Survivor Planet III (3 page)

“No. I had only to take control of you. You allowed me in so it was not difficult. The real battle taking place was for you to overpower Lara.” He stared at me intently for a moment. “Who is this girl?”

“Well, you already know her name. She's twenty years old and was captured from Earth. She'd been held in the cell for five days before they took us—her—to the coliseum. There were twenty women brought in altogether.”

Ayres nodded.

“What was happening to them? I saw Baynarius—Baynar, although I didn't know him at the time because Lara didn't know him. He was standing there addressing the spectators, promising them a grand show. Lara became overwhelmed. I'm not sure if it was just from being in the arena, or because of our connection, or both. She fainted, that's how I got control and broke free.”

“She fainted because I made Lourde bring you out.”

I stared at him with disbelief. “What? Why? I was there! Baynar was there. This could have been over.”

“That wasn't the plan. Not this soon. Too many things could have gone wrong. You know that. Lourde said we must first establish the connections, make sure they're strong.”

“I was willing to take the chance!” I insisted.

Ayres squeezed my hand tight. “I wasn't. You don't know what could have happened. What if you couldn't break free? What would happen if Lara was killed and you couldn't get out in time? There is risk, no matter what Lourde said. I saw what was happening to you…”

I pulled my hand free of his grip. “It's not just you who wants revenge, you know. We all do.”

“I am aware. But I don't want it at a risk to your life. You are everything to me. I'd rather live on Taseeus forever than lose you.”

The look on his face convinced me he spoke the truth. He was afraid. Big and mighty he may be, but his love for me had weakened him, let it get in the way of the bigger picture. “Tell me what was happening in the arena.”

He stared into the fire for several moments and I sensed he didn't want me to know. “Fighting in the arena is huge on Calixtus. Men fight each other, but they also fight creatures captured from all over the universe, not just from Earth.”

“I saw them there—the men—in cells. Dressed like Gladiators.”

“If they were in cells they were not likely Roamyns from Calixtus. They were probably from Earth and from other planets. They would also battle in the arena.”

“There was a strange creature there, it had three eyes.” I shivered with the memory.

Ayres nodded. “Yes, there are many strange creatures.”

“So why bring the women out there? We had no weapons so it couldn't be to fight. And we were all small and I believe from Earth.”

Ayres sighed. “I'll tell you but you won't like it.”

“Okay.” I mentally prepared myself for what he would reveal. Though I'd been linked to Lara for a couple of hours this time, it'd felt much longer. The times before had only really been me popping in, establishing the link, while Ayres fiddled with control of her arms and legs through my connection. But after this last time we'd formed a bond she and I, and I was afraid to think of what may have happened to her after I left.

“There were twenty of them?”

“Yes.”

“They would have been divided into four groups after being addressed by Baynar. The first group of five would be set to run around to rile the beasts.”

“What do you mean?”

His blue eyes bore into mine. “I mean to stir their blood lust.”

“So the beasts would hunt them?” I felt my belly lurch and I feared I might be sick. What the hell kind of freak show planet did he come from?

“Yes. They'd be torn to pieces to the delight of the crowd.”

“Oh, shit.” I digested that bit of information for a moment. “And the next group?” I finally dared to ask.

“The next two groups would be brought out and allowed weapons. Although, they'd be set out in the middle of the arena and the women would have to race to secure one. There wouldn't be enough for everyone. Then they would have to fight each other.”

I remembered having to fight onboard the Lariton. “To first blood?”

“No. To the death.”

“Oh.”

“The three left standing would be taken back to their cells and used in future events.”

I swallowed hard. “And the last group?”

“The last group would probably survive. They'd most likely be the prettiest women, and would be given as prizes to the winners.”

“Lucky them,” I said drolly. Still, I couldn't help but wonder if Lara may be in that group. If I went under again and formed a connection, it was more than likely I'd link up with the same person. If Lara were gone—dead—then my connection would snag onto the closest and most compatible tracker. Thinking about my strong bond with Lara and how hard it'd been to break free, I wondered if it just might be a better thing if I linked with someone else. Even though that'd probably mean the worst possible outcome for Lara.

