Forbidden 2: Neighborhood Watch
Marteeka Karland

  

 All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2005 Marteeka Karland

No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Changeling Press LLC.

  

 ISBN 1-59596-133-X
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Publisher:
Changeling Press LLC
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www.ChangelingPress.com

Editor: Katriena Knights
Cover Artist: Sahara Kelly

  



  

 This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

  

  

  

 Chapter One

  

 “Mikkarn, over there,” Kiril whispered, pointing to a small group of humans working frantically on a badly wounded man in the crowded refugee center.

 “By the Universe! His whole belly’s been blown away.” Mikkarn winced as he glanced back at his boyhood friend, now bodyguard. “Our Earth contact will have to wait. Time is of the essence.”

 Kiril cleared the way through the chaos and filth so Mikkarn could scan the man’s abdomen -- or what was left of it -- for a quick assessment of the injuries.

 “Who the hell are you, and what the hell are you doing to my patient?” A tiny woman stepped between Mikkarn and the dying man.

 “Doctor Mikkarn Tovel. I am in charge of the relief sent from Gothe’mar by Medical Command. This,” he gestured to Kiril, “is Commander Kiril Cha’marn, my bodyguard.”

 “It’s about damn time! I’m Doctor Mara Jenson. We’ve been expecting you for days.” She turned back to her patient. Digging in her jacket pocket, which bulged with its contents, she came out with a pair of small scissors. “I’m your contact and Earth representative. I’ll take care of the paperwork later. Right now, I need your help.” Mara cut away bits of the man’s shirt and Mikkarn saw there were actually two wounds, though one was much larger than the other.

 Mikkarn moved his scanner over the man again. His wounds were fatal. The healing tube wouldn’t be ready in time to save him. Still, Mikkarn had to try. He barked a sharp set of instructions into the communicator at his throat.

 Not getting the results he wanted, he backed away from the patient and spoke with a deadly calm. “We don’t have a few minutes. Get the computers online now .”

 The man’s vital signs were failing, fast. Mikkarn was losing this battle.

 Without warning, the man screamed, a blood-curling howl that raised the hair on the back of Mikkarn’s neck. A bright red fountain of blood erupted from the gaping wound, and Mara and her staff scrambled in an effort to stem the flow.

 “I told you to hold pressure!” Mara snapped. Grabbing a nearby towel, she pressed it to the man’s abdomen and looked over her shoulder at Mikkarn. “Are you going to stand there, or do something?” Her vivid green eyes pierced him straight to his soul.

 “We are making the final preparations. I can transport him directly into the tube in five minutes.”

 “This guy doesn’t have five minutes!”

 Mikkarn moved closer to do an intensive scan of the man’s brain. Kiril had not interfered until this point, but he placed a restraining hand on Mikkarn’s shoulder. “Kiril, I need an exact reading of neurological decay.” Not saying anything, Kiril backed off.

 “There is a steady drop in brain function.” Mikkarn made eye contact with Mara again and winced at the anger he saw there. “He’s losing too much blood to maintain oxygen levels.”

 Her disgusted snort actually caused a physical ache in his chest. Why her opinion of him mattered at all was beyond reasoning.

 “No shit. You think?” Mara drawled as she dug into another pocket and handed a roll of tape to the woman next to her.

 “Sarcasm isn’t helping.” His reply was harsher than he intended and his anger self-directed. He had absolutely no idea what to do before technology took over. His patient was dying right before his eyes.

 “You’re the one with god-like medical knowledge. Do something!” Mara’s desperate accusation hung between them. Mikkarn hated to admit there was nothing he could do until the computers were linked and engaged.

 “Not without the proper equipment,” he replied tightly.

 Mara looked at him in disbelief. “You’re kidding, right?”

 No matter how much she affected him, her mouth was getting on his nerves. “Do your job. I’ll do mine. You keep blood and oxygen going where it’s supposed to and I’ll get the computers ready to operate the healing tube.”

 As she turned from him, his attention never left Mara or her team. Unfortunately, when she bent over the patient to grab something just out of reach, the fabric of her pants stretched tightly across her backside. He blinked as an unbidden image of that shapely rear clothed in nothing but his hands stabbed into his consciousness.

