CALLEY (RIBUS 7 Book 3) Read online

  “Well,” began Zane, “we have some good news.”

  Chelan looked at them quizzically. Fremma’s voice was soft and low. “Ilan is fine, my Lady.”

  Chelan beamed. “Oh, that is wonderful.”

  Fremma continued. “And Toran has finally cracked the main ROPE colony on Zigous. No Iceanean specimens were found, and as a result, he decided to spare his crew any further injury.” Fremma smiled at the sparkle in Chelan’s eyes. “He simply brought RIBUS 6’s main batteries to bear on the sixth planet. The Semean solar system now has only eight planets.”

  Chelan grinned. “I wish I could have been there.”

  Zane chuckled. “Me too. Planets make the most spectacular fireballs.”

  Fremma finally moved to Chelan and pecked her on the cheek. “Once again ROPE is no more, at least in that sector. Between the rest of us, hopefully the galaxy will be cleansed of them soon.”

  Chelan raised her brows. “When I first stepped foot on RIBUS 7, there were just over one hundred thousand battleships actively engaged. Now they are over one million strong, with more being dispatched every day. It seems the Empire mobilizes quickly and effectively under its new Emperor.”

  Fremma nodded. “Would you expect any less, my Lady? He was the Empire’s most effective Warlord, our Overlord, and now he carries that legacy with him as ruler. And speaking of efficiency, it is time for me to escort you to the new Palace, if you permit.”

  Chelan groaned. “More fanfare, I expect.”

  “No,” Fremma said. “Korba requested that I take you directly to him in my personal fighter. He knows how much you hate public exposure.”

  Chelan’s tension eased. “He thinks of everything, doesn’t he. When do we leave?”

  Zane turned to the console. “All systems are up. The Palace perimeter is clear. You may depart any time, my Lady.”

  Chelan looked at Zane. “Thank you.”

  Zane nodded. “And now I will return to the Bridge. I have a few things to attend to before leaving for my ship.”

  Chelan watched him as he ascended the stairs, and there he turned back to her. “And if I may say so, my Lady, you look much more rested today.” And he left.

  Chelan blushed. “I don’t think my looks have much to do with my rest. I think it has more to do with your love, dear Fremma.”

  The Warlord smiled and then kissed her lips gently. “Regardless, my Lady, Zane is a very perceptive man. You look radiant today.”

  “Thank you. And thanks to you, I can face today.”

  Fremma stroked her slender arm. “Come on. We should leave.”

  Chelan hesitated as she looked around the Command Center. “I am going to miss RIBUS 7, Fremma. She has been my home and protector for so long.”

  “You are not leaving her decks forever,” he soothed. “She will return.”

  Chelan forced a smile. “You just make sure you return with her.”

  Fremma nodded. “You have my word, my Lady.”

  Chelan cast one last look around and then took a deep breath. “Let’s go.”

  *****

  The ebony fighter settled gently into the hangar deep within the Imperial Palace. Chelan pulled off her headgear just as Fremma stood and offered her his hand. Chelan accepted, and the Warlord helped her down from the craft.

  Chelan glanced around the massive flight deck, the proliferation of aircraft and weaponry nearly stealing her breath. Fremma, too, remained quiet as he inspected the area. It was obvious from the abundance of security and armaments that no one was going to penetrate the Emperor’s domain without invitation.

  Fremma tapped Chelan on the shoulder. She looked up at him, then followed his lead toward a towering set of doors. The doors parted silently and sealed themselves behind them. They started down a corridor and stopped in front of a security check.

  Chelan studied the guards, but nothing about them revealed their identity to her. Though Korba maintained his own guard, he had added a lot to his regiment, mostly for her protection. She had become quite accomplished at recognizing the men and women under the concealing shrouds, but her efforts today were so far thwarted. They were all new, she concluded, and then she turned her attention back to Fremma.

  As he finished with the security algorithms, a second set of doors opened. Chelan followed him down a much smaller corridor, noting that the guards no longer attended them. That meant she was deep within the most secure portion of the Palace, Korba’s exclusive domain.

