OVERCOME 
Marly Chance 
      
     
     

Chapter One 
      
     “Have you ever been ravished?” 
     The sudden question, uttered in that oh-so-familiar—and sexy—masculine voice from only a few feet behind her, sent a jolt through her whole body. Ansley Morgan stopped staring out the window at the barren desert landscape, gave an exaggerated sigh and muttered, “Of all the confinement centers on all the planets in all the universe, he walks into mine.” 
     She turned toward the doorway and pasted a smile on her face. “Hi, Flynn. You’re here to heroically rescue me from captivity, huh? How romantic.” 
     “Still crazy about those ancient films with what’s-his-name? Bogard?” Rowan Flynn stepped closer to the containment field and grinned at her. “Don’t be ridiculous, darling. I’ve come to keep the body count down while you escape. The Union tends to frown on mayhem. They’re appallingly fussy these days. I hear you’ve only taken out two guards and a captain. You’re definitely mellowing with age.” 
     Ansley felt a genuine smile bloom, even as she struggled against the tidal wave of memories and heat. Seeing him after two years was the last thing she’d expected tonight. Part of her was very glad to see her former partner. Too glad. Another part of her was rapidly wondering if her mission had just become a whole lot more complicated. 
     What the hell was Flynn doing on Lansor? The small planet was certainly an out-of-the-way place, not a prime choice for a vacation spot. She considered the facts and calculated rapidly. He was originally from Earth, just as she was. Like her, he was an independent contractor—loosely tied to the Interplanetary Union but occasionally taking jobs for other select parties. Therefore, he was probably on a job, just as she was. She was here on behalf of the Union, but he might or might not be. With Flynn, very little was ever as it seemed. 
     She walked within inches of the containment field, careful to keep her distance. The field formed a faint red shield that would stun her unconscious if she was stupid enough to touch it. Her eyes searched his features in the eerie red glow of the corridor, but as always they revealed nothing. She’d seen that face smiling down at her a hundred times, full of sparkling humor and charm. And she’d seen it harden to stone many times as he’d landed a death blow to an opponent during their year-long covert stint together. It was a strong face, more rugged than handsome. But even a glimpse of it again made her heart leap and her blood surge in her veins. 
     She felt like she was alive for the first time in two long years, as if she’d been deprived of oxygen and was suddenly taking in huge gulps of air. And that was a very, very bad sign. She kept her voice light. “It’s Bogart, not Bogard. And how thoughtful of you to generously help me reform my deadly ways. I don’t suppose you’ve killed my guard, have you? How long is he out for?” 
     “Maybe thirty minutes. A little extrin in his evening drink.” He shrugged casually but his gray eyes were intent on her face. “He’ll wake confused and feeling guilty for falling asleep on the job, but he will wake.” He shifted. “Time is a factor at the moment or I’d love to keep up with our usual verbal foreplay, sweetheart.” 
     All humor melted away and his voice changed to flat and clipped. “You were here to deliver the abducted Tressarian Finance Minister back home. Somehow it went sideways. Instead of killing you when you were discovered, the Lansori have chosen to put you in confinement, which makes no sense. It means they want something from you very badly. I don’t suppose you’re in the mood to share? The Minister is being questioned now in the interrogation section.” 
     Ansley ran her hand through her hair. “You’re sure on her location?” 
     He raised an eyebrow. “Positive. The second phase of your interrogation is scheduled at sixteen prenons tomorrow, Lansori time, so you’ll be joining her there. My hacking skills are good but not as good as yours. I can’t get into the system without sounding the alarm. There’s a housing building for guards next to this one. Smart planning on their part. I can’t get you out. We’d have sixty guards on us here in under two minutes. You’re stuck. So we’re back to my first question—have you ever been ravished?” 
     She knew the answer to that but there were so many questions running through her head. Whose side was he on? How much could she trust him? Something wasn’t right. She stalled for time. “Who are you working for, Flynn? How did you get past so many guards? Do you know who the Enraptor will be?” 
     Even saying the word “Enraptor” made her stomach tighten. She’d known the potential consequences of this job before she’d taken it. The Lansori and the Tressarians were at war. Getting between them by rescuing an abducted Finance Minister was risky, and the odds of getting killed were somewhat high. Death was a risk she’d weighed many times. But the thought of a Lansori interrogation had definitely made her pause before she’d agreed. It had been a gamble, one last mission with a nice payoff. And she’d lost big-time on this one. 
     The Lansori were an interesting species, strangely evolved and peaceful in some ways and yet brutally deadly in others. They believed in treating a captive well initially. The questioning started out mild and friendly. They were patient and methodical, working to form a bond with the captive because they believed freely given information was more reliable. If that didn’t work, they moved to the second phase—selthna, or ravishment. The old Earth term had become slang for it. Basically, the captive was seduced, sensually overwhelmed, for days on end by a person known as an Enraptor. The seducer, who was trained in the art of pleasure, would question the captive. The theory was that when the bond between captive and seducer was strong enough, the captive would reveal anything and do anything. If that didn’t work, the interrogation moved to the next phase—the frensi. Or in Earth slang, the yearning. 
     The thought of that made her outright queasy. It was called the yearning because the Enraptor turned to physical torture and pain to achieve his ends. The supreme giver of pleasure became the ultimate inflictor of pain. The psychological effect was just as brutal as the physical part, if not more damaging. And it was said during that phase the captive yearned for death above all else in the universe. The Lansori had evidently given up on the friendly approach with Ansley, and she was scheduled to begin ravishment tomorrow. Followed by yearning eventually. Cheery thought. 
     Ansley brushed aside the horrible images in her head and forced herself to focus. Flynn was just staring at her, waiting for an answer. It made her uneasy, so she put a little steel in her voice. “If you want answers, you need to supply some, too.” 
     Flynn studied her face, wishing he could see beyond it to the thoughts swirling in that lovely head, wondering and calculating how far to trust her. Ansley Morgan was the damnedest female. On their one long mission together, she’d been his greatest pleasure and greatest torment. Even since they’d finished the mission and parted two years ago, she’d haunted his thoughts day and night. She was the smartest, most fascinating, and by far the most lethal woman he’d ever met—which was saying something, given his line of work. Nothing about her was easy or simple. They’d been more or less friends once, and it had bordered on so much more. 
     The heat between them was still there, still as potent as ever. Seeing her had brought his cock erect in an instant. He ached with a need not just to have sex with her, but to possess her. It was a primitive, irrational compulsion, some kind of ancient warrior instinct that he couldn’t seem to turn off. Seeing her now just tantalizing inches away, looking tired and wired but so courageous and alive and here, complicated his mission beyond measure. He debated and then said carefully, “I’ve been hired by the Tressarians to get the Minister back. They’re paying me twenty carosi. A respectable fortune.” 
     It was. Ansley nodded. “The Union is eager to lure Tressaria and all its shiny technology into the interplanetary fold. The Minister’s healthy return would make a nice diplomatic gesture toward that. They’re paying me the same amount to return her to them.” 
     Flynn smiled skeptically. “So your mission is just to return the Minister? And yet, you’ve really managed to piss off the Lansori in some way. Not that I’m broken up about seeing you alive, darling, but I don’t believe you for a minute. What else have you done? They’ve hired the famous Derix as your Enraptor.” He watched her eyes widen in surprise. 