 Damn!

 It took his team just shy of five minutes to ensure all was ready for Mara’s patient. Mikkarn looked down at the dying man just as Mara spoke to her nurses.

 “No, squeeze them in. He needs blood too badly to let it drip on its own, and we don’t have a pump.”

 “That’s not advisable, Dr. Jenson. This is untyped blood.” Mikkarn almost felt sorry for the nurse who spoke. Almost. Mara knew what she was doing, and any delay in carrying out her orders could very possibly cost this man his life.

 “Just do it!” Mara snapped. “Or leave. I really don’t care which.”

 Another nurse, who wisely kept her head down, squeezed a bag attached to a tube coming from the patient’s mouth, while another nurse pressed the man’s chest downward with a considerable amount of force in a steady rhythm. Mara had one hand inserted past her wrist inside the man’s gut.

 Blood was everywhere.

 “If you’re done fiddling with your fancy gizmos, we could really use a little help here.” Mara’s voice was strained, incensed. Almost accusing. She never even glanced at him.

 Mikkarn ignored her biting comment. “You must remove your hand from his body.” His irritation was of no consequence. The only thing that mattered was getting this patient to a healing tube safely.

 “If I do that, he’ll bleed to death in seconds. I’m plugging his aorta.”

 “Transfer will be instantaneous. You will move on my mark.”

 She looked at him then. “You better be right about this.”

 Mikkarn didn’t flinch. “Ready? Now.”

 Mara removed her hand.

 * * *

 Mara’s first encounter with her mentor, Dr. Mikkarn Tovel, and the brooding bodyguard, Kiril Cha’marn, was a mixture of intense emotions. The instant she’d pulled her hand from the dying man’s belly, her patient simply vanished. For several seconds, Mara knelt where she was. Talk about anticlimactic.

 Well, that was until she got a good look at Mikkarn, and his silent shadow. The adrenaline rush she had experienced during the life and death struggle was quickly replaced with a surge of lust so strong, she sat flat on her butt in dismay. These men were as different as daylight and dark, but she was hard-pressed to decide which man was the sexiest.

 Mikkarn was exceedingly tall -- perhaps 6’ 7” -- towering over her own 5’ 3” inch frame. Exceedingly tall and very lean, wearing a loose-fitting white shirt and pants. His muscled, vein-roped forearms were bare, and when he moved she caught glimpses of a nicely chiseled chest. His eyes, though ice blue, held a wealth of warmth in them, welcoming her within their depths. Lightly tanned skin and a lustrous head of long, blond hair completed a man she could have created in her fondest dreams.

 The other one, the silent, looming one, probably sprang from her worst nightmares.

 Kiril was heavily armored, but Mara doubted he was anything other than one solidly built warrior. He couldn’t be anything else. His skin was a rich mocha color and black eyebrows revealed the hair color hidden by his helmet. His eyes were so brown, they were almost black, and she knew those eyes saw straight to her soul… and found her lacking.

 Once she recovered herself, and the necessary introductions were made, Mikkarn took Mara straight to her patient. She could see for herself the machine working to repair damage no Earth surgeon would have had a prayer of fixing.

 “I greatly admire what you were able to accomplish today. I doubt anyone among my own people could have saved that man under the same circumstances.”

 For a moment, she thought he might be making fun of her and Earth’s “primitive” medicine, but something in his eyes said otherwise. She just stared at him a moment, not sure what to say.

 “Well, we didn’t save him, did we?” It was a statement more than a question. “You said the magic words and he vanished off to Neverland where he will emerge whole again. My thanks to you.” Mara was certain her irritation radiated off her in waves.

 Mikkarn sighed. “I am trying to compliment your skill.”

 “Coming from the Masters of the Universe , that’s a very great compliment indeed,” she drawled. “Why is it, by the way, that you can bring the dead back to life, but you have this aversion to a little blood?”

 He blinked. “You think the blood bothered me?”

 Mara shrugged. “It seemed the logical conclusion. Besides --” She did her best to pin him with a sharp look, difficult when looking so far up just to catch his gaze. “-- I’d rather think you didn’t like any blood than that you just didn’t want to dirty yourself with human blood.”