  At the end of their journey, Fremma turned to her and smiled. “Your new home, my Lady.” And the doors separated.

  Chelan hesitated and then stepped through the threshold. Her jaw dropped at what she beheld.

  Fremma chuckled. “Look familiar?”

  “What is going on?” she uttered in astonishment. Chelan whirled around, her eyes taking it all in.

  “It is a duplicate of the RIBUS 7 Command Center. Korba thought you would appreciate its familiarity.”

  Chelan padded down the stairs and scanned over the consoles and screens. Then she turned and looked up into the vast blackness of the sleeping chambers. Skipping to the right, she entered the workout area—the cerulean blue pool, the equipment, everything as she knew it so well. Then she floated back to the Command Center.

  “—And,” Fremma said before she could speak, “there is one small difference.”

  Chelan peered off to the right of the center consoles as Fremma beckoned to her. She approached the blank wall and then jumped as hidden doors were suddenly revealed. She stepped through and looked about the palatial room, its regal elegance mesmerizing her. “What is this?” she asked in wonder.

  “The actual chambers of the Emperor and his mate,” Fremma informed her warmly. “It is the exact opposite of the starkness of the quarters in the Command Center. But you are free to choose between them according to your mood and desires. It is all yours.”

  Chelan slowly traversed the elegant room, its size colossal, its structure awe-inspiring. “Who decorated it?”

  Fremma shrugged. “Whoever it was, they were obviously under Korba’s direction.”

  Chelan was spellbound. Everything was in burgundies, cream, and seafoam green. It had an air of Victorian romance, but a masculine touch maintained. Fine furniture lined the walls and accented the central bed. A warm light filtered down from the ceiling, basking the room in a rich, sunny glow. To the right was the main opulent bath, mirrors and marble abounding.

  Chelan turned to Fremma, but then faltered. Where Fremma had stood, another solitary shroud lingered.

  “My Lady,” whispered Korba.

  Chelan flew into his arms, burying her face into his powerful chest. “I love it,” she cooed. She pushed back and looked up into his brilliant azure eyes. “And I love you.” She stretched up to take his lips.

  Korba responded while allowing the doors to close behind him. Then he pulled her away and looked down at the beautiful little alien. “It is all yours, Chelan, to use as you see fit. If you desire anything else or wish to change anything, you have but to ask.”

  Chelan glanced over her shoulder at the bed and then bit her lip. “You have been working so hard. I haven’t seen you for weeks.”

  “I am sorry. Communicating via monitor is hardly sufficient. But getting all the final tasks done to ready the Palace turned out to take a monumental effort. I knew that if I visited you on RIBUS 7, the decisions required would drag out indefinitely. But now we are together.”

  Chelan grinned. “His Lordship, ruler of the galaxy and destroyer of worlds, a military tactician like no other, and yet he becomes bogged down getting a wee palace on its feet.”

  Korba smiled at her deviously. “A galactic palace, for your information, and a huge one at that.”

  “Aw,” Chelan goaded. “My poor man.”

  Korba chuckled. “You know, there were times when I actually thought of bringing artillery to bear. Starting from scratch would have been easier.”

  “Somehow I doubt it was her s
tructure that was the problem.”

  “Oh, there were problems there, too. The labyrinth of tunnels beneath the Palace took months to clear and contain. But you are right: overall, the structural and architectural problems paled in comparison to dealing with all the various factions spewing forth their supposed needs and opinions.”

  “Hmmm… always a Warlord first. Diplomacy was never your forte.”

  “That is an understatement. I can’t tell you how many meetings I attended, every one saturated with ambassadors, all squabbling over their perceived portion of the real estate, where thoughts of simply executing them all crossed my mind.”

  Chelan burst out laughing. “Oh, my god! Maybe you should abdicate the throne now.”

  Korba shook his head. “Thank the stars for the Telesians. Fortunately, not only do they have intelligence beyond reproach, they have unrivaled negotiating skills. More than once they contained a meeting that had gotten completely out of control.”

  “And the other delegations cooperated with them?”

