Strokes Vol #3 (16 page)

His grip was strong, the look he gave her doubtful. “Good luck to you, Mary.”

Not a professional greeting, but no one had called her by her first name, alone, for a very long time. She gave him a warm smile. “Thanks for everything. We’ll be fine here.”

A duffel was tossed from the transport by one of the guards. The bag was small. Likely only a couple changes of clothing for the prisoner. She jerked her chin toward it, knowing she was still being observed by the crew. “Bring it,” she said, making her tone curt. She turned, walking toward the cabin, wondering if the lock on her new mate’s door would actually hold him.

Colm followed the
small woman inside the cabin. Everywhere he looked was gray. Bare concrete walls, fiber-composite cabinets. No curtains on the windows, just cheap solar-glass that turned a milky color to reflect the sun when it hit directly. Utilitarian. Ugly.

Ugly everywhere he looked. Except the woman.

She was a surprise. Small and slender. She didn’t look capable of driving a combine, much less handling a man as large as he was. But for the chip she wore around her neck, he could overcome her inside a single heartbeat. And yet, she hadn’t hesitated accepting him.

Her clothing was the pioneer uniform. Heavy denim trousers, a form-fitting, long-sleeved shirt, insulated to retain body heat or to wick away moisture if the air grew warm. Her small feet were encased inside clunky work boots. And yet she was lovely. And likely didn’t know it.

She wore no makeup. Her bluntly cut hair was held up with a single band at the back of her head—a pretty brown with strands of blonde and red setting it afire. Her eyes, when she’d stared up at him, were a soft green, like springtime blades of grass. Something he’d seen in domed parks back home. Vivid and fresh, those eyes. And so unaware.

The perfect product of the company’s long assimilation program. Despite her slight stature, she’d survived the grueling testing and come to this place. But why? As pretty as she was, she needn’t struggle for her survival. She’d have made some company scion a fine mistress. Or a gladiator a concubine. He’d have taken her on, for a full month’s use, just to see whether he could make that blush she’d betrayed deepen.

His loins stirred, and he sighed, knowing he was concentrating on the puzzle she presented because it was better than sinking into a black hole of despair over the fact he was here. That this would be his life until he died.

In another time and place, he might have enjoyed the adventure, travelling months to reach this desolate planet, testing his mettle against the elements for his own satisfaction against whatever obstacles arose from living on another world. However, he’d left behind a mess. One he was fated never to repair. Everyone he knew and cared for left behind forever. Lost.

“Your room’s in here,” the woman said, her soft gaze lingering on him. She likely wondered if he was a half-wit, he’d stood there so long, staring at nothing. “Drop your bag beside the bed. You can put away your things later. We have work to do.”

Colm said nothing, but stepped past her, making sure to brush an arm against her, just to see how she reacted.

Her quick, indrawn breath and startled gaze told him a lot. She was every bit as aware of him as he was of her. Satisfaction warmed him. Here was something he could work with. Perhaps he could convince her to toss away the chip. And soon. The memory of the sharp pains it invoked, seeming to tap every single nerve with fire and pressure and agonizing cramping, were enough to nauseate him.

A prisoner now, and for the rest of his life, he determined in that moment that he wouldn’t be seen as one by at least one person on this wretched planet.

He dropped his bag beside the narrow cot. As stark as any prison cell, at least the room had a window, although the hardware surrounding it told him there would be no escape. Not that he had anywhere to go if he did manage to slip away.

However, just the thought of walking freely in the out of doors, of swimming in the stream he’d seen that perfectly divided fields of wheat from oats, were enough to keep him thinking about breaking out.

“We work until the sun sets,” she said, her voice oddly gruff. The sweet note it had held when she’d spoken with the commander was gone. But then, from the way the other man had eyed her up and down and given her unsolicited advice, perhaps they knew each other.

The thought bothered him more than he wanted to admit. He was already feeling possessive of his new jailer.

“Tell me what needs to be done,” he said, dropping his voice to infer he was ready to do more than labor in the wheat fields. “I’m here to help.”