     Her voice was calm, but there was greater tension in it now. “Derix? I half thought he was imaginary, a legend. Some kind of fairytale figure, more fiction than fact. Wasn’t he supposed to be in retirement?” 
     “I said they’d hired him.” He waited for her reaction. “I didn’t say he was actually going to be your Enraptor. They don’t know what he looks like.” 
     The air seemed to get stuck in her lungs as realization hit her, along with a wave of erotic longing so intense that it made her knees week. She let out a long breath. “I see. You’ve taken his identity. Convinced them that you are the legendary Derix. Risky move even for you, Flynn. How much are the Lansori paying you to get the information from me?” 
     He shrugged. “One hundred fifty carosi. By the way…do you really have the schematics for the delsinium weapon?” 
     The words landed on her one by one like punches. One. Hundred. Fifty. Carosi. It was more than a fortune. It was enough to last a lifetime. Several lifetimes. The sinking sensation in her chest grew stronger. “And I’m supposed to trust that you’re walking away from a hundred and fifty carosi to help me get out, and you’re returning the Minister for a mere twenty instead.” 
     Flynn nodded. “That about sums it up.” His mouth quirked. “I notice you avoided the delsinium issue. Ansley, Ansley, Ansley. Breaking into the Lansori defense center.” He shook his head and made a tutting sound. “The Lansori have broken all kinds of non-delsinium treaties if it’s true. And you’ve been a very naughty, busy girl. Did you really hide the schematics, too?” 
     She flashed him a wide smile and lied through her teeth. “I’m here for the Minister, remember? I only wish I’d stolen them. Someone else’s timing really sucks. Probably a Tressarian agent, though I haven’t spotted one in my little adventure so far. But I can’t gripe too much. The Lansori’s suspicion has kept me alive.” 
     He smiled back just as widely. “And I’m supposed to trust that you happened to be here on your mission to rescue the Minister when some other agent with your computer hacking skills just happened to break into the defense center and steal those plans. Plans, by the way, for which the Union would easily pay more than a hundred fifty carosi.” 
     She shrugged. “As you so sweetly put it, that about sums it up.” She held his stare. 
     A soft noise echoed down the corridor, sounding loud in the silence. The guard stirred, apparently changing positions. He was waking. Time was getting short. Ansley said softly, “We’re running out of time. Going on the theory that I would ever trust you, did your visit here tonight include a plan?” 
     He spoke low and rough, barely above a whisper. “Sure. Can you hack the system here and take down the city shield?” 
     She thought it over. The city shield was similar to the red shield preventing her escape now, with some important differences. It was clearly marked by boundary signs, but the shield itself was invisible. And it was set to kill, not to stun. Anyone who touched it while it was on would instantly fry. It was an ugly and painful way to go. There was only one opening in the shield, a single gate. A very heavily guarded gate. If she escaped, the Lansori would be all over it. Taking down the shield was difficult but not as difficult as that gate. “It’s controlled by the main defense system. It’ll take some time but I may be able to do it. I probably won’t have time to break all the codes. I’ll need to get the info from someone high up. Someone like…” She smiled slowly. “…the guy who no doubt hired you and wants to have a real heart-to-heart chat about my recent activities. The one the Lansori government has probably been leaning on heavily to solve the missing schematics problem. Sarthan, the head of the confinement center.” She nodded even more slowly, turning the idea over in her head. “It could work.” 
     The guard stirred again and Flynn spoke fast. “Great. So, here’s the plan. I ravish you. You break at twenty-eight prenons…it’ll be dark then and the night guards will be on duty. There are fewer guards at that time than any other, and they’ll be sluggish at that time of night. I’ll call for Sarthan. When he gets there, you persuade him to give you the codes. Quickly and with the least amount of blood and fuss.” He sent her a look of chiding amusement but quickly sobered. “You get the codes from him and work on taking down the shield. Meanwhile I’ll get the Minister. Then we’ll head out of here and out of the city. I have a crew aboard the Mariner ready and waiting to pick me up at twenty-nine. Got it?” 
     Ansley flashed him an angry look. “Wait. I’m supposed to conveniently break at twenty-eight. I don’t break. I never break. If you’re just here to make sure I don’t expose your identity tomorrow and you’re planning on that Lansori reward, honey, you’re going to be sadly disappointed.” 
     Flynn’s eyes darkened. “Everyone breaks, Ansley, you know that. It’s just a matter of timing and leverage. You’ll break at twenty-eight, when I give you the cue. I’ll say something unusual. Something that will cue you that it’s time. The ravishment has to be as real as possible.” 
     His voice turned husky. “Listen to me. I’m going to take you, again and again. Overwhelm you. Overcome every inhibition. I’m going to push you, push your senses, arouse you and get inside your body and your head and if you’re not careful, your soul. Understand? If they suspect anything, the slightest thing, we’ll both likely end up dead.” 
     His words notched the heat and tension between them higher. What would it be like to be ravished by Flynn? To feel his hands moving over her, to feel his mouth sucking her nipples, his hard cock plunging deep inside her? To fight and resist him—only to have him push her to orgasm again and again? It was sinking in. Her body was responding to the notion with a whole lot of interest. She shifted restlessly at the wet ache between her thighs. It was maddening and inappropriate to be so aroused in this situation. The loss of control infuriated her and excited her at the same time. 
     She sidestepped into the practical. “What word will you use to cue me?” 
     Flynn started with, “You’re always dodging…” Then he changed to, “I’ll use the word ‘genesis’. It’s not that common and it will suit our purpose.” 
     She nodded and said, “I’m not dodging. I understand it will have to be real. Or so close to real that there’s not much difference. I get it. I can handle it. I can handle you.” 
     The words dropped between them like a bomb. Flynn sucked in his breath at the graphic image in his head of her hands cupping his cock. He worked on bringing his heart rate down and then said, “I’m looking forward to it. But you’ll need a safe word. You’ll try to resist and I have to know that you’re in absolute consent to what’s happening the entire time, without question. I want you to know you can call a halt at any time just by saying that word. I’ll stop immediately. If it’s before escape time, we’ll take our chances and fight our way out of there.” 
     Ansley smiled. She said, “Flynn, I know you’re many things, but you’re not a rapist. I may not trust you worth a damn with most things but I know that about you. So I’ll use the word if I truly don’t want what you’re doing. And I believe you’ll stop.” 
     The tension left his shoulders. “Thank you for that. What word will you use?” 
     She thought a minute. “Harbor. I’ll use the word harbor. It’s easy to remember and I think of ‘safe harbor’ when I think of it. So that should work.” Ansley gave him a warning look. “I’m going to fight you.” 
     He put one hand up. “I think I know that, darling. I plan to make sure we both enjoy the hell out of it.” His eyes took on a familiar wicked glint. “So…we have our plan. And we can get back to the most interesting part of this discussion.” His voice slowed to a teasingly seductive drawl. “Have you ever been ravished, Ansley? So lost in pleasure that all that impressive control is gone? So wet and aching that you can’t remember your own name?” 
     She ignored the heat rising at his words and glared at him. “No.” 
     He checked his compuwatch and started to move away. “Well, that’s the last time you’ll be able to say that word and mean it. From now on, it’s ‘harbor’ only. Time’s up. Sleeping Ugly over there will be coming around any moment. I’d better go.” 
     She called out to him softly as he began walking away, “Flynn?” 