  “Universally. The Telesian are renowned for all their skills. Plus, they are the biggest foreign player within the Palace. I wanted their research and development areas expanded exponentially so that the largest research team outside of their home planet was here. The infrastructure to accommodate all their requirements rivaled our own needs. Just the transportation system and additional security networks for all the supplies they require was more work than anything else undertaken.”

  Korba drew her back to him. “Anyway, all the other delegations were eventually either put in their place or accommodated satisfactorily. But the drain on my time… and my patience… Well, let’s just say that many a person walked away from the talks in one piece only because the Telesians took over.”

  “You will have to employ the services of more advisors in the future. You were not bred for this, nor, I suspect, do you have the temperament or desire for such interpersonal dribble.”

  “You are most certainly right there. But giving up control has never been on my radar either.”

  “Compromise, my dear man.”

  Korba laughed. “Another trait I lack.”

  Chelan winced. “The Empire may be doomed with you at the helm.”

  Korba hugged her tighter. “No, I suspect I shall learn.”

  She laughed. “Hopefully before you lay waste to both friend and foe.”

  “Yes, well, there may be some collateral damage during the acquisition phase of patience. I suspect the learning curve is going to be rather steep.”

  “You will need to decompress regularly.”

  He peered down at her, the soft invitation in her voice not lost on him. “What do you have in mind, my Lady?”

  Chelan looked about. “Are we alone?”

  “Completely,” came his deep, sensual reply.

  Chelan took a step back, her hands holding his tightly. “I want you, my Lord,” she whispered seductively. Chelan watched the blue flame ignite within his eyes, and she released him, backing up in silent overture. Then she entered the en suite and dropped her shroud.

  Korba followed, casting his weapons and uniform aside. Chelan slithered from her clothes and then eased into the massive hot tub, its liquid warmth flowing over her and feeding her desire. She watched as her man approached with lethal grace, his hard body a picture of masculine potency. Seven feet of spectacular fighting form poised for action, 290 pounds of raw sexual heat primed for release… and all of it zeroed in on her.

  Korba entered the water, instantly grabbing her soft, voluptuous body to him, his quarry realized.

  Chelan bit into the side of his neck. “I want you inside me, now.”

  “Patience, my Lady,” he countered as he nuzzled her slender throat.

  But Chelan did not want to wait, and she knew exactly how to push her Warlord to his frenzied limit. She reached down and ran her hands along his steel shaft, listening to his breathing take off. She took his mouth aggressively and pressed her breasts to his chest. She ran her fingers over all his erogenous zones, fondling his heavy balls and squeezing them hard. A basal growl erupted from his chest as he moved to respond, but Chelan sprang from him, leaping from the pool.

  “Chelan!” he shouted, his eyes glazing as he tracked her retreat.

  Chelan did not stop. Instead she sprinted from the en suite toward the giant bed. But before she reached her destination, Korba seized her. She shrieked with delight as he intercepted her, and she pushed herself vigorously away from his grip.

  Korba clenched his teeth, her slippery body writhing in his powerful grasp, her ready scent propelling him to delirium. “Chelan!” he rumbled. “Don’t struggle.”

  Chelan squirmed out of his clutches and dove onto the bed, but he was on her instantly, the animal unleashed. He pushed her face down into the blankets, his free hand grabbing both of hers and pinning them behind her back. She fought with all her might, but it was futile. Suddenly, her eyes opened wide as she felt his knees press between her thighs, spreading her legs wide. Then, just as suddenly, his hands released her arms and he yanked her hips up to him, his thick, rigid member piercing her swollen folds with unhindered ease.

  Chelan gasped and clutched the pillows to her face, her knees barely touching the bed. His thrusts were hard, his forceful entries nearly knocking the wind from her lungs.

  Korba fought to control the feral tempest within him. He looked down at the small being into whom he sank his shaft, his maleness impaling her time and time again. She had lit the fuse within him, but he banked the violence that threatened. Tangled emotions leached from him as higher-ordered thoughts rallied. She was not his prey. She was his woman, her full feminine curves his weakness.

  Finally, he allowed her to take some of her weight on her knees as his hands smoothed over her satin white buttocks. Then he watched as the fragile being beneath him ceased all her fruitless struggles, her last efforts to dislodge him ineffectual.

