Starlaw (29 page)

“All right, Laurel. I
have
tried to warn you. After last night and your confession of nightmares brought on by your past, I'd think you'd welcome the chance, however slim it might be, to walk away from this. I'm the only one who can ask for your abstention. Be sure this is what you really want.”

“You had no right to even consider such a thing. My testimony represents what happened on Earth. Without me, there's no one to speak for my planet.”

She stood and glared at him as if he'd committed the last, final sacrilege. He opened his mouth to speak, but she wouldn't allow it.

“No matter what I do or say … no matter what I admit to or how I share my innermost feelings, you'll never see me as anything other than some primitive victim from a backward world. A world you hold in complete disdain.”

He also stood. “What
feelings
have you ever shared that would change that opinion?” he tersely asked.

“Last night. I shared my nightmare. You shared yours, too. But I see now that you were just humoring the little Earthling again.” She tossed her head and crossed her arms over her chest.

He took a deep breath and sighed heavily. Nothing he'd say would make any difference. Facts were facts. He'd done his best to mitigate further suffering. She'd have none of it. So let her deal with the repercussions. Martyrdom was what she wanted. Let her have it.

“I have matters to tend,” he told her. “If you need anything you can access the holo—”

“I know what to do, Darius! Stop treating me like a child.”

“Then quit acting like one.”

She pointed toward the door. “Get out … now!”

He took one step toward her, then another. Anger over being treated like some lingering inferior rankled. “You dare order me in my own home?”

“It's time somebody refused to kiss your ass. I'm not a citizen of this world and you don't have any control over me. Not now. Not ever.” She poked one index finger into her own chest. “I'm still free. I didn't ask to be brought here but as long as I
am
here, you won't deny me the right to testify. Quit interfering.”

“I was trying to save you from—”

“How many times do I have to tell you that I can take care of myself?”

She drew herself up and moved closer.

When she stood only a breath away and tilted her head back to gaze up at him, he actually felt her anger. It was like a wall of heat between them; she shook with it.

At that moment, he'd never wanted a woman more in his life. His cock was hard with need. He briefly clenched his hands to keep from putting them around her slender body and ravaging her décolletage with kisses. The V of her robe had widened, showing the full swell of her breasts.

“You saved my life, Darius Starlaw. And then I saved yours. We're even. And we're
done
. I'm not on the
Titan
any longer. And as soon as I can, I'll find another place to stay.”

“That's not necess—”

“I don't think you and I need to be around each other. I'm too ignorant. And you're too arrogant. Now get out!” she repeated.

Never having been ordered to leave quarters he considered
his
had a nasty, belittling effect. He wasn't leaving with her having the final word. “All right, you little nova! So much for your so-called intent to show respect.” He put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her up against his body. “I don't think you know what that word means, and I still have grave doubts about whoever put you into an enforcer's position. But I won't leave until I extract payment for rent, and anything else offered to a very thoughtless, spoiled little harridan.”

He ran one hand up the back of her neck, gently grasped a handful of long, luxurious hair, and pulled her head back. When her neck was exposed, he lowered his head and kissed the deep valley between her breasts. Then he worked his way slowly upward.

To his surprise, she didn't fight but wrapped her arms around his waist and held on as tightly as he held her. Soft moans of desire slipped from her lips as he kissed her left cheek then pressed his mouth against hers in what became a savage, deeply passionate kiss.

When she actually took one of his hands and pulled it to cover her left breast, he moaned back. The sound of it echoed around the room.

With experienced tenderness, he massaged the full orb for a few seconds before breaking their kiss and covering her nipple with his lips.

She inhaled, then gasped and arched upward toward his mouth as he suckled. Nothing in life had ever tasted as sweet as that pink, soft nub. Sensations filled him and threatened to take away all reason. He craved her the way some men desired riches.

In the entire universe, what lay in the embrace of a beautiful woman was the best treasure any man could find. And he wanted this particular plunder for his own.

Then, as he almost made the decision to pick her up and carry her to the large bed to finish what would be the hottest encounter of his existence, some spark of reason and sanity set in.

Years of discipline and the certainty of disdain she'd show over his lack of control halted him. He let her go, backed away, and turned toward the door. Taking only a few seconds to catch his breath and force some semblance of normalcy into the sound of his voice, he finally addressed her in his best command speech.

“Someday I'll demand the rest of payment due, for all services rendered. Until then, your demand will be met. We should see as little of each other as possible. I won't be accused of rape!”

Her loud gasp made him wince, but she couldn't see his expression with his back to her. “One more thing, Earther. Don't leave this room without a communication device on you. That you did so last night will be forgiven this time. But our laws are clear concerning this issue. All those on this world are to carry such communicators in case of general emergencies. Weather, security alerts, and any environmental problems notify the population of problems. I'll have a servant fetch one and show you how to use it. But be sure it's on you at all times. Is that clear?” he finished, enunciating the last three words with forceful resolve.

When she made no sound, he nodded as if her silence was acceptable. Then he strode from her room. The echoing noise caused by her slamming the door behind him made him pause only a second before reentering his own quarters.

• • •

It hadn't been necessary to leave the warmth of home so early and head into the city. But anger drove him to do anything but sit and dwell on what'd occurred. Only moments afterward, he was both sorry and ashamed. They'd both behaved like recalcitrant children.

One her side, she was not the kind of woman to be bullied, nor would she silently stand for disparagement of her world or her intellect. To even imply inferior status was to brook dissent. And in truth, Laurel's intelligence appeared as sharp as a dragon's barb. She worded her objections with clear, precise language and didn't play semantics with definition. She had the ability to see through deceit. That was why he'd always striven to relay the truth.

