Kieran Read online

  He stopped holding back. The next part of the hour went by in a blur, Kieran holding her hips and pumping into her, the grip on his cock so hard he was amazed he wasn’t coming already.

  Felice screamed, all her fears, pain, grief, suffering pouring out of her with the sound, and Kieran filled her back up with as much joy as he could.

  He heard his own voice ringing through the room—screams, shouts, a string of fucks, and then You’re beautiful, baby. So fucking beautiful.

  He was coming before he even realized, the hot grip on his cock sliding him into the deepest climax he’d had in his life. Kieran knew it was the most profound and hardest one he’d ever experienced, and the fact that Felice had caused it made it sweeter still.

  They collapsed into a tangle of arms and legs, breathing hard, voices hoarse, bodies spent. Kieran’s cock slid out of her, but it wasn’t much deflated. He gathered her back against him, his hand on the warmth of her breast. When she smiled at him, he ducked his face into her shoulder, afraid she’d seen the strong, badass level three break down and weep.

  *** *** ***

  Rees called while Felice and Kieran were lying languidly on the rumpled sheets, Kieran slowly drawing his fingers along her body. He’d kiss her skin, lick it, then go back to trailing his fingers along her.

  Felice had hoped against hope that they could lie here in solitude for another few hours, but Rees binged the com until Kieran finally rolled off the bed and answered it.

  “Meet,” Rees said, then shut off.

  “He doesn’t like to explain himself, does he?” Felice asked. She pried herself off the bed, her limbs sore, and hobbled across the room to where her coveralls had landed. Kieran’s gaze seared her as she bent to retrieve them.

  “Too risky,” Kieran said. “I know where he is.”

  Felice slid her coveralls back on. The fasteners Kieran had broken would need to be repaired, but the coveralls were all she had for now, and her robes would hide them.

  “We’re not done, you know,” she said to Kieran as she dressed. “I might be sated at the moment, but I don’t think we’ll be done for a long time.”

  Kieran only gave her his look that said he didn’t know what she meant and was in too much of a hurry to ask right now. He waited until they were both in their robes, then he took her by the hand and led her up the lift to the empty main hall.

  “Wait,” Felice said as he made for the front door. “We should go separately.”

  Kieran wouldn’t like that, she knew, but she explained. “They’ll be looking for a Shareem with a woman. We have a better chance of not getting caught if we’re apart.”

  She heard the growl in Kieran’s throat, the animal that didn’t want its charge out of its sight. But he nodded. “You know the way to the place we met him before?”

  “Yes.” Felice was good at memorizing the outlay of strange cities, though she’d never been to one this strange. “Pretty sure.”

  “Pretty sure. Oh, great.” Kieran took a small device out of a pocket of his sun-blocking robes and handed it to her. “Use that if you get lost. Baine answers it. He’ll tell you where to go.”

  “Right.” Felice tucked the device away, her hands shaking. She caught the folds of Kieran’s robes and pulled him down to her. “Be careful,” she said. She kissed him. “See you there.”

  Kieran gave her a nod and opened the door. Felice slipped out into the heat that gripped her like a fist. She hated the sound the closing door made behind her, but she hurried away, determined to make it safely to the destination. The sooner she got there, the sooner she’d see Kieran again.

  *** *** ***

  Kieran worried all the way to the deserted warehouse. He didn’t see Felice along the way, which was a good thing, but it also made him more anxious. He stayed out of sight of patrollers, who never looked beyond their noses at the Shareem lurking in the shadows, but would Felice know how to evade them?

  He also mulled over the words she’d thrown at him as he strode along. I like you. A lot. And You’re everything rolled into one man called Kieran. I want to be with Kieran.

  Not the level three. Not the Shareem. Kieran.

  Kieran wanted to be with Felice, for far more than just sex. Sex with her was beyond his dreams of the best, sure, but he wanted the before and after too. The sleeping, the waking, watching her mouth widen as she laughed at him. Seeing her eyes light up when he walked into the room, watching the sensual way she did pretty much everything.

  The wanting squeezed him until he couldn’t breathe. If Felice was caught, hurt, if she took the opportunity to run—if Kieran never saw her again . . .