Her cheeks pinkened, and she turned away, bending to pick up a pack on the floor then striding toward the door. “Let’s just make sure water’s making it to the plantings. We’ll walk the fields.”

And walk they
did. Colm was amazed at the size of the tract she’d been handed. On Earth, land this rich, this verdant, was so rare only the very wealthiest could afford it. And yet here, as far as he could see, stretched gold and green fields filled with fragile bio-gold.

He and his new mistress carried all-service tools slung over their shoulders, which changed with a click from a shovel head to a pick, depending on the need. At mid-day, she unearthed crusty protein wafers and bottles of fresh water from the bottom of her pack.

He grimaced at the stale taste, but did have to admit the food satisfied his growling belly. Then back to work they went, with the woman walking between neat rows to inspect plants for wilt or disease, although every grain brought to Mars had been specially engineered to suit the soil and climate.

“That’s odd,” she whispered, bending closer to one wheat stalk. She tipped it with her finger and drew away with a small insect.

Peering over her shoulder, he noted the frown bisecting her brow. “A ladybug?”

“This insect’s not scheduled for release. It shouldn’t be here.”

Colm shrugged. “Perhaps it stowed away with the seeds when they were shipped.”

Still staring at the tiny round bug, she shook her head. “Makes me wonder what else might have. I’ll have to report the sighting.” She tucked the insect into her pants pocket.

“Do you really think the company can control every element of this world?”

“They have to try,” she said softly. “There’s a fine balance here, between all elements of the environment.”

“Is there no room in these plans for surprises? For a natural progression?”

Her head canted as she studied his face. “You’re an odd man, Colm. Everyone knows the dangers imminent when things and people are given free will.”

Colm breathed deeply, pulling his gaze from her curious one. He knew she wondered about him, where his loyalties lay.

Phobos rose large on the horizon. She glanced toward it, shielding her eyes as the sun peeked around the edges of the asteroid. “That’s the last orbit for the day. We should head back before night falls.”

Colm’s body tightened. His own indoctrination had included training to please his new master. Farmers must be kept happy after all. He wondered if she would avail herself of his training tonight or would opt to get to know him better first.

He tamped down his excitement, but already blood surged southward, thickening his cock. A chance to lie with her, to lose himself in lust, was too tempting a thought. Could he tempt her to forget her natural reticence? “I’m trained, you know. I could give you a massage. Draw your bath…”

Her head swung his way, green eyes narrowed. “Let’s get this straight. I don’t need a servant or a sex worker. I need a partner. You aren’t obligated to pleasure me. So long as you pull your own weight, I’ll be satisfied.”

He suppressed a grin at her terse tone. “And what if I have needs, ma’am?”

Her jaw clenched. “You have a hand. Use it.”

She stomped away, but he couldn’t help smiling. He’d noted her heightened color. He’d shocked her. Now she was thinking about the coming night and all the delightful possibilities.

Mary eyed Colm
from beneath the sweep of her thick eyelashes as he bent over the bowl of stew she’d heated for their dinner. Ever since he’d offered to pleasure her, she hadn’t been able to get certain lusty images out of her head. It had been ages since she’d taken a sexual partner.

And what if I have needs, ma’am?
She wished she could look at him as though he was just another machine she’d been provided for convenience, because
dammit
she had needs, too. Yet, even though she understood the necessity of physical release, somehow the thought of using a prisoner in that way felt sordid.

He really didn’t have any choice in the matter. And even though he’d offered, he might have done so because of his conditioning, not because of any true attraction he might feel. How could she know for sure? Certainly, they were destined to mate and they both had an obligation to reproduce. However, deep inside, she hoped they’d find some affection first. Some spark of attraction to make the act feel less like another of her daily mandated chores.

Sitting across from him, she freely admitted more than a spark existed on her side. Although his features were rugged, he was a handsome man. With a square jaw and sharp, blunt blade of a nose, his face was strong and masculine. His cheekbones were as sharp as arrowheads. When he spoke, white even teeth flashed between firm lips. Already, her nipples tightened as she imagined those lips tugging at their tips.