  Breathless, Chelan finally sank to the bed, drawing him down onto her. Suddenly, his motions became less frenzied, and his hands traversed under her to her breasts. Korba hunched over her, his fingers kneading her sensitive nipples, his tongue and teeth tantalizing her sweet neck.

  Then he withdrew from her milky depths and flipped her onto her back. Chelan looked up into his wildcat eyes, his drenched ebony hair cascading over his powerful shoulders.

  He entered her again, his penetrations less urgent, his breathing less labored. His hand stroked down her vulnerable neck and over her heaving breasts. “God, woman, you live dangerously.”

  Chelan smiled coyly. “I asked you to come inside me. I got what I wanted.”

  Korba finally smiled back, his eyes regaining their normal crystal blue luster. “You are going to get hurt some day, Chelan. You should not play on my instincts.”

  Chelan reached up and pressed her fingers to his lips. “Shut up and make love to me, or I shall run away again.”

  Korba grinned. His fingers trailed up her satin sides, over the mounds of her breasts, and along the sensitive undersides of her arms. Then he drew her arms above her head, one hand locking both her wrists to the bed. With his free arm, he reached down and hooked her leg under her knee. He drew her leg up high, pinning it just to the side of her chest, her flexibility making the movement effortless.

  He stared down into her eyes as he entered her ever so slowly, over and over again, stroking her tight inner well. Then he leaned forward and kissed her long, hard, and deep.

  Chelan was in heaven, floating in a sea of sensation. She wanted to touch him, but he had her immobilized for his taking. His tongue was deep in her mouth, his penis deep in her body, and his presence deep within her soul. She was beyond in love.

  He released her mouth and looked down at her as he freed her hands. “Don’t move,” he ordered in a baritone rumble.

  Chelan whimpered as she watched him pull out of her, his thick penis dripping with her cream, pulsing with need yet to be fulfilled. Then he rose o
ver her momentarily, snagging her other leg and raising it to her chest like the other. He moved to his knees before her, his hands tracing up her thighs, spreading them wider and pressing them apart.

  Korba looked down at her soft folds, red and swollen with desire, her nectar beckoning to him, her sexual scent drugging him. He leaned over and kissed the back of her thigh, his tongue trailing softly down her flesh. Just as he reached her femininity, he stopped… and closed his eyes, inhaling her beauty. Then, with his lips, he kissed her clit once, with a feathered touch.

  Chelan cried out, her body straining toward him, aching to be filled. “I want you inside,” she pleaded. But he denied her.

  He rose over her again, still holding her legs, and softly kissed her other thigh, tracing down her flesh once again, and then he kissed her as he had done before.

  Chelan was panting. Her body was taut with a need so primal her muscles strained to the point of pain. She wanted to reach down and grab him by the hair, wrenching him up to her, but he had ordered her not to move, and she could only clench her fists in the bedding while he continued his sweet torture.

  Korba looked once again at the delicacy splayed before him and his mouth watered. He ran his tongue over one of her outer lips, then took it in his mouth, savoring her soft flesh.

  Chelan’s eyes watered. She swore that if she contracted her pelvic muscles just once, she would come, but she wanted to experience all that he was willing to give, and so she tried desperately to relax.

  Korba licked her other lip, sucking on it gently before releasing it. Then he closed his eyes and grappled for control, his penis so distended it throbbed. He gritted his teeth in restraint, chaining his desire to spring up and plunge into her so deep and hard it would kill them both.

  Taming his dangerous thoughts, he leaned in once again and ran his tongue up her inner folds, tasting her sweet honey as it flowed into his mouth. She cried out again in response, nearly severing what small thread of dominion he had left over the tangible beast within. Then his tongue found her hard clit, and he sucked her deep within his mouth.

  Chelan lost it. “Oh my god!” she cried as she came so hard she lost her breath. He continued to suckle her as his tongue feathered over her trapped flesh, wringing out orgasm after orgasm. Finally she disobeyed, and her hands flew to his head, her fingers tangling within his ebony mane. But her touch did little to distract him from his feast, and he continued to take her.