  Who gave a rat’s ass if Shareem got off the planet or were doomed to be all but slaves if Kieran lost her? Without Felice, it was all meaningless.

  When Kieran walked into the underground warehouse and saw Felice sliding out of her robes, the relief that washed over him nearly sent him to his knees. He yanked off his own robes and dropped them to catch her in his arms and lift her from her feet.

  Felice’s eyes widened, then she laughed breathlessly and kissed him on the lips. “Glad to see you too,” she said.

  “You two want a room?” Braden called in his pain-in-the-ass cheerful voice. “I know I do.”

  Rees watched Kieran and Felice a moment, then he cleared his throat. “Let’s do this.”

  Most of the Shareem Kieran knew were there, as well as others he didn’t hang out with regularly. The tension in the room as Rees called them to order was palpable. Kieran felt it even through his joy in meeting up with Felice. What happened here tonight would decide their fate, and they all knew it.

  “Felice?” Rees asked. “What do you have for us?”

  “Four,” Felice said. She took the handheld Rees pushed toward her and tapped four times. “These. All leaving tonight, late.”

  Rees glanced at the list and shook his head. “None large enough for all of us.”

  “No,” Felice said. “But three large enough if we split into several groups, and one to spare, just in case. More chance of surviving if we don’t go in one clump.”

  Rees lowered the handheld and fixed her with a chill gaze. “I need you to understand something. None of us can get caught. It will not only mean their death, but the death of all the others waiting for the next ship to leave. That’s why we have to all to go on one.”

  “Beggars can’t be choosers,” Felice said. “A saying on Old Earth. If you want to go now, this is the best bet. If not, you’ll have to wait another week, maybe two, for a big enough transport to come along.”

  Rees let out a long breath. “Yes, I know.”

  “So we’re going tonight?” Calder’s grating voice came out of the shadows. His medic was with him, Katarina looking excited rather than afraid.

  “Looks that way,” Rees said. “Talan and I will go talk to the captains.”

  “Thank the gods,” Calder said.

  His tone had the other Shareem turning to look at him, frowning, wondering. Rees pinned the man with a stare, which Calder stubbornly returned.

  Katarina put her hand on Calder’s arm. “Tell them why,” she said quietly. “They deserve to know.”

  Calder glanced at her, everything about him shouting that he didn’t want to speak, but finally he gave Rees a curt nod. “Because Katarina is pregnant.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  The room died into a sudden hush, then erupted into noise. Felice found herself alone as Rees and Kieran moved to Calder so fast she swore her hair danced in the breeze.

  The Shareem and ladies surrounded Calder and Katarina—Katarina was smiling and crying at the same time, and Calder kept trying and failing to hide a proud look. They rose to meet their friends, Calder with his arm protectively around Katarina.

  “So you chanced it,” Braden said, coming up behind Calder and clapping his hands to the man’s shoulders. “You fertile bastard, you. One got through.”

  Another Shareem called Justin was grinning harder than Felice h
ad seen any of the Shareem smile. “Told you it was possible.”

  Felice moved to them, marveling at the change in atmosphere. One moment the Shareem had been tense, excited, but also nervous, like fighters waiting for the start of a deciding match.

  As soon as Calder spoke, the air took on a sparkle of happiness, of rejoicing. The ladies were hugging Calder and Katarina, the Shareem were trying to hug Katarina as well, until Calder blocked them. The Shareem laughed, then started burning the air blue with jokes at Calder’s expense, mostly about his cock. Calder wore a smile of pure happiness, and let them tease.

  Kieran came back to Felice and slung his arm around her waist. “Fucking amazing,” he said. “Isn’t this great?”

  “Yes—” Felice’s breath whooshed out of her as Kieran squeezed her hard.

  “They told us we were sterile,” Kieran said. “Did procedures at DNAmo and then gave us drugs every six months to keep us that way. Calder’s just proved they wear off.”

  “Katarina proved it,” Calder said from the circle of Shareem. “She stopped giving me the inoculation a few months ago.”