On his side, however, the tactlessness in
how
that truth was relayed seemed obvious. He'd been around those expected to blindly follow commands. Clearly, the Earther had no such experience. He suspected that when she complied during the regular commission of duties on her own planet, she did so only as long as her conscience was clear.

Perhaps that was the best definition of a good enforcer—someone who
wouldn't
follow questionable orders without resolving their origin or their necessity.

He hadn't meant it when he suggested they not see much of each other. Considering her out of his life seemed so very wrong as to make him pause and turn back toward the castle. He almost went back to her to retract statements made in anger. But she needed time. And he needed to choose his words and how he'd approach her more carefully. For now, he must focus on what'd dragged him from his room and toward the city—Goll's interrogation.

If the vamphiere didn't give up his contacts on Luster—the very same ones who'd likely supplied him with blood from some gruesome source so the bastard could escape this part of the galaxy—then some
other
vamphiere just like him would take his place. Warlords and their minions were making a great deal of money by attacking and looting colonies whose constabularies weren't as strong or as honest as Constellation League enforcers.

He put thoughts of Laurel and how he'd apologize out of his mind for the moment. He couldn't protect her any longer. She was, as she'd stated, free. There was no way to properly explain what she'd endure when Goll testified. At least
he'd
not found a good way.

Some hours later he returned to the castle in an even worse mood than when he'd left. Sounds of merriment coming from Laurel's quarters via her now fully open doorway, made him pause. He recognized his sisters' giggling, Gemma's gay interruption into some story or another, and even his mother's lower, more mature but amused voice. Apparently, they'd tired of waiting for his introduction to the Earth woman and had forged their way, en masse, to her temporary quarters.

As Barst was also staying at the castle for a few days, he'd contacted his second-in-command with the news he must now relay to his family. Sure his face would project anger and frustration, he took a deep breath and hoped his father or one of his sire's many advisers could put a different complexion on the issue. As of right this moment, bringing Goll back to Luster had accomplished only one thing—closure for his family's deaths. While Goll hadn't ordered Astral and Kyrie's shuttle attacked, he'd certainly watched Gorm, his sick, detested father, do it. Indeed, Goll admitted to standing by, watching and even picking off survivors who'd exited the vessel in escape pods. The idea that pirates of any kind would murder with such depravity left him feeling hollow.

He slowly strode forward, and paused outside the door but not within eyesight of anyone in the room. Inhaling deeply, he briefly made his presence known by knocking. Then he stood in the entrance awaiting Laurel's permission to enter. He was half certain she'd tell him to leave, and use short, rude verbiage to do so.

Silence followed his knock. Surprised to see his entire family in Laurel's quarters, including his sire, he simply drew himself up to his full height and waited.

“Darius … where have you got to?” Dar asked. “And why are you in dress uniform?”

Once again, tact seemed less important than just spitting out the truth. He was in no mood to play politics. He bowed his head slightly, in deference to his parents' presence, and spoke bluntly.

“I went to League headquarters. Goll has been brought out of stasis. He's defiantly refusing to give up his Lusterian contacts though he readily admits there are Warlord traitors in our midst. And he was quite adamant, even jubilant, when mentioning his father's destruction of civilian shuttles that refused to be boarded on demand of common criminals. Especially the one containing my family.”

Whatever merriment ensued within the room previously, saddened and shocked expressions now prevailed. He glanced at Laurel as she stood there in a lovely new dressing gown likely provided by his mother or sisters, staring at the marble floor. Her face held an expression of utter sorrow.

“Sorry to break up your revelry, but it's been decided that Goll will be tried tomorrow. Since he's of no use, League bureaucrats have chosen to end his effrontery as quickly as possible. I, for one, agree with their decision. And I thank you, Father, for pushing the matter forward. At least Goll will face justice at last. Even if we
don't
know who, among our elite, have been helping him.”

Dar stood and nodded.

Darius squarely faced him, and waited whatever chastisement might come for having approached the interrogators at all. He hadn't long to think on the matter.

“Son … we should talk elsewhere about these matters. Come to my quarters and we'll discuss—”

“I see no reason to keep Mother and everyone else in the dark, sir. As of this morning, it's common knowledge that League directors ordered the
Titan
to find Goll at all costs, and that I used my influence to pursue him even though a conflict of interest existed. It's also known that we approached and landed on a banned world to affect an arrest, and that we brought back an Earth citizen … an
enforcer
… to testify. The members of Goll's defense team are voicing their protestations. It's likely they'll say the arrest wasn't legal since we were never supposed to land on Earth to begin with. In effect, I committed a crime to make the arrest!”

“Son … we were fully aware this very defense might be used, and are prepared to counter it. But we should discuss this matter
elsewhere
!” his father curtly responded.

Darius glanced at Laurel once more, but stubbornly ignored the warning in his sire's voice. He put his full attention back on Dar before continuing. “I was aware such accusations might be made. But not for how quickly the news spread to the populace. If there's any further proof that Goll and his minions have friends in high places, then please tell me.” He lifted one hand and curled it into a fist. “He should be questioned more forcibly. When the people know just how many of our officials are accepting bribes from the Warlords, or just how many are in collusion with them, then any defense will be impossible. Too many of our citizens have lost loved ones to our enemies. The people won't stand for—”

“What the people will or won't stand for is my business, my son. It is the business of my advisers and those duly elected officials of the League. You've done your job. Goll's interrogation and the resulting fallout is not your concern. You're on official leave, are you not?”

“Father … have you not seen the news coming from every source on the planet? Are you not aware of what's being said?”