     He stopped, but didn’t turn around. 
     The dark figure of him standing there brought back memories of another time, another place. A time when they’d agreed that sex on the job was unprofessional and unwise and they had struggled every single day and night against a burning attraction. For over a solid year. This was the memory she’d relived again and again. After the job, he’d come to her and had suggested that they find out what this thing was between them. She’d said, “It’s pointless. We can never trust each other, Flynn. You know it. It would be great sex, but it would be a disaster. We both lie for a living. It’s who we are. It’s what we do. How can we ever get beyond that?” He’d nodded in agreement and turned and walked away from her. And then he’d stopped only a few feet away, just like now, hesitating for an eternity before walking on. Seeing him do the same now was like an echo from the past. 
     He still didn’t turn around to face her but said over his shoulder, “Yes?” 
     Ansley searched for words but her thoughts were a mess. Finally she said, “We’re back where we started. Only this time it’s sex on the job and we have to trust each other to survive. You’re either going to help me tomorrow or you’re going to betray me and retire comfortably to a life of luxury. Tough for me to know. So…thank you. Or…fuck you. Whichever is appropriate.” 
     He laughed softly. “Classic Ansley. But darling, there’s always a third choice. You could trust me—and end up thanking me AND fucking me. Nice thought to ponder ‘til the coming dawn, huh? Curtain is up for both of us at sixteen. See you then.” He resumed walking and disappeared around the corner. 
Chapter Two 
      
     Ansley walked grimly along the corridor, flanked by four guards, one on each side and two behind her. Sarthan walked ahead of her and she glared at his back. She tested the bonds on her hands, but they were made of gertonian rope. She knew from past experience that the material was deceptively soft like cloth, but absolutely unbreakable. Even with her hands bound, Sarthan was taking no chances—hence the four large guards. She studied his back while she remained alert for any opportunity to escape. 
     Even as she walked, her mind raced with thoughts of what would soon be happening. She’d wanted Flynn for so long. And yes, she’d even had the occasional bondage fantasy regarding him. But never for a moment had she ever thought it would really happen. Her heart seemed to be pumping too hard in her chest and she made an effort to slow her breathing. She was excited, on edge, anxious to see Flynn and yet dreading it at the same time. 
     Sarthan began speaking as they turned down another corridor. “We are not far from the interrogation section. You have heard rumors of our ways? Are you frightened?” He sounded happy at the thought. Sarthan didn’t like her, in spite of his attempts to befriend her during her confinement. The feeling was mutual. 
     She gave an exaggerated yawn and deliberately called him by the name that irritated him so much. “I’m sorry, Sarthy. Were you speaking to me? I know how much you love to chat with me. It’s so crowded back here, though, that I got distracted. Plus I was studying your back, trying to decide where to place the knife for the most amount of damage.” 
     He turned around abruptly, his eyes going to her hands. She gave him a cheery little wave with her fingers and smiled broadly. He muttered a word that sounded much like a curse and continued walking. 
     They reached the end of the corridor and went through a large archway, stepping into a larger corridor, with confinement rooms on each side like the one she’d just come from. But she could tell from the spacing of the doorways that these rooms were larger. The sounds were what hit her first and she tensed. They were barely audible moans. Male moans, sounding low and raw. Female moans, somewhat higher but with that same throaty quality. It was a muffled chorus of voices all expressing one thing—intense pleasure. The air felt warm and heavy against her skin and she caught a teasing hint of the musky scent of sex, as if it was swirling lazily around her, awakening her senses and beckoning. 
     The doorways were covered in cloth, resembling a privacy curtain. The cloth was real enough but the privacy was an illusion—there was no privacy in this place and she knew it. There were also containment fields in the doorways under the cloth, she had no doubt. Flynn had said that he knew the location of the Minister. She hoped the Minister had survived the night. And wondered which room she might be in. 
     Sarthan hissed an order and the guards stopped abruptly in place, snapping to attention. He walked toward the closest room on the left and then turned to look over his shoulder at her. “Come, see your future.” 
     Ansley walked toward him, smiling carelessly. “Nice flair for the dramatic.” She stopped right next to him, wishing the four guards were not so close. “Very interesting. I see a wall. Do you plan to show me a door next? Maybe a chair? Is this a metaphor, Snarthy? I’ve never accused you of subtlety before.” 
     She watched as his jaw tightened and he ground his teeth. Good. She was getting on his nerves. He jabbed a finger at a button on the wall with a little more force than necessary, and the wall in front of her suddenly turned transparent, allowing her a full view of the room inside. She fought to keep the shock from her face. 
     She’d found the Minister. And the Minister looked very healthy and alive. And very…happy. Even as relief washed through Ansley, the scene in front of her began to sink in. 
     The room looked like something she’d seen in one of her old films. One of those desert epics, where the outside landscape was so barren and the inside dwellings were lush and decadent. There were rich tapestries in reds and black on the wall. There were cushions everywhere, strewn invitingly about the room. And there was a huge bed, soft and inviting. 
     The Minister was on the bed, hands tied to the rail above her head. And there was an Enraptor’s head buried between her thighs. A female Enraptor. As the Enraptor licked, the Minister moaned and moved her hips, lost in pleasure. 
     Ansley swallowed hard and tried to look nonchalant. “Two women having sex. Do I get a prize for guessing right?” 
     Sarthan reached out and grabbed Ansley by the hair, forcing her face closer to the window. “Look at them. See how her hips move? The flush on her body? See how the Enraptor licks slowly, drawing out the pleasure?” 
     The Enraptor chose that moment to lift her head and say softly, “Tell me, dersha. Tell me the answer I seek. Let me give you relief…” 
     The Minister was breathing hard. “I…I…can’t.” 
     The Enraptor leaned down for another teasing lick. “You can. You know you can…” 
     Sarthan leaned close to Ansley’s ear and his voice was a whisper. “Preda is very good at her work. She enjoys it. Perhaps I should give you to her, hmmm?” 
     Ansley felt her heart stop as every muscle in her body tensed. No. No, he wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t. She tried to focus and reason it out. No, of course he wouldn’t. Preda was Lansori and unlike Tressarians, humans were not biologically compatible with Tressarians or Lansori. Humans were unable to detect their pheromones and vice versa. It was the very reason they’d had to hire Derix to seduce her. They needed a human to do it. 
     Plus, she was heterosexual. In order for the seduction to truly be effective, they’d need her seducer to be a man. A wave of relief passed through her. Sarthan was bluffing, just tormenting her. 
     Ansley let out a deep breath and said, “Nice try, Sarthy. But when you’re done with the empty threats, can we move along? I’m getting bored with the peep show.” 
     Sarthan muttered what could only be a curse and then said, “As you wish. We will see how bored you are when you deal with your own interrogation.” He released her head and then moved down the corridor. Ansley moved slowly behind, struggling against the panic building inside her with each step. 
Chapter Three 
      
     Ansley flexed her wrists yet again against the bonds holding her in place. Her hands extended over her head, the ties wrapped around her wrists and then looped over long hooks from the ceiling. Although her feet were flat on the floor and she wasn’t in any pain, she couldn’t lift up high enough to get her hands over the edge of the hook and get free. Sarthan had left her hanging, literally for about fifteen minutes, before returning to her room in the interrogation section with Derix. Or rather, Flynn. 