  “My idea,” Braden crowed. “Remember? I asked what would happen if we stopped taking the sterilization injections.”

  “You were too scared to try it,” Calder said.

  “Not scared.” Braden sounded offended and happy at the same time. “Didn’t want to land Elisa in it. Anyway, it was really Justin’s idea.” Suddenly he was generous with the credit.

  “I didn’t make a kid on purpose,” Justin said. “But I’m glad I did.”

  “You proved it was possible, my friend,” Braden said. “You and your sweet daughter.”

  Justin’s eyes instantly narrowed. “You watch what you say about my daughter.” Braden roared with laughter.

  Rees stood a little outside the rejoicing crowd, waiting, his eyes holding a mixture of shared joy and caution. “Calder has a point, though,” he said, when the noise finally died down. “We can’t stay. If anyone finds out that Katarina carries a Shareem child . . .”

  “We’re fucked,” Kieran said. “Let’s go, then. I’m packed.” He pulled Felice close. “Got all I need right here.”

  “We’ll buy toothbrushes on Station 579,” Aiden said from where he was doing what looked like a waltz with Brianne. “Let’s just get there.”

  Rees raised his voice. “All right, then everyone shut up and listen!”

  They finally settled down and focused on the problem at hand again, but the nervousness had changed to happy excitement.

  They had to go in the transports Felice recommended, Rees said, and take their chances. He and Talan would go talk to the captains now and send word back about what they discovered.

  After Rees departed, the atmosphere grew even more animated. Everyone was talking about what they’d do when they got to the next station, where they’d go. They had plans, futures. Finally.

  The Shareem started joking about what they wouldn’t miss. “Sandstorms,” Aiden yelled. “Getting asked for ident at every corner. Getting asked for ident on every corner during a sandstorm.” He spread his arms. “Look at me. Am I that forgettable?”

  “Yes,” Ky said. Aiden, instead of looking annoyed, kissed him. On the lips. Felice started.

  “They have a thing going,” Kieran told her. He shook his head, his expression indicating he had no clue why. “They’re lovers. With Brianne. Crazy Shareem.”

  “What about Judith and Mitch?” one of the women asked—Elisa, Felice thought her name was. Maybe during the flight, Felice would have time to get straight who was who.

  Heads turned, scanning the room. “Not here,” Braden said. “Someone should warn them.”

  “No one’s leaving the building,” Calder said, his voice hard. “We wait for Rees.”

  “And the minute a patroller realizes that there are no Shareem on the streets, what happens?” Felice spoke up.

  “Ports will be sealed,” Kieran agreed. “Searches made.”

  “Yeah, that’s true.” Calder got to his feet. “And if we go in one giant Shareem group for the docks, even the stupidest patroller will know something’s up. I’ll message Rees. Katarina isn’t going anywhere, but everyone else, do whatever it is you usually do. Casually, all right?”

  “Hey, when are we anything but casual?” Braden asked. He put his arm around a smiling Elisa. “Come on, let’s see what’s going on at the library.”

  “It’s closed for the evening,” Elisa said.

  “Mmm, just how I like it.”

  Elisa’s face went brilliant scarlet as Braden led her out, but she didn’t look unhappy.

  “We’re staying here,” Kieran said. “Felice and me. We’re already fugitives.”

  Justin as well sat down on the floor, the woman who’d been the patroller with him. She’d once been their enemy, Felice thought. Until she’d met her Shareem.

  “A daughter?” Felice asked Justin after the others had gone. “Where is she?”

  “Here,” Justin said. He looked resigned. “On the Vistara—that’s one of the hills—living with a foster family. No one knows that her father’s Shareem. Except her. And us.” He ran his hand through his hair. “We talked about me going. She’ll come see me once I’m safe.”

  The ex-patroller squeezed his arm in sympathy, and Felice gave him a smile. “We’ll make it,” Felice said. “I’ve made it out of tougher spots.” She had, she knew, but that wasn’t much comfort.

  For the next long hour or so, Felice sat curled in Kieran’s arms, the two of them on the lumpy couch. The three couples sometimes talked together, but mostly they were wrapped up in each other.