But I wasn't here to make friends.

I was here to exact revenge.

My entire body felt tense. Wrestling with ethical factors in this mission was going to be my biggest hurdle. Though I'd rationalized that Lara was doomed anyhow it didn't make this task any easier on me. In order to push past my inner demons I'd adopted a cold and calculating demeanor, focusing on Baynar and all the hate I had for him. With him out of our way perhaps things would settle down over time and we'd no longer be major targets. As it stood, from what we'd heard from other settlers or passersby of Taseeus, our little group was still top of Baynar's hit list. With him alive we'd forever be looking over our shoulders and unwelcome anywhere else but the farthest reaches of the universe.

“Want to walk?” Ayres asked. Without waiting for a reply he got to his feet and reached for my hand. He pulled me up slowly against his battle hard body and reached around to grab hold of my ass. Wrapping my arms tight around him I could feel him harden against me. I tossed back my head allowing my thoughts to turn to more pleasurable things.

“Sure you just want to walk?”

His hands came up around my shoulders and just when I thought he'd kiss me, he instead turned me around. “March.”

Obediently I began to stride forward. “Aren't you worried we'll run into a Daeodon?” As soon as I tossed the question over my shoulder at him I regretted it. His battle with the giant boar-like beast in the midst of the tournament last time we'd been here had caused a huge rift between us. Chancing a glance back at him I saw to my relief he wasn't remembering that terrible fight. He was watching my ass.

For his benefit I adopted a rhythmic sway. “How far you wanna walk?”

We reached the edge of the clearing. Before me the huge trees of a vast forest spread out. The land appeared much darker in the thick woods, and cooler too, causing me to tremble a little.

Ayres came up beside me and took my hand. “I'll lead.”

He guided me along the faint, meandering path until we were several yards into the thick of the forest. A downed tree broken off about six feet up lay hung on an angle touching the ground. Ayres leaned against the thick trunk and pulled me into his arms. His hot mouth came down on mine with a searing kiss. My hands braced against his chest feeling the steady pounding of his heart.

His tongue teased mine for a moment then he began kissing his way down my neck. I leaned back a little so his hand could come up to rest on my breast. Through the fabric of my shirt he pinched my nipple.

“Ouch!” When I tried to pull away he pulled me tighter. The tension soon seeped from my body and I let myself relax. I lost myself in his kiss, hardly aware of the feel of his hands pulling off my shirt and tugging down my pants.

“What if Lara's gone?” The sudden image of her popped into my head.

“Then we'll find another,” he assured me. I moved back from him while he yanked his shirt off over his head and tossed it behind him onto the tree trunk beside mine.

His callous dismissal of Lara's fate annoyed me. “So I guess it doesn't matter then, what happens to her?”

The moons gave off just enough light to allow me to see Ayres' annoyed expression. “I warned you going in what would happen. Her fate is sealed regardless.” He pulled down his pants and soon stood naked before me. He had a raging hard on. I swallowed hard, wanting him despite his callous words.

On Taseeus our lovemaking had been mostly fast and frantic, snatched liaisons when the moment allowed. Everything about that terrible planet hinged on constant survival. Food and water were sparse, as were accommodations for the horde of outcast stragglers arriving almost daily. We'd become pros at getting it on in the most unlikely places. Ayres, never big on sharing emotions, had always maintained an authoritative outlook, adapting to our surroundings with his usual calm, cool, reserve. Everyone there looked up to him and Aris. Danni and I, being their mates, had come to mirror their demeanor. Things had to be done. We were the ones to see that they were. And now, ever since Lourde's arrival and the idea that freedom may at last be within our grasp, our focus had been singularly set. Hopes and dreams rested on this mission. Not just mine and Ayres', but everyone else on that planet who longed to return home.