     She stared at the man in front of her while she tried to wrap her mind around the fact that he was Flynn. He was in traditional Lansori clothing—mostly. Loose black pants tied at the waist, black sandals on his feet. His black hair was pulled back, emphasizing the masculine angles of his face. She had seen him assume roles many times, everything from a Carzenian trader to a Zedori weapons dealer, but something about this one really shook her. It was as if the civilized veneer had been peeled away and the predator beneath was revealed. 
     He looked so powerfully…male. His chest was bare, muscles hard and defined. She had a weakness for broad shoulders and a sexy chest, and her heart stuttered at the sheer perfection of this one. His skin was tan and smooth except for the smattering of dark curly hair near his nipples. She’d always known Flynn was muscular, but the reality of just how well he was built was really sinking in now. 
     In an attempt to grasp for the familiar, she looked up quickly into his eyes as he came to stand in front of her. And felt her mouth go dry. Never, in all the time that they’d worked together, had he ever looked at her with such absolute…possession. It was shocking. This was Flynn, but it was a Flynn she’d never seen before in her life. He was staring at her intently, and she realized he was waiting for some reaction from her. 
     Sarthan broke the silence with a laugh. “It seems your reputation with females is well-earned, Derix. Judging by the expression on her face, she finds you most pleasing.” 
     Flynn spoke to Sarthan but his eyes stayed on Ansley. “She’s quite beautiful. I think we’ll all be well-satisfied soon.” 
     Ansley jerked her eyes back to Sarthan. She’d nearly forgotten about him when Flynn entered the room. Now she gave a derisive laugh. “He’s a pretty toy, Sarthan. A bit too sure of himself, though. That arrogance is going to cost him. And you.” 
     Flynn turned to Sarthan. “Leave us. She’s too hostile in your presence. Let me do what you’re paying me to do. The sooner you leave, the sooner I can turn that hostility to a more productive use.” 
     Sarthan seemed to think it over for one long moment and then gave a slight nod. “I will do as you wish. For now. See that you work quickly. And get what I seek. Do not forget our bargain. The reward for success is high.” He left the room with the guards trailing in his wake. 
     Ansley and Flynn stared at each other. Ansley was very aware that Sarthan was probably watching through the transparent wall. She said flatly, “Whatever he’s paying you is not enough. You’ll fail. I don’t have the information he wants.” 
     Flynn smiled and shrugged. “I believe that you do. And I believe that you’ll give it to me. And I’ll leave here a very happy…” his eyes swept over her body with great appreciation, “very satisfied, very wealthy man.” 
     That look had her heart thumping but Ansley merely arched an eyebrow. “Why don’t you release my hands and we’ll talk?” 
     Flynn laughed softly. “That will happen soon enough.” He walked closer and stopped when he was standing within inches of her body. Looking up into his face, she felt a shiver of excitement as well as danger. He reached out and she nearly flinched away from him. 
     Flynn laughed softly. “Shortly. For right now, I want to talk to you about control. And responsibility.” He reached out one hand and trailed a lazy finger down her cheek. “You have no control. From this moment on, your only responsibility is to feel pleasure. Your only choice is to feel pleasure.” 
     Ansley flinched away before she could stop herself. He just stepped closer and ran one calloused fingertip down the side of her neck to her pulse. He smiled with satisfaction. “Your heartbeat is going wild.” 
     Ansley glared at him. “Let me loose.” 
     He leaned forward and placed a kiss on her neck, just below her ear. He said very softly, “No. Remember the rules, darling. No choice. No responsibility. I want you. And I’m going to take you.” 
     The feel of his warm lips along the sensitive skin of her neck nearly made her shudder. Every nerve in her body seemed to be coming alive all at once. Her knees felt a little weak. And her breath was coming too fast. “I mean it. Let me go.” 
     Flynn’s head came up and his eyes were hard, unyielding. “No. Not now. Not ever.” 
     Ansley sucked in a breath in shock. He looked deadly serious. There was something in his eyes—something very real and too stark to put into words. She was left reeling from it. 
     He reached above her head and removed the ties. He placed them on a table near the doorway and turned to face her. 
     Ansley moved out of reach quickly and took several steps back to put some distance between them. She was trying hard to assess what was happening here. To tell how much was real and how much was a role. The lines seemed to be blurring. The blood was rushing back into her arms now and she rubbed her wrists a little. They weren’t really hurting, but she didn’t want to be sluggish or slowed down if she needed to use her hands. Her eyes went to the rope ties on the table by the doorway. 
     Flynn casually kicked off his sandals and then his hands went to the drawstring of his pants. He looked so calm, so totally at ease. He pulled the drawstring and said, “You could always go for the ties. There’s a remote possibility that you could get past me and to them. Then maybe strangle me or tie me up. After that you could call for the guard and trick him into coming inside.” He let the pants drop and stepped out of them. “But then again, you’re going to have to get past me first.” 
     He kicked the pants away and then faced her fully, naked, arms loose at his sides. “And darling? That’s going to be…hard.” 
     Ansley swallowed and tried to keep her eyes on his, but felt them drifting helplessly downward. His powerful chest gleamed smooth and tan in the soft light. He was bigger than she was, taller by several inches, but it was the power of that build that struck her forcefully now. The hard muscles of his chest, tight stomach, lean hips…all of them reminded her that there was strength there, and as he shifted his weight those muscles rippled and moved. 
     He was stronger than she was, without a doubt. And hard…hard all over. He was fully erect. And large. Not run-for-the-hills scary, but ohmygawd large. She jerked her eyes up to his face and cursed the heat suffusing hers. It was ridiculous to react like this. She’d seen a naked man plenty of times. She’d had sex plenty of times. Nudity was no big deal. If he could be casual then so could she. “You’re just trying to provoke me into getting close enough for you to grab me.” 
     His mouth quirked. “Maybe. Would you like to take your clothes off and try? That outfit looks lovely on you but it’s liable to be a drawback in a fight.” 
     She snorted. “Nice try.” 
     He shrugged. “I’ll just enjoy stripping you out of it myself then.” He took a step toward her and she tensed. Why did the room suddenly feel so damn small? She took a step back and felt the bed hit the back of her knees. Major miscalculation. She stepped forward again and assessed him. He was moving toward her slowly, arms lightly at his sides, eyes on her like a cat stalking a mouse. 
     Ansley had been in a lot of dangerous situations but this felt more dangerous than anything she’d ever faced. Flynn wouldn’t hurt her, but she wished he’d stop looking so freaking unstoppable. It was making her nervous. Really nervous. 
     It would be better to fight with him as far from the bed and as close to the door as possible. She went on the offensive, rushing him as fast as she could. It was halfhearted at best. The problem was that she felt too off-balance. She’d wanted Flynn for so long that it was hard to remember to resist. 
     He caught her easily and brought his mouth down in a hard, punishing kiss. The kiss was invasive, his tongue thrusting deep into her mouth while his hands ran greedily over her body. His hands gripped her hips and pulled her against him fully, completely. She could barely breathe. The hard length of his cock pressed into her stomach, his mouth captured hers again and again, refusing to let up. The velvet penetration of his tongue sliding along hers all but stunned her. Yes, it was hot, but it was also overwhelming. Too much, too fast. This wasn’t a kiss. This was a…a branding, pure and simple. He was deliberately doing this, goading her. She knew it and yet it was working. Her temper was rising as hot and fast as her arousal. 