 He backed away a step, surprise in his azure eyes. “Mara, I came here to help your people. All life is precious to me.”

 “Then why didn’t you help me? Why did you just stand there, jabbering about your computer?” She knew she was being belligerent, but couldn’t seem to stop herself.

 “Because I simply didn’t know what to do. Everything is computerized on Gothe’mar. There are very few places left where actual physical contact with a patient is necessary. I can diagnose any problem and tell our computers what has to be done to save a patient, but I cannot actually perform the procedure myself. No doctor in Medical Command can. It simply isn’t necessary.”

 Well, that was pretty straightforward. Mara blinked several times, trying to absorb what he had just told her.

 “You mean, you don’t do even the most basic procedures? No sutures, no closed reductions? Nothing?”

 “No. That is what the computers were designed for. It’s guaranteed to be a sterile procedure, the antibiotics are automatically administered, and the chance of error is cut by eighty percent. Everything entered into the computer is checked by two other failsafe devices.” He shrugged. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

 Mara almost laughed. Almost. Recent events being what they were, she didn’t find it that amusing just now.

 “Well, in case you hadn’t noticed, this isn’t Gothe’mar. If this is all the help your people have sent, you’ve all wasted your time.” She turned her back to him. In the space of one breath, Mara felt the last hope of Earth’s wounded slip away. The Gothies couldn’t help.

 “Wait!” Mikkarn grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop. “We have everything on the way. There will be enough equipment here to help everyone in a few days.” If she didn’t know better, she’d think he almost sounded desperate for her to agree with him.

 But she couldn’t.

 “A few days,” she said, disappointment creeping into her words. “What about the people who need help now? And how much longer will it take to set up your equipment once it arrives?” Mara waved her arm to encompass the whole camp. “Look around us. Do you think most of these people have that long?”

 For a moment, his eyes held hers. Then he dropped his gaze. “No. They don’t.”

 Mara could see the pain in his features. Maybe she was being too hard on the man. After all, he was only doing what he could. “Look,” Mara sighed, “there’s not much you can do here. There is a doctor in place running the equipment you have working and we need much more of those wonderful computers of yours. Do what you can. We’ll make do until you can get things running from your end.”

 He turned from her without another word. It was strange, but Mara thought she could almost feel the sorrow in him. She watched the tall, brooding physician leave the camp, his head high. She was so preoccupied with the emotions welling up inside her that she almost missed Kiril’s intense scrutiny.

 He looked at her with disapproval. For a handful of heartbeats, neither broke the gaze. It was a contest of wills. Mara raised her chin several notches in an effort to keep from backing down. No man cowed her. For any reason. And she’d be damned if she’d start letting this one because his buddy got his feelings hurt.

 But she couldn’t keep it up. She actually felt bad about the dressing down she’d given Mikkarn. He was trying to help in the only way he could. She knew that. She had taken out her frustration and disappointment on a man who didn’t deserve it. Lowering her gaze, she turned away.

 She had more important things to worry about than a man’s ego.

  

  

  

 Chapter Two

  

 Two years later, she was still trying to convince herself she didn’t give a damn what either man felt… or thought. That was the most perplexing thing of all. There were times she swore she knew what one or the other of them was thinking. Since she first met Mikkarn and Kiril on Earth, she’d thrown herself into the work she’d started soon after arriving on Gothe’mar. She blamed her “insight” on nothing more than exhausted paranoia. Maybe if she kept telling herself that, she’d start to believe it.

 She’d been given an opportunity to study medicine on Gothe’mar and had grabbed it with both hands. Anything she could learn that might help her people in the future, she would. The work had been hard and mentally taxing, but somehow she learned the complex system of computers and how they related to both Gothe’maran and human physiologies. She was, so far, the only human to complete a residency.

 And that was only the beginning.

 She was actually teaching the Gothe’maran a thing or two about hands-on medicine. At least, she was teaching Mikkarn. He had a thirst for medical knowledge to rival her own. Since that day on Earth when they first met, he had worked as tirelessly as she had.

