body back on Ishira, trembling with fear. Sean agreed silently.

Tell Hunter to shut down the homing beacon. Now!

But how will we bring you home?

I’ve already got your coordinates locked in. We’re almost there. But the beacon needs to come down immediately, or the Solvari will follow us. If I’m picking it up, they’ll be able to very soon. We do not have the men or firepower to defeat them. Have they picked up on us yet?

I don’t think so. When will you be here?

I can see Ishira from my view screen,
he told her gently, with a smile
. We will be there before the day is out. Now go! Much as I want you to stay with me for awhile, Hunter needs to know.
There was a gentle caress in her mind, one that was so tender and eager that she was fairly buzzing with need when he withdrew.
We will meet before the day is through, my sweet lady.

She could hardly wait.

Zipping back into her body, she realized that Hunter was right there, beside her but snoring, completely lost to sleep. She had been grounded, after all. She felt much better, knowing that. Jace wasn’t around, but she figured that he had been summoned to the med center or something.

“Hunter,” she said softly, not wanting to startle him. His eyes wiggled under his lids and there was a hitch in his snoring. She grinned softly, loving the little flaw that only endeared him to her more. “Hunter, love, you have to wake up.”

This time she said it firmly, with a bit of urgency in her voice. He was awake and alert in an instant, as any good soldier would be.

“What is it?” he asked, sitting up.

“I was out in space again.”

“Ri, you’re not supposed to-“

“Hush! It’s a good thing I was, though I didn’t do it on purpose.” He watched her, waiting. “Sean’s ship will be here within hours.”

“That’s wonderful!” he jumped up, excited, and pulled on his pants. She shook her head.

“Hunter, wait! Calm down! Listen to me.” She used her mom voice, and though it didn’t work on him, it did get his attention. “There was a Solvari ship in the distance. Sean verified it when I got a look at them on their ship.”

“The beacon!” he breathed, his eyes going wide with fear. Without further explanation, he was out of the apartment, in his bare feet, running full tilt for the command center.

Ri got dressed and followed him.

Warriors were crowding against the entrance to the command center by the time she got there, but all she had to do was tap one on the shoulder. As soon as he saw who was there, he called out to make a path for Commander Ri. She thanked him and hurried between the canyon of warrior bodies to the steps of the computer room. Hunter was leaning on the desk, facing Gust on the screen.

“Everything. I want everything powered down. I want no trace of Thorsani technology.”

“Commander, we’re close to a breakthrough,” Gust was protesting.

“Gust,” Hunter said softly, “There’s a Solvari ship out there, trying to find us, and we have a refugee transport that will be here this afternoon. Those Solvari find us, we’re all dead, and you know it.”

“Aye, sir,” Gust said, capitulating. There were sounds of commotion in the background as Gust gave the necessary orders, then he grinned ruefully at Hunter. “A transport, you say? Does this mean we should probably haul ourselves over the mountain?”

“Only if you want to see who’s on board,” Hunter grinned.

“Do we know which ship?”

“No,” Hunter shook his head. “But Sean’s on it.”

“Sean’s alive?” Gust exclaimed. There was stunned silence, then raucous cheering in the background, even through the procedures to shut down all systems. Hunter nodded happily. His brother had always been well loved.

“Ri has been talking to him mentally for the past month. The ship should be here sometime this afternoon, and my brother will be with us once more!”

“Oh, Hunter!” Gust breathed, emotion shining in his eyes. “I am so very happy for you!”

“And I am happy for you,” Hunter said quietly. “I know that you and my brother have always had a special connection.”

“Not the kind I would have liked,” Gust sighed, the sound exaggerated. “But yes… he is one of my best friends. I’m… beside myself that he’s alive. And almost here! Crap! I need to get moving! Gust out.”

Hunter and Trey chuckled at Gust’s enthusiasm and his frantic slap of the camera that turned it off. When the screen went dark, Hunter looked at Rom questioningly.

“And… they’re off sensors,” Rom sighed heavily. He turned and looked at Hunter. “We have only short-range sensors operating, Commander. Nothing more than a few miles above the atmosphere.”

“Good. No scans, no beacons, no communication until the transport is close enough to identify without revealing our presence. And once the ship has been identified, send them landing coordinates and shut down short-range com, as well.”