     Just when she thought she’d pass out from lack of oxygen and the slamming of her heart, he released her abruptly. Ansley stepped back immediately, breathing harshly. He didn’t allow her to move back too far, though. He reached out for her again. 
     Most people would have instinctively moved backward to evade, but Ansley reacted as she’d been trained. She grabbed his arm with one hand and yanked him forward, using his momentum to force him off-balance and then thrust hard with the heel of her other hand. He caught it bare inches from his face. 
     Still holding her wrist, he said softly, “Now that was a good move. Not quite fast enough, but still good. If I hadn’t caught your hand, you might have splintered my nose right into my brain.” 
     His eyes glittered. “Naughty girl. Your file says you’re a writer here to do an article on Lansori art. Seems strange to me that you know Fregari defensive arts. Why would a writer need such a deadly skill?” 
     Ansley slammed her bare heel down on the top of his foot. With a muttered oath he released her and she backed up. She smiled pure ice. “Every woman needs a hobby. I suck at needlepoint.” 
     Flynn gave an exaggerated sigh and rolled his eyes. “You and I both know you’re an agent.” 
     Ansley kept her weight balanced, alert for his next move. “Prove it.” 
     Before she’d even gotten the words completely out, he was on her. It happened so fast that Ansley barely had time to react. He was too big to move that fast. He just charged and slammed right into her. His arms came around her, trapping her arms by her sides. She cursed as he moved her backward. She was stumbling, off-balance, and before she could adjust, he literally tossed her on the bed. 
     She landed on her back with him fully on top of her. She inwardly noted that he caught most of his weight on his hands to keep from hurting her. It was small comfort, though, when he was now pressed full-length against her. She squirmed, trying to get out from under him, but he got one leg wedged between hers and used it to his advantage. He spread her legs and pinned her with his hips. She pushed her hands against his chest and was startled by the warmth of his skin. Through the thin material of her dress, Ansley could feel his hard cock pressing into her softness. She went still. 
     The feel of him…there…between her legs. It was so unbelievable. She felt vulnerable, more vulnerable than she’d ever felt in her life. And more excited, too. She gasped for breath and looked into his face. “Get off me.” 
     He stared at her with hungry dark eyes. “No. Not a chance. We’re just getting started, darling.” 
     Ansley had a sinking feeling that she wasn’t going to be fighting Flynn at all. Instead it looked like she was going to be fighting herself. Flynn moved, grabbing her wrists and pinning them up over her head. He transferred both wrists to one hand and held her as she struggled. 
     Ansley knew there were things she could do. But even as her mind went through a list of options, she realized they all involved seriously hurting him. And no matter how angry she was or how weird the situation, the truth was she couldn’t do that to him. To her shock, some very basic part of her that didn’t involve logic or reason trusted him at the deepest level. She couldn’t believe he’d truly hurt her. And she couldn’t truly hurt him. The revelation held her in place more surely than his hand on her wrists. 
     There were ties hanging from the bed rail and he made quick use of them. With her wrists secured once again, Ansley glared at Flynn. “You know? I’m getting tired of being tied up. This captivity thing is getting very old. And my patience is getting very thin.” 
     Flynn smiled at her and rocked back onto his knees between her legs. “But this way I keep those dangerous hands where I can see them. And I can concentrate on…other things.” 
     He leaned forward and placed a light kiss on her forehead, then rained more tiny kisses over her face. Ansley shifted uneasily. Whatever she’d expected, it hadn’t been tenderness. He placed a seductively gentle kiss on her lips, then trailed more kisses to her cheek. 
     His lips felt soft against her skin, and the kisses left her feeling warm. They were soothing, relaxing. He trailed those tender kisses to the edge of her mouth and she turned her head toward him without thinking. 
     His lips touched hers, warm and mobile, moving against her with a banked hunger. Ansley let out a little moan and answered that hunger, moving her lips against his. His tongue stole in and teased hers, sliding and inviting. The kiss caught fire, turning harder, hungrier. When Flynn finally lifted his head, his eyes were so dark that they looked black. He was breathing just as harshly as she was. And he was staring at her hard, as if he was as rocked by this moment as she was. 
     He leaned forward to her right ear and whispered so softly, “Forget Sarthan or anyone else who might be watching. Forget everyone. There’s only you and me. This is our own private world. And I want you. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone or anything in my life. Give yourself to me, Ansley. Let go for me.” 
     Ansley closed her eyes at the depth of emotion and need coursing through her. She protested. “No.” 
     He continued. “Say harbor and I’ll stop. I promise you. But anything else and I keep going. No matter what.” 
     He raised back up and she opened her eyes, searching his face. Something in it reassured her. There was no doubt that he wanted her. But he was serious about stopping. And he cared enough to remind her of it. She nodded slowly. 
     He smiled at her and touched a fingertip to her lips. Then he grabbed the top of her dress and ripped it open down the front, baring her breasts. The sound of the material coming apart in his bare hands was a shock. Ansley felt the cool air on her already sensitive nipples and gasped. 
     Flynn kept his eyes on her face and saw the shock there. Then he looked down and his breath caught in his throat. Her breasts were moving with each agitated breath that she took. She was fair-skinned and her nipples were the palest shade of blushing pink. At the moment, they were hardening, drawing tight. His mouth watered and he fought the urge to lean down and just devour her. He said huskily, “Beautiful, sweetheart.” 
     Pushing the fabric out of his way completely, he placed an overly gentle kiss between her breasts. He could literally feel her heart pounding when his lips touched her. She moaned a little and the sound only stoked the ache in his cock, making it throb. 
     Ansley felt those warm lips and shuddered. Her nipples were tight and her breasts felt swollen. She started to shut her legs but he was still between them, one arm on each side of her. Her thighs merely squeezed his hips. She said, “D-Derix. This isn’t necessary. I don’t have the information you need.” 
     Flynn kissed along the curve of her breast, tracing it with his lips and tongue. Her skin was warm and so damn soft. He muttered, “You have everything I need.” 
     Ansley felt the warm trail of his tongue along the underside of her breast and swallowed a moan. It was so unfair. Her nipples had always been incredibly sensitive. He was avoiding them, leaving her in suspense, teasing her. The sensual torment was incredibly pleasurable and frustrating at the same time. She fought to dim the sensations, to somehow mute and control what was happening, but then the moist velvety heat of his tongue rasped her right nipple and she cried out. 
     Gawd. He was going to burn her up. She planted her feet on the bed and pushed her upper body backward, trying to get away from him. Unfortunately, that only brought her lower body more fully against his. His cock pressed hard against her clit and she moaned half in pleasure, half in despair. 
     Flynn licked around and around her nipple, teasing it. She was shaking now, the blood rioting through her veins. When he switched to the other breast and gave it the same thorough torment, she began to yank hard at the bonds holding her hands. 
     He raised his head a fraction and blew on her nipple. “Where are the plans, Ansley? Tell me, darling.” 
     Ansley tensed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 
     He licked her nipple again and muttered, “So sensitive. I could play with these sweet nipples for hours, Ansley. Think of it. It feels so good, doesn’t it? I just want to give you pleasure, darling. Let go for me and feel it. Stop thinking.” 
     Ansley shook her head from side to side. “Stop tormenting me. You know what I want.” 