 They spent almost every working hour together and were so attuned to each other they could anticipate what the other needed, which only confused her more. It was both uncanny and disturbing. Was she really catching his thoughts, or was it all an illusion born from the incredible professional relationship they shared and her own heightened response to him physically? Mikkarn was one hot man and Mara wanted him, badly. Their close working relationship had opened her eyes to the highly intelligent, compassionate man he was. She also sensed a dark side to him. Death was something he simply could not accept, and Mara was certain that was what drove him so hard. Still, Mara wasn’t sure she had ever been attracted to anyone as strongly as she was to Mikkarn.

 And through it all, there was Kiril. The silent shadow.

 He was always there. Watching.

 When they were on Earth, he served as a bodyguard for Mikkarn. Here on Gothe’mar, Mara wasn’t sure what their relationship was. Kiril was a constant presence, like a guardian angel… a very frightening guardian angel. Something about him scared the hell out of her. It wasn’t anything he’d ever said or done so much as his body language. This man was dangerous.

 In more ways than one.

 Every time he looked at her, she felt the effect physically. He wanted her, that much was certain. His heated, visual caresses and possessive gestures said as much. He never let another man approach her other than Mikkarn and, even though he didn’t speak much, he never missed an opportunity to touch her, to stake his claim without saying a word. He was always gentle with her, tender even, and a simple touch from him was enough to make her skin tingle every time.

 Mara looked out her picture window. The beauty of this planet never ceased to amaze her. Because of the rotation of Gothe’mar and the orbit of the planet’s ringed moons, the sun never fully rose or set on this part of the planet, leaving it bathed in perpetual twilight. The plant life adjusted accordingly and there were species of vegetation that could be found only in this region. Mara sighed. She really loved it here.

 Unable to help herself, she focused on the residence where the objects of her obsessions lived and laughed. If those two men wanted anything to do with her, other than professionally, they had a funny way of showing it. Neither had offered to spend time with her outside work, and she knew they both had their share of women.

 That didn’t stop her from fantasizing about them.

 Her fantasies had begun to take on a life of their own. Especially when the men and their women were around the pool. She could easily imagine being one of those women. She didn’t really care which man she imagined touching her. Their images would overlap. She could never really keep them separated. Just thinking about what they did inside that house with those women made her jealous, and she had no idea why.

 It also made her wet and horny as hell, and she knew exactly why.

 She had it bad.

 She’d have to get over it, because she simply didn’t have time to strike up a physical relationship with either of them. God forbid it should lead to anything more, anything serious. Nothing could get in the way of her goals of taking this advanced technology back to Earth, and, hopefully, leaving a small piece of human medicine behind.

 Dimming the window for privacy, Mara turned out the lights and headed for bed. Not that she expected a good night’s sleep. She’d given up expecting that months ago. If her rest was to be disturbed, at least her dreams made the long hours worthwhile -- dreams where she experienced the pleasure both men could give her.

 Mara sighed. Exhaustion. It had to be exhaustion causing her insomnia. She’d been pushing herself at a grueling pace ever since she’d arrived on Gothe’mar. What else should she expect?

 But what a pleasant way to lose sleep.

 Giving her pillow a solid punch, she drifted off to sleep, welcoming the sinfully erotic dreams she hoped would follow.

  

  

  

 Chapter Three

  

 Mikkarn held Mara tightly as he thrust into her tight, grasping cunt with all his might. Mara knew she was wet and welcoming, as always.

 She whimpered as she wrapped her legs around his waist, resting her heels on his ass and giving herself leverage to fuck him as vigorously as he fucked her. Her nails raked his back with cutting force as she writhed underneath him, a woman well in the arms of passion.

 * * *

 Mara clutched Mikkarn’s steely arms as he rode her body. His blue eyes darkened in his ecstasy and he looked like some angelic demon. His beautiful face was almost fierce as he fought for… something Mara couldn’t quite grasp. He needed something, something she could give him, if she only knew what it was.

 He growled as he lowered his head to hers, kissing her deeply, plunging his tongue into her mouth over and over, mimicking their wild fucking. Closing her eyes, she moaned as she threaded her fingers through his hair.

 Only, his hair was too short, cut almost to his scalp.

 When he raised his head, she was looking into the gentle, passion-glazed eyes of Kiril. In one smooth motion, he rolled her over, letting her straddle his hips as she rode him at her leisure.