  Calder’s handheld beeped into the silence, and they came alert.

  “Dockyards,” Calder said. “Now.”

  “Really?” Katarina, beside him, asked breathlessly.

  “Really.”

  Felice didn’t know how the other Shareem would be alerted, but no one seemed concerned. They must have a system in place. They all left the basement room and made their way back up to the street level. Justin and Deanna said nothing, fading into the growing darkness outside before the other four left.

  “Felice and Katarina will go together,” Calder told Kieran as they waited to give Justin and Deanna distance. “Then you and me. We’ll be two Shareem hanging out together, looking for something to do. Even if we get stopped and idented, the ladies won’t.”

  Felice’s heart beat faster. She didn’t want to say good-bye to Kieran again, but she knew Calder was right. Katarina had the robes of a highborn woman, and Felice could walk along behind, pretending to be her servant.

  Kieran clearly did not like the arrangement, but he gave Calder a short nod. “Just wait a minute, all right?”

  He pulled Felice aside, hands going to her shoulders, caressing them. He said nothing, but searched her eyes—for what, Felice didn’t know, but she hoped he found it.

  “If I don’t see you again.” Kieran’s words broke off, his voice gruff. “If I don’t see you again . . .” He cleared his throat. “Aw, hell, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

  Felice touched his cheek. “We’ll meet at the docks. On the ship. Just like we split up and met here. It will be okay.”

  Kieran shook his head. “It’s different. You know it.” He leaned to her. “I’ve been half asleep all my life. You’re waking me up. I don’t want that to stop.”

  “Won’t.” Felice found her voice breaking, the words sticking in her throat. “We’ll find each other. I promise.”

  Again Kieran shook his head. “When something’s too good to be true, usually turns out it is. I don’t want to hope.”

  “Doesn’t matter,” Felice said softly. “I’ll find you again, Kieran. If we don’t make it onto the same transport at the docks, then after that. I’ll search the universe for you, Kieran. I promise.”

  Kieran swallowed. “I’ve never felt like this before,” he said. “Never will again.”

  Felice’s heart swelled unt
il she couldn’t feel anything but pain. And yet happiness mixed with it, giving her a joy she’d never experienced. Kieran’s eyes were dark blue, his hard face the most beautiful she’d seen in her life.

  “Me either,” she said.

  Kieran touched her face, as though he hadn’t heard what she said, or understood. Then, with a suddenness that took her breath away, he had her lifted against the nearest wall, kissing her hard, his body crushing hers. She felt his cock hard and strong, the need in him never far away.

  It was a rough, raw kiss, making Felice’s heart pound and every part of her yearn for him. Her heart was breaking too—he was right—if they got separated, if Kieran was arrested, even if he managed to escape—they might never see each other again.

  But Felice was right too. Kieran broke the kiss, anguish in his eyes and moisture with it. “I mean it,” Felice said swiftly. “I’ll scour the universe for you.”

  Kieran nodded. “Damn it.”

  “Come on, big guy.” Calder’s voice was surprisingly gentle.

  Kieran drew a long breath. He gave Felice one last, fierce kiss, then he set her on her feet, released her, and followed Calder across the warehouse. He scooped up his robes at the door, and was gone.

  *** *** ***

  Felice walked a few paces behind Katarina, watching the hem of Katarina’s decorated robe flap just above the dusty street. Katarina, anonymous under all the fabric, walked with her head up, her stride even. Her arrogant assurance—which Felice had observed in other highborn women here—was a direct contrast to her blushing happiness in the warehouse, where she’d clung to Calder, tears in her eyes, as she told him good-bye.

  A few patrollers glanced at them, probably wondering why a highborn woman was wandering around back streets near the docks with only one servant. But Felice had watched the citizens of Bor Narga in action. Katarina’s robes signaled status, and only a patroller who didn’t value her job would stop a highborn woman and ask her about her business.

  The thought of Kieran out here, with patrollers striding around, itching to arrest Shareem, made Felice’s heart squeeze in fear.

  I’ll scour the universe for you, she’d said. And Felice hadn’t been kidding.