     Flynn opened his mouth and placed it over her nipple. The wet heat surrounding her nipple was almost too much sensation but she needed more. She arched toward him, aching and nearly pleading. As if to reward her for her cooperation, he drew the tightened point fully into his mouth, sucking on it gently. Ansley bucked, her whole body reacting to that stunning pressure. It felt so good. Better than she could have imagined. He sucked harder and she moaned louder this time. 
     He released her nipple slowly. “That drives you wild. I’m going to find out everything that drives you wild.” He kissed over to her other breast. “I’m going to find every sensitive place, Ansley. Every time you gasp, every time you moan, every time your breath breaks and your heart leaps, I’m going to linger.” He sucked her nipple into his mouth greedily. 
     Ansley felt that pull all the way to her womb. He was making her crazy. It was too much. The whole situation was too much. She tugged on the bonds harder and said desperately, “Stop. Wait a minute. I…oh god…stop just a minute…” 
     He said roughly, “No.” And then he brought one hand up. As he sucked on her right nipple, his hand went to her other breast. Capturing it between his thumb and finger, he gently rolled, then tugged. His mouth worked greedily, suckling her in rhythm with his hand. She felt like her whole body was too hot. Her head went back and her eyes shut tight. He was destroying her. Control was sliding away and she tried to focus, to block out what was happening. She needed to stay in control. She needed to keep her head. 
     Flynn played for an endless while, taking his time, drawing out the sensations until Ansley was shaking with pleasure. She moved her head from side to side, her hips moving now, unconsciously asking for a relief to that ache. 
     Her body was on fire, burning with need. She moaned again. “Please…” 
     Flynn swirled that maddening tongue around her nipple. “Tell me where the plans are, Ansley. Tell me…” 
     The plans? Through the hot haze of desire, she clung to reason. “No…no plans…stop…” 
     He nibbled and teased, but his voice sounded rough and strained. “Wrong answer. Maybe you need more persuasion.” 
     He released her nipples and nibbled his way down her chest to her stomach. Ansley quaked. There was no other word for it. She knew where he was heading. And she needed him to slow down before she lost it completely. She said “Derix, please. This…ohhhh, that feels good… Umm… I don’t want you to….” Flynn’s tongue probed her belly button and she gave a strangled moan. 
     Flynn’s voice was hoarse. “Relax. Relax and let go, Ansley. I want to taste you. And you want that too.” 
     Ansley shook her head. “No. I don’t want that. I want you to stop.” He’d crawled further down now and she chanced a wild move with her hips. He caught them with his hands, controlling her movements and stopping her. His hands were large and rough and they held her in place. It was the most intensely vulnerable she’d ever felt in her life, with Flynn there between her legs, holding her hips, looking down at her. She could feel his gaze as surely as a touch. She was wet and wide open to him. 
     She could feel his hot breath when he said, “Liar. I’m never going to stop.” Then he slowly licked her inner thigh. “Stop resisting, Ansley. Think about what I can give you.” He licked her other inner thigh, even higher. “Tell me how long you’ve been an agent, darling.” 
     Ansley could feel those big hands holding her, could feel the whisper of his breath, hovering. Her body was all sensation and her mind was shutting down. She struggled to think. “I’m not an agent. I don’t have your damn plans. Let me go.” 
     He said, “Wrong answer again.” 
     And then she felt a long, slow, swirling lick around her clitoris. She pushed her head back harder into the bed and yanked on the bonds wildly. They held tight. He placed a hot kiss against her sex and then she felt him groan. The vibration seemed to go right through her. She moaned helplessly. 
     Each teasing lick was like a flame. The pleasure was so intense she thought she’d burn up with it. He sucked her clit gently into his mouth and she moaned louder. The feel of his mouth and his tongue laving that swollen bud was too much. The tension inside her was coiling tighter and tighter. She ached. She ached until her entire body felt tight with it. She tried to pull back from him, but those big hands just pulled her closer. 
     She couldn’t escape. He kept licking her, each lick and suck and swirl sweeping her closer to the edge of pleasure and pain. She couldn’t stop him. She couldn’t stop the hot pleasure. It went on and on until she lost all sense of time and place. Her whole world had narrowed to that tongue moving between her legs. She whimpered, shaking, moaning, and could barely hold back the scream building inside her at the back of her throat. She needed to let go. 
     She hovered there on the edge of climax, and said on a half sob, “Stop. Please. Oh god. Please. I need you.” She needed him to fill her, to fill that emptiness and thrust deep inside where she ached. 
     Flynn raised his head and said roughly, “Yes.” He moved upward until his hands were beside her head. She felt the broad head of his cock probing at her opening and nearly cried with relief. There was pressure. He was big and she suddenly remembered his size. She was wet, so wet, but the broad head of his cock felt huge against her. 
     She opened her eyes and he was looking down at her, sweat beading on his forehead. He murmured harshly, “Relax for me, darling. Take me in.” 
     She gave a helpless moan, too incoherent to form any real response. He rocked back and forth, pushing into her, sliding deeper each time. Ansley tried to relax her inner muscles but he was stretching her, relentlessly making his way inside. Their eyes were locked, the intimacy of it rocking her all the way to her soul. 
     He paused, leaning down to kiss her mouth gently, although it looked like the effort cost him dearly. He was just as racked with need as she was and it showed. It showed in the harsh lines of his face and the roughness of his voice. It showed in the darkness of his eyes. 
     Ansley lifted her hips up and the angle drove him deep. They both sucked in a breath and then groaned. Ansley felt him flex his hips and suddenly he was in her to the hilt. It was too much. She struggled against the feeling of being overstretched, of having him so deep and hard inside her. She breathed deeply, willing her body to relax and accept. He rested his forehead against hers and waited. 
     Ansley focused on breathing and relaxing. He felt so good inside her. So right. So absolutely, stunningly right. She looked into his eyes and was moved unbearably by the way they held hers, the need in them. There was no pretense now. This was Flynn. And her. At their most vulnerable, naked, emotional selves. No more secrets. No more lies. She felt inside out, as if he could see through her skin to her very soul. And then he slowly pulled back from her and slid back in deep. 
     Ansley nearly came from just that one stroke. She gasped and he moaned and moved again. She lifted her hips, eager for the delicious feel of him sliding and filling her. He moved and stroked again. And again. Flexing his hips, filling her over and over. 
     The tension inside her coiled tighter and tighter. She moaned louder, lost to the exquisite pleasure and the aching need for release. 
     He muttered roughly, “Come for me.” 
     And just like that, she let go. She bucked wildly and flew over the edge, pleasure radiating in waves through her body. She heard her own voice screaming as the world exploded. And she heard his own guttural moan as he flooded wet and deep inside her. 
     They lay there gasping, trying to draw in air. Flynn collapsed on her. He managed to shift his weight to his arms, but his head was buried in her neck. She turned her head slowly and whispered softly for his ears only, “I don’t break but I bend when I want. I injected the schematic microchip into my left shoulder. And I love you.” 
     That brought his head up in surprise. She watched as his eyes questioned hers and then wonder dawned. And she nodded. 
     He smiled, slowly. And then he whispered almost inaudibly, “I love you, too. And I’m never letting you go. No more lies between us. Get used to it.” 
     Ansley felt joy blooming inside her. More joy than she had ever felt or known. It uncurled and grew and grew until she was nearly bursting with it. And then her sense of humor kicked in. What a time for both of them to finally admit the truth. She said loudly, “I’m not telling you anything, Derix. Great orgasm or not, there’s nothing to tell. There’s no big secret.” 