 He palmed a breast in each hand, pulling the nipples, pinching them gently. Mara cried out, throwing her head back.

 * * *

 Grabbing her hips, Kiril surged upward, driving his cock as deep as he could. No way he would last long. Her sweet, tight cunt grasped him until he thought he’d die from the pleasure. He loosened the pins holding her hair in place and tangled his fingers in the unruly mass.

 He needed more.

 Pulling her down for a kiss, Kiril groaned as he rolled them once again. He plunged into her, one hand roaming down her body to her ass, urging her to move with him.

 He growled, pulling her head back by the hair so he could see her face when she came. To his shock, it wasn’t Mara’s sea-green eyes that gazed back at him, but the icy-blue eyes of Mikkarn.

 He wanted to stop. He wanted to pull himself out of Mikkarn’s body, but he couldn’t. All he could do was pound the man’s ass mercilessly.

 It was bliss!

 Mikkarn’s own cock was straining upwards and a drop of pre-cum oozed from the tip. Without thought, Kiril took Mikkarn’s cock in his hand and pumped in time with his own thrusts.

 Mikkarn’s manhood throbbed.

 Kiril’s balls tightened.

 But it was Mara’s scream that echoed in each man’s head as they both woke, panting and sweating.

 Each in his own bed.

 * * *

 The dreams were about to drive him crazy. He couldn’t continue to work with Mara in his present state. Mikkarn went up in flames every time she came near, but he had two damned good reasons why he couldn’t pass her off to someone else in Medical Command.

 First, she had knowledge he wanted almost as much as he wanted her. Secondly, and this was really the more important reason, he absolutely couldn’t stand the thought of another man working so closely with her.

 That was the least of his worries.

 Kiril.

 They had been friends since boyhood, Kiril always looking out for the weaker Mikkarn. Kiril had always been there to watch over him, had insisted on going to Earth with Mikkarn as a bodyguard. He’d made the request to a “high official in Medical Command.” They’d spent a great deal of time together the last couple of years and were very attuned to one another. Perhaps that was the reason for Mikkarn’s dreams. The gods knew the only thing on his mind since meeting Mara was very carnal, very sweaty sex.

 Mikkarn wasn’t sure if Kiril realized the intensity of sexual frustration he was experiencing, but for the last year or so, Kiril had gone out of his way to find willing women for some much needed relief. It had started out simply enough. Kiril would introduce Mikkarn to a woman who just happened to be with the woman he had for himself. The night would be spent rather pleasantly, in private.

 Then the time came when Kiril only brought one woman. Things had gotten a little out of control and they had shared her, with very satisfactory results for everyone. Since then, they had shared women often.

 But they had never had sex with each other. Never wanted to have sex with each other. What in the Universe was happening to him now? Mikkarn sighed. It was all becoming wearisome. His obsession with Mara, his growing attraction to Kiril -- nothing made sense anymore.

 As he gazed out the partially dimmed window, he caught sight of Mara standing in front of her own window. Their respective dwellings were close together, something he loved to hate, and her shapely form, clad only in a knee-length tunic, was clearly visible. It was the only time he had ever seen her hair fixed any way but in that severe bun.

 Backlit softly, her hair surrounded her like a brilliant flame, the tresses tumbling about her face in an unruly mass of curls.

 She paced restlessly, glancing toward the house often. Suddenly, she stopped and stared, transfixed by… something.

 Confused, Mikkarn looked out the window to his left. Kiril had arrived.

 With a guest.

 * * *

 Mara couldn’t believe her eyes. Kiril stood by the pool, his arms wrapped around a painfully thin, fair-haired woman, kissing her with enough passion to curl any woman’s toes.

 Mara knew her. Tamche was a Gothe’maran nurse who worked with her and Mikkarn. Mara had seen her with Kiril several times over the last couple of weeks.

 Not that Mara was paying attention, of course. She just happened to notice. She also just happened to overhear the woman talking to other nurses about her plans to seduce the handsome doctor and his equally sexy bodyguard. From the one conversation Mara had witnessed, she realized Tamche was determined to have one or the other of them as her lover, “… until she could find a suitable mate…”

 Bringing her thoughts back to the present, Mara realized Tamche was beginning her quest. Mara watched as Kiril cupped his hands underneath Tamche’s ass and picked her up. Mara took a step back. She should leave. This was private .