The chill air made my naked skin break into goose bumps. I longed to forget everything for a while and bask in Ayres' attention. My tongue flicked out and licked my suddenly dry lips. I could see Ayres watching me, the expression on his face turning to hunger. He put out his arms and I flew into them. My legs came up around his waist as he came forward to meet me and he grasped hold of my ass. Our lips met hungrily. Only this moment, right now, mattered. Everything else could wait.

Ayres set me down and I knelt on his pants that lay on the ground. Taking him with both hands I guided the head of his cock into my mouth. I suckled him, intermittently dipping low to take him deep into my throat. When I felt him tensing, I teased out the moment by pulling back and licking around the rim of the head of his cock. I held his long, thick length with one hand and cuddled his balls with the other making him throw back his head and groan. Both his hands were buried in my hair guiding my head upon him. When he could take no more he pulled me to my feet and guided my hands to the fallen tree to hold on. Pushing my legs apart with his knee I waited to feel his cock against me. When his lips came onto me I jumped. Holding me steady with his hands on my hips he turned his attention to my clit. I looked back at him over my shoulder and saw him kneeling behind me. The sensation of being pleasured in the middle of the forest was tantalizing. At any moment we could be met with danger, only lending a thrill of excitement to what we did. I gasped as his tongue darted inside my pussy, followed by a thick finger plunging deep. Soon another finger joined the first, all the while he licked and suckled my clit. Now it was my turn to groan.

As I felt about to lose control Ayres pulled his fingers free of my passage. I heard the rustle of him getting to his feet and then his cock pushed inside of me. He held me tight by my hips only letting go to smack my bottom or reach up to fondle my breasts.

All around us I could hear the sounds of nature, our groans and cries mingling with the other wildlife. Cool air flowed over my body now damp with a sheen of perspiration. My passion grew as Ayres stroked faster and faster. Moments later we climaxed intensely together. Only his hands on my body kept me from collapsing to the ground. Ayres held me from behind, his hands coming up around me to hold my breasts, his hot breath in my ear. “Love you,” he said. I couldn't wait for the day when we'd be safe to spend hours making love. If all went according to plan, that day may be soon.

Taleon was different from how I'd remembered it. We had arrived three Earth days ago by small spacecraft and landed on the opposite side of the planet from where the game is played. Ayres and Lourde had made the trip twice already, establishing a safe place to set up our equipment and to make sure our presence would be undetected. On the third trip I was finally allowed to join them. Though every failsafe possible had been implemented to the best of Lourde's abilities, the threat of discovery still dogged us. In order for the links to be achieved between Ayres and me, and me and someone else, our trackers must first be activated, therefore creating the possibility that Baynar might detect the signal—not to mention that he also possessed the ability to remotely turn on our trackers himself—as long as we were in range. Granted, the odds of him doing that were slim, considering he figured us to be long gone.

It'd been a difficult task convincing Danni and Ariston that their presence wasn't necessary despite Aris' vocal objections. Lourde had asserted that having fewer of us here would better our chances for anonymity. There was no way Danni could even consider risking the trip to Taleon. If the Akkadian's caught wind of her tracker signal, we'd have more than just Baynar and his corrupt council to contend with. And of course, Danni didn't want Aris to go without her, which made it easier to convince him to stay behind. I could understand Aris' annoyance at not being included, especially when his thirst for revenge was probably even greater than mine. Unfortunately he would have to savor retribution from the dregs of the universe. Part of me envied him and Danni that chance. As it was, the entire undertaking was in the hands of us three—the most unlikely trio—puny Earth girl, giant fugitive ex-Roamyn warrior, and scientific genius outcast.

Lourde entered the room briskly rubbing his hands together. “All ready then?”

I sat on the edge of the metal table while Ayres stood by the reclining chair that would occupy him when he was under. Upon Lourde's arrival Ayres resumed the pacing and arm waving I'd been witnessing for the past ten minutes or so.