     Flynn pulled back from her and ran a hand along her body in one teasing sweep. “But there is. And we’ve only started your ravishment, darling.” 
Chapter Four 
      
     Hours later, Flynn buzzed for the guard. When the guard appeared outside the doorway of the containment room, Flynn said, “I need to speak with Sarthan right now. I have the information.” 
     The guard nodded and hit the button on the corridor wall. The shield stopped glowing and Flynn stepped through it. The guard reset the button and walked to the main console in the corridor. He pressed a finger to the computer and said, “Derix has the information you require.” 
     He turned to Flynn. “He will be here shortly.” 
     Flynn said, “Thank you,” and then punched him neatly in the jaw. The guard fell like a stone. Flynn hit the button to release Ansley. 
     She stepped out of the containment room and observed dryly, “My favorite kind of guard, complacent and stupid. He never saw that coming. I see you’re still quick with the sucker punch.” 
     Flynn flexed his sore fingers and grumbled. “It was efficient. Painful, but efficient.” 
     They dragged the body of the guard into the room. Quickly stripping him of his clothes, they worked in silence, both conscious of time passing. Each second that ticked by provided another chance to get caught. 
     Ansley put on the guard’s shirt and then his pants. Both were a little large, but not by too much. The drawstring helped. The sandals, though, were two sizes too big. Ansley cursed. 
     Flynn muttered, “No help for it. We have to move.” 
     Ansley nodded from her crouched position and tossed the sandals aside. “I can’t run in them. Barefoot will have to do.” She stood up. “I’ll head for the console while you get the Minister.” 
     Flynn placed a fast, hard kiss on her mouth. “Break that code, darling, and take down the shield. Let’s get off of this rock.” 
     Ansley turned and ran for the console. “Keep any wandering guards busy. I need to concentrate before Sarthan gets here.” 
     She looked at the holographic screens in front of her and tried to get oriented. There. That was the main access panel. She touched the virtual screen and began trying sequences. The screen went white suddenly and she backtracked, trying more moves. As she worked, she shut out all thoughts of Flynn, of the danger, and of everything but the machine in front her. This was her instrument. 
     The computer had Lansori words, but underneath it spoke in code. And code was her language. This was her music. It followed a pattern. It had rhythm much like a song. All she had to do was figure out the tune. 
     She cursed as she hit another block and bypassed. The security was good. They’d changed the codes since the last time she’d broken into the system. And they’d added a second subset of codes. She felt sweat beading on her forehead and rubbed an arm across it, barely pausing. 
     Flynn stood a few feet away, the Minister by his side. Getting into her room and knocking out the Enraptor with a simple pressure point move had been easy. It had taken precious moments for the Minister to get dressed, but she’d been eager to leave and hadn’t even bothered to ask questions. Flynn assumed any enemy of the Lansori was her friend by default at that point. 
     He watched silently as Ansley worked on the screens in front her. The Minister opened her mouth to speak and he said, “Quiet. She’s bringing down the outer shield around the confinement center.” 
     She shut up. Ansley’s hands moved faster and, watching her, Flynn felt his breath catch in his throat. She looked magnificent, like a conductor directing a symphony. Her fingers moved, touching here, there, on the screens in front her. Fast and fluid. She was unconsciously nodding her head slightly, her brow wrinkled in concentration. 
     Ansley grimaced when she made another mistake and muttered, “Time. We’re running out of time.” 
     Flynn took a few steps and chanced a look down the adjacent corridor. Sarthan was coming. He was walking slowly, weapon drawn but held loosely and casually in his hand, his hair slightly mussed as if he’d just climbed from bed. Flynn touched the Minister on the shoulder and said very quietly, “Sarthan is coming.” 
     Her face looked a little too white, her eyes a little too wild, but she was holding up. She nodded. 
     Flynn waited until Sarthan stepped around the corner and then slammed into him, knocking the weapon, a sonic waver, from his hand. The collision propelled them into the opposite wall. Flynn felt a sharp blow as Sarthan’s elbow caught him in the ribs, but he shoved the pain aside and just kept focused on finding an opening. As they grappled, more wrestling than fighting, he heard the Minister say, “Get out of the way!” 
     They were about evenly matched. Flynn landed two quick blows but the only reaction from Sarthan was a pained grunt. Then Flynn felt a hard fist slam into his jaw and reeled backward. Sarthan took a step forward to follow but he suddenly dropped to the ground, giving an agonized yell before going completely still. 
     Flynn stared at him in surprise and then looked back to find the Minister standing there, Sarthan’s waver shaking wildly in her hands. Wavers were neat little weapons that could send a targeted sonic wave or pulse through a person’s body. Getting hit was much like having an internal earthquake, every organ and muscle would be shaken or dislodged. On the very lowest setting, it would only stun you for about a minute. Judging by the blood pouring from Sarthan’s ears and eyes and mouth, this one was set at maximum. 
     Flynn took a step toward the Minister and said softly, “Much obliged, darling. You meant well. But you just liquefied our Plan A. We needed him for the outer shield access codes. What do you say you hand over the waver now?” 
     The Minister stared at him with wide, uncomprehending eyes. She kept her grip on the waver. 
     Several people in varying states of dress and undress appeared in the doorways of the rooms, held in check only by the glowing red shields. One male Enraptor yelled, “Guard!” 
     A female captive appeared next to him and yelled, “Shut up!” She swung, punching him in the face. Similar scenarios broke out all down the corridor as people realized there was an escape in progress. 
     Ansley yelled from the console area, “Flynn? Oh damn…” An alarm sounded, the shrill, piercing noise nearly deafening. Her hands moved faster, touching this screen and that one, and she cursed again. She yelled over the alarm, “Minister, give him the damn waver before you liquefy him by mistake, too! Dammit, Flynn… Stealth is out. Plan B. How do you feel about an old-fashioned riot?” Her hands continued to move in frantic motions and she muttered at the screens in front of her. Just a little more. Just a little more and she’d have it. 
     Flynn reached the Minister and grabbed the waver, prying her hands from it. She shook her head, as if waking up, and murmured, “I am sorry. I…” 
     Flynn grabbed her by the arm, moving her toward Ansley. “No problem.” He yelled at Ansley, “Riots are good. I’m for rioting.” 
     Ansley made two more quick motions and nodded. She stepped back from the console just as all of the doorways stopped glowing. There was a frantic yell of, “Shields are down!” followed by a lot of bodies spilling into the corridor. Enraptors and captives alike stopped in their tracks as Flynn adjusted the setting and pointed the waver, firing a warning shot at the ceiling. Part of the ceiling fell to the floor with a loud crash, narrowly missing the crowd. Everyone went still. 
     Flynn adjusted the setting again calmly and looked at Ansley. “Are the outer shields down?” 
     She said, “Yes. And the guard building shields are up. At least for five minutes. Maybe six. They’re locked in. You can thank me later.” 
     Flynn felt like kissing her at that news. “Perfect.” 
     He gestured to the female captive he’d seen punching the Enraptor in the face earlier. “You… What’s your name?” 
     She focused a hard eye on him. “Tedra.” 
     “Tedra, check each room. Free any captives who are in restraints.” He said to the rest of the group, “Enraptors—move into that containment room there.” 