 But she didn’t, couldn’t . It was almost as if her will was no longer her own. Her heart rate quickened, as did her breathing. A rush of heat curled inside her followed by a drop of moisture trickling from her sex.

 Kiril carried Tamche up the two steps of the deck and set her on her feet. Mara watched in fascination as Kiril actually yanked Tamche’s blouse open. Tamche pulled her arms against her body. Apparently she wasn’t expecting him to start this outside. Kiril bent his head close to Tamche, saying something. Mara could see his lips move while he tugged the material from Tamche’s shoulders. His hands caressed her back and Kiril unhooked her bra. Mara could hardly breathe.

 Kiril moved Tamche closer to the pool’s edge. He was so tall, when he dropped to his knees, his face was in perfect position for his lips to catch a nipple. He turned so that Mara had a good view. He kneaded Tamche’s very small breasts, tugging the nipples and alternately sucking each of them into his mouth. Kiril wrapped his arms around Tamche’s tiny waist.

 Tamche’s head fell back. Mara could almost hear her moan. She knew she should look away, should not intrude, but she could no more look away than she could cut off her own hand. Or stop the moisture from soaking through her panties.

 She watched as Kiril unzipped Tamche’s red flower print miniskirt and slid it down her hips. She wasn’t wearing panties. Mara gasped with Tamche as he shouldered her legs apart and licked her cunt. One slow swipe. Tamche grasped his shoulders and pulled him closer, her head falling back once again as she squealed her pleasure. Mara heard her this time, even through her closed doors and windows.

 Mara moved closer to the window, absently pressing a hand to it as the other found her breast. She watched Kiril lower his mouth to Tamche’s cunt again. The woman’s legs gave way and she stumbled to the deck with Kiril’s mouth still tightly fused between her legs. With Tamche on her back, spread out before him, Kiril settled in to feast, the heavy muscles of his bronzed back rippling as he appeared to make himself more comfortable.

 Mara kneaded her own breast, pulling at her nipple when Tamche cried out. Kiril dipped his head to Tamche’s intimate folds once again and Mara let her hand trail from her breast down her belly to the waistband of her panties. She hesitated only a moment before dipping her fingers to comb gently through her curls.

 As Kiril entered Tamche with a finger, Mara finally gave in to her desire and glided one finger between the drenched lips of her pussy. She was shocked at how wet she was. Moisture had literally drenched her panties. The musk of her own arousal filled the air around her as she found her clit and moved in slow but persistent circles.

 She watched with envy as Tamche received obvious pleasure from Kiril. Her Kiril . That thought followed her to orgasm. She ducked her head as she silently reached her peak. Shock waves pulsed through her body, the ultimate satisfaction.

 What am I doing? Her post orgasmic bliss vanished before she could appreciate it and she was suddenly ashamed of herself. She’d just been a peeping tom as her co-worker was mouth- and finger-fucked by one of the two men who had starred in her fantasies for the past two years. Flushed with guilt, Mara glanced up to see Kiril ushering Tamche inside.

 Kiril stopped at the doorway, turned to capture Mara with that sharp gaze she’d always tried to avoid. The blood left her face. She looked away but couldn’t keep her gaze from his for long. When she looked back, there was amusement on his face as he touched a finger to his brow in salute and grinned. Then he followed Tamche inside.

  

  

  

 Chapter Four

  

 Kiril smiled. He had never been so turned on in his life! He knew from the moment he greeted Tamche that Mara could see them. Everything he’d done had been to see her reaction. So, little Miss Proper likes to watch? Interesting . He had this whole week’s end to get her wound up. Come the next work cycle, he intended for her to do a hell of a lot more than watch. Oh yes. He wanted her to be a very active participant indeed.

 There was only one problem. From what he had observed over the past several months, the little minx seemed to have a thing not only for himself, but for Mikkarn as well. Under normal circumstances, he’d have no problem with both of them simply fucking her until they’d had her every way imaginable. He just seemed to want to keep this interesting woman for himself.

 By the Universe! What was he doing? He was about to spend a week’s end with yet another woman he wasn’t remotely attracted to while just across the way was this gorgeous woman he’d been dreaming about since he’d first laid eyes on her two years ago.