“Aye, sir,” Rom said. “We’ll call as soon as we know something.”

“Good man,” Hunter clapped Rom on the shoulder as he left.

Arianna fell into step with her mate, who slowed down to allow for her much shorter legs. They often joked that they would one day build a pack to put her in, as that would be so much easier and faster than trying to let her keep up with him and Jace. She usually threw something at their heads or punched them… or wrapped her short legs around their waists and reminded them that wonderful things sometimes came in the smallest packages.

They stopped in at the med center to let Jace know what was going on, then all three continued to their quarters, to eat, rest, and prepare for the coming reunion.

Lunch was eaten and Bev and her team, with the exception of Rom, stopped by to wait for word about the transport together. Ri’s head raised and the men turned toward the garden area and balcony when an alarm sounded out in the courtyard. Throwing an excited look around the room at his family and friends, Hunter strode over to the balcony’s edge, looking down into the courtyard.

“Report!” he bellowed down into the open area. At the same time, a frantic knock sounded on the door to their quarters. Jace, giving Arianna an apologetic pat on the butt, scooted out from under her and answered the knock. Trey followed Hunter, Erik followed Jace, and Rom stood beside the women, waiting for orders.

Arianna was torn, wanting to know what was happening with both of them. She couldn’t hear the response from the courtyard, but Jace opened the door wide to the two warriors who had come.

“The Commander?” one of the warriors asked, Jace nodded toward the balcony, where Hunter was striding through the doorway. The man stood at attention as Hunter repeated the order to report.

“Sir, ship incoming.”

“Identified?” Hunter asked, tugging on a tunic and strapping his leather bands around his body.

“Yes, sir.”

Hunter and the other men froze, waiting.

“Who?” Hunter asked quietly, though he knew that they were expecting Sean’s ship. The warrior grinned and nodded, his eyes shining with emotion.

“Sir, it’s the
Adelphae
.”

Hunter and Jace’s jaws dropped. Trey offered up what sounded like a prayer of thanks, and Erik made a sound much like a sob. Bev stood and took his hand as Arianna moved to Hunter’s side.

“The
Adelphae
?” she asked softly. “Why is that significant?”

“Lady,” the warrior bowed his head to her, his throat working on emotion. “It is the transport for the families from our territory.”

“Who… the ... captain? Who is the captain of the
Adelphae
?” Jace asked, his voice thick.

“Your father.”

Not Sean, then? She was confused. But… Jace’s father? How wonderful! The men had told her fantastic stories of the man who was Hunter’s uncle, but had raised them all as his own when his brothers were lost in battle, leaving only Geoff mated to their mother. Arianna went to Jace as tears slipped from his eyes and freely moved down his cheeks. He held her tightly, emotion wracking his big body, at the news that his father was not only alive, but was almost here. She sent Hunter a look, but he was staring at the warrior.

“And the first mate?” he asked softly. The man chuckled and nodded. The fierce joy that swept through Hunter almost doubled Arianna over. She found herself sandwiched between her men, squashed, as they embraced. She had a feeling that they were hugging each other, rather than her. Ri managed to wedge her way out from between them to look at the warrior who’d delivered the news.

“Who is the first mate?” she asked, bewildered.

The man winked at her and said simply, “Their mother.”

Arianna’s eyes widened, but before she could fully embrace her joy for her mates, she saw the lived-in messiness of their quarters after an evening with friends, and panic struck. She began fluttering about, picking things up, straightening items that didn’t need to be straightened, and fussing with her hair in the mirror every time she passed one. Bev was laughing at her indulgently. Hunter and Jace watched her like she had gone crazy.

“What is the matter with you?” Jace asked, hurrying over to grab her hands and force her to stop her dithering. Arianna chattered something inane at him. He threw a helpless look at Bev. The blond just chuckled and shrugged.

“She’s about to meet her mother-in-law,” Bev reminded them.

Arianna made a strangled noise as the men rolled their eyes at her and took turns assuring her that their mother was going to love her, and that she wouldn’t care what Arianna looked like or how clean the quarters were. Ri didn’t buy it, not for one second, but she gave in when the men pleaded with her to be at their side when the ship landed and they saw their parents again for the first time in years. The look in their eyes was so amazingly
young
…