     Slowly the Enraptors moved until the last one was in the room. The shields were down so it wouldn’t keep them from getting out. But it kept them grouped together and out of the way for the moment. Even armed with the waver Flynn was surprised at the lack of true resistance. Then he remembered the Enraptors were paid by the job. Most of them had no real allegiance to the Lansori beyond getting paid. It appeared most were cutting their losses. 
     The captives stood there, some looking dazed, others looking ready to fight. Ansley reached Flynn and muttered, “We’ve got to move. All of the guards aren’t in that one building…” 
     Just as she said it, a guard rounded the corner. Flynn fired, killing him instantly. Ansley ran and picked up a waver from the guard’s limp hand. She stood back up. “As I was saying…” 
     Tedra emerged from the last room with a very large, very angry-looking male captive. She yelled, “It’s clear! Everyone is out.” 
     The male captive took a step toward the room with the Enraptors, looking ready to kill them all, but Tedra put a hand on his arm and he stopped in surprise, looking down at her. She said, “Another time. No time now.” He stared at her a moment and then nodded. 
     Ansley and Flynn stood side by side. She checked the waver, making sure it was on maximum. She smiled at Flynn. “Time to win or die fighting. Together. Ready?” 
     He placed a hard kiss on her mouth, then turned. “Okay, people, let’s move. Any guard drops, you grab his weapon. If you don’t know how to use it, give it to someone who does. Stay behind me and close to the walls. I’ve got a ship waiting outside the city. If you make it, you get a ride. Keep up or die trying.” 
Chapter Five 
      
     Not all of them made it. A young female captive was hit with a waver blast in the side and killed as they emerged from one of the corridors. A male captive dropped outside, dead from another blast, when they were nearly safe. Step by step, the small group made its way out of the confinement center and to the ship, fighting fiercely for their freedom. In the end, there were twenty-four who left Lansor on Flynn’s Mariner that night. 
     Much later, as the ship sat in the dock at Adora, the nearest Union starbase, Flynn checked with his first officer. “Status? How long until we leave for Shelfi Two?” 
     Jerrod shrugged. “A few more minutes. All but one of the refugees debarked early this morning. The last one is headed this way now.” 
     Flynn turned as the Minister approached. “How are you, Minister?” 
     “I am happy to be going home soon. And I wish to thank you.” She touched her hand to her forehead and then her mouth. It was a Tressarian gesture of gratitude. 
     Flynn shrugged it off, uncomfortable at the way she was regarding him so solemnly. “You’re welcome. The Union has already rewarded me for getting you to safety. I’m glad I could help.” 
     The Minister moved to stand beside him and said, “You are waiting for Ansley to return?” 
     Flynn nodded, a little puzzled by the turn of the conversation. 
     The Minister hesitated. “She has the plans?” 
     Flynn tensed and studied her face. How much did she know? “Where did you hear that information?” 
     The Minister shrugged. “The confinement center was a place of few true secrets. I heard the guards speaking of it. The Union will see that the Lansori never make that weapon. My planet is safer because of it. And Ansley will be a very rich woman because of those plans.” 
     What was she getting at? Flynn searched her face but couldn’t tell. “Yes, I’m sure she will be.” 
     The Minister nodded. “You helped her escape. Now that she is free, she does not need you. You love her, yes?” 
     Flynn ran his hand through his hair, half amused, half angry. “Why the sudden interest in my love life, Minister?” 
     “I owe you a great debt. My life, to be precise.” She touched his arm. “She no longer needs your help. Yet you let her leave this ship alone to deliver those plans to the Union representative. You trust that she will get all of that money and still return to you?” 
     There it was—that sudden flash of terror and doubt. The tables had certainly turned. He remembered standing in that corridor on Lansor and asking Ansley to trust him in spite of all of the good reasons she shouldn’t. Now she didn’t need his help anymore. And with that huge payment for the plans, she could go anywhere, do anything she wanted. She could reinvent herself, her life, leave her mercenary days behind if she wanted. Leave him behind and start over with a clean slate. Would she come back? Flynn reminded himself that love without trust was nothing. He said calmly, “She’ll come back to me.” 
     The Minister leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “I believe she will. But if she does not, I hope you will come to Tressaria some day. You will always have a place there. And friends there.” 
     Flynn looked at her in surprise and felt strangely touched. The open sincerity in her eyes was obvious. “Thank you, Minister.” 
     Jerrod, the first officer, said quietly, “Excuse me, Captain, but I’ve spoken with the Adora communications center and we have approval to proceed with departure.” 
     The Minister turned to go. “I’ll leave you to your preparations. Fair travels, Captain Flynn. May life smile on you.” 
     Flynn watched her leave. “Fair travels, Minister.” 
Chapter Six 
      
     Flynn watched the seconds tick by on the computer. It was past time for departure. Ansley should have been here before now. Long before now. Jerrod turned toward him and Flynn snapped, “We’ll leave shortly. I know we have clearance.” 
     Jerrod said quietly, “They have only cleared us for another fifteen minutes. If we don’t leave by then, we’ll have to uplink another coordinates plan and get it approved. Do you want to wait or file another plan?” 
     “I’m aware of that.” Flynn felt like smashing his hand against the console but refrained. Where was she? She would be here. He knew she would be here. 
     Just then, a familiar voice sounded behind him. “I say we take off and celebrate. But that’s just me.” 
     Flynn turned and saw Ansley standing in the doorway and felt almost dizzy with joy and relief. His world seemed to right itself and he let out a deep breath. Then he laughed as she hurled herself into his arms. “Ummmph. Darling, you’re late.” 
     She leaned back and grinned at him. “It took a little longer than I thought. But I’m here.” 
     Flynn turned to Jerrod. “Get her going. If you need me, I’ll be in my…errr…our quarters.” He scooped Ansley up in his arms. 
     She gave a surprised yelp and gripped her arms around his neck. “Well, now. You big strong man, you. Sweeping me off my feet and everything. I think I like this. And I get half your quarters? It must be my lucky day.” 
     He laughed. “I already know it’s mine.” He leaned down and kissed her as he walked down the hallway, loving the feel of her in his arms. 
     When they broke apart, breathing heavily, Ansley suddenly looked at him with serious green eyes. “I had half the money transferred to your account. That’s what took a little longer.” 
     He stared at her. “You what?” 
     “I had half the money transferred to your account.” She smiled at him. “Not that it matters overly much. I mean, when we get married, it’ll be both of ours anyway. But I felt like fair is fair. You deserve it, for helping me escape.” She teased him. “And for giving me all those fabulous orgasms, too. Being ravished like that was worth more than half a blooming fortune, actually.” 
     Flynn laughed. “Thank you. Darling, there’s a lot more ravishing in your future. Count on it.” His mouth dropped open when the marriage part of her statement truly hit him, but it only took him a few seconds to regain his composure. “Wait a minute. Get married? Become upstanding citizens of the Union and give up our nefarious ways? Raise terrifying little…” He gave a mock shudder. “Ansleys?” 
     Her smile widened. “Eventually. And yes, maybe even that.” 
     Flynn kissed her mouth gently and then rested his forehead against hers, his heart suddenly feeling too large for his chest. He leaned back and looked into her eyes. “I love you. And I like the sound of that. I really like it a lot. I think we make a great team. What do you think?” 
     Annsley grinned. “I love you, too. And Flynn? I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.”