His size alone fed a feminine hunger to feel his weight pressing on her. Thick dark hair caused her fingers to curl against the need to comb through it. His watchful gaze inspired images of him rising up to look between their naked bodies as they came together.

He’d be attentive to her pleasure. His training ensured that, but would he really want
her
?

Mary pushed aside the foolish thought. His wants should be secondary to their mission. They were ordained to mate, to produce progeny and populate this planet, just as they were ordained to nurture the fields.

“Would you like to join me on the porch?” she asked. “The fireworks should begin soon.”

“Fireworks?” A dark brow arched, seeming to mock her flight of fancy.

“Okay, so missiles, actually. Seeding the clouds. This will be the first time I’ve seen the seeding since leaving the dome. Would you like to watch?”

In answer, he gathered their dishes without being asked and took them to the sink. Then they both headed to the open door and the dark porch outside. She sat atop the steps, making room for him to join her, then trained her gaze on the sky. “It’s supposed to look like Fourth of July,” she whispered. She angled her head to glance his way. “Where was your home, Colm?”

She was entitled to his answer, but wanted more. Not wanting to pry, she glanced away in case her question caused him pain, but also giving him the signal he could share if he wanted or not.

“Arizona,” came his gruff reply. “You?”

She smiled. “Iowa. My great-great grandparents were farmers. It’s partly why I decided to apply for the land grant.”

“Were there other reasons?”

She grimaced. “I wasn’t the best student. No aptitude for math or science. And since I didn’t want to be consigned to factory work, I volunteered for this.”

“Did you leave anyone behind?”

She shook her head. “My parents died several years ago. There wasn’t anyone.” Although she wasn’t sure she wanted to know, she asked, “Did you leave someone behind?”

Colm drew a deep breath. Sorrow deepened the grooves beside his mouth. “My father. He was in enforcement. And my little brother. Also a cop.” His mouth tightened, and then he shot her a pointed glance. “You haven’t asked me the important question yet.”

“Okay.” She swallowed hard. “What crime did you commit?”

His smile was bittersweet, a thin twisting of his firm lips. “My crime was daring to question.”

Shock rattled through her. “You were a rebel?”

“Imagine that,” he said, his tone filled with bitter sarcasm. “They sent one of me here.”

She shook her head. “Were you one of those doing the bombings?”

He gave a swift shake of his head. “No. I chose civil disobedience. I never wanted to harm anyone.”

His glance fell away and she noted the tightness of his jaw. “But you did?”

His glance fell to his hands, which gripped his knees. “I broke into a comm facility. I was the one with the skills to get us inside. We intended to divert the feed and post our own transmissions. Free radio. Tell the truth about what the governments were up to.”

“Up to?” She snorted. Seemed everyone had had a conspiracy theory or two.

His gaze swung her way, his eyes cold as a Martian glacier. “You don’t get it. Whole regions of the Earth were dying. Our only hope was population reduction and plantation projects. Plans were already in motion, plans every single government in the seven Sectors supported.”

She shook her head. “A grand conspiracy?”

His eyes narrowed. “How about extermination? World extermination.”

Mary studied his face. Colm believed what he said. How the hell had he gotten past the psych evals? “That’s ridiculous. They’re already practicing population control.”

“It wasn’t working fast enough.”

“How do you know?’

“I was military,
ma’am
,” he bit out. “Part of the group responsible for security around the S-17 summits. I heard everything. That’s why I’m here, and not in some hellhole prison camp on Earth. They didn’t want word getting out before they began. While I slept in stasis aboard the prison ship traveling here, it happened.
It’s done.
”

Cold, like ice water spilling down her spine, shivered through her. “But news feeds…there’s been no mention. Something that big—”

“The feeds are fiction,” he ground out. “To keep you happy. To keep you working and productive. The next waves of colonists are already in transit, just as dumb and oblivious. It might be years before you all learn the truth.”

Mary grew still. Everything he said made sense. “Extermination…” She raised her glance to the sky, searching for the small speck of unblinking light that was the Earth. “I don’t know why that’s so shocking. It’s what the doomsayers have been talking about for years. The end of the world.”