 For now though, he’d whet her appetite. She liked to watch? He’d give her something to look at.

 * * *

 When the video-phone chimed, it startled Mara so badly she blew a mouthful of milk out her nose. Somehow she knew who it was. It was just a question of which one. And if she would actually answer.

 After twenty chimes, she realized the caller wasn’t going to give up. Slowly, carefully, she answered. Kiril’s grinning image stared at her from the display screen.

 “H-Hello?”

 “Did you like what you saw?” His voice was deep, gruff, and oozed sexual depravity. The sinfully beautiful muscles of his bare chest made Mara’s stomach clench and her pussy let loose a gush of moisture in welcome to the promise held within that voice and body.

 “What do you want, Kiril?”

 Kiril’s laugh and the accompanying smile sent shivers down her spine. Both served to let her know she had no hope to escape the sexual web of this particular predator.

 “Only to know how you enjoyed watching me mouth-fuck a woman while you masturbated.”

 The crudeness of his words should have insulted her. She had never let anyone talk to her like that before. In fact, she’d put many a man in his place for saying less to her, but she simply couldn’t say anything to this man by way of reprimand.

 She swallowed. “I’m sorry about that. It was rude of me.”

 Again, that sensual display of amusement. “Perhaps, if you… beg… nicely, I’ll forgive you. Just this once.”

 “Now,” Mara said, annoyed, “why would it matter to me whether or not you forgave me?” Swine !

 “Simple, sweetheart.” His voice was just a bit too smug for her liking. “I’ll have to forgive you before I make you scream as you come with my cock buried deep inside your creamy cunt.”

 Mara flushed from her hair to her toes, her body suddenly awash with a fine sheen of sweat. Her voice caught in her throat and she trembled. Somehow she managed a weak, “You’re delusional.”

 “Am I?” he asked. “Then I’m sure I won’t see that gorgeous little body at your window again, will I?”

 Mara sucked in a breath. He definitely wasn’t going to let this rest. Common sense finally made an appearance and she disconnected the call without another word.

 But not fast enough to cut off that infuriating laugh of his. The one that said he would indeed hear her scream as he made her come, his cock buried deep inside her creamy cunt.

 * * *

 Once his screen went dark, still chuckling to himself, Kiril made his way through the house to the big “playroom” he and Mikkarn had created. Tamche’s shrill squeals rang through the halls and headed straight to his spine, traveling upwards, making his head feel like his brain was going to erupt out his ears.

 When he entered the room, his friend was drilling the woman’s ass from behind. Both on their sides, her leg was draped over his and he kneaded her breast roughly. An erotic sight, one Kiril had seen many times before.

 As soon as Kiril stripped off his shirt and started unfastening his pants, Mikkarn rolled over to his back, taking Tamche with him, still embedded in her ass. Tamche had her eyes tightly closed, keening at the top of her lungs. Kiril winced at the sound. She was destined to shatter his eardrums. He didn’t think she was even aware he had entered the room, much less that he was about to cram his long, heavy dick into her already stuffed body.

 He met Mikkarn’s gaze as he climbed onto the bed. Mikkarn nodded and spread his legs slightly to make room for Kiril. Kiril positioned himself as he reached for his cock to masturbate so he’d be hard enough to enter Tamche’s body, only to realize he was already impossibly hard. Force of habit . It had been so long since jerking off hadn’t been necessary. He couldn’t remember when he had gotten hard without it. Mara . It obviously wasn’t Tamche he was hard for.

 As he placed his cock at the opening of the obviously natural blonde spread out before him, Tamche’s eyes flew open. She looked a little apprehensive. He guessed she hadn’t taken into account their size. Kiril grinned at her.

 “Are you ready, my dear?” Kiril asked.

 “Yes. Do it,” she panted. “Fuck me.”

 “Watch as he enters you,” Mikkarn said next to her ear.

 Tamche moaned as she watched. “That’s so fucking hot!” she exclaimed as she pushed back against them.

 “It is. Definitely.” Only Kiril was no longer looking at Tamche enveloping him. He was looking to his left out the picture window where the dimmer had been left off.

 In the fading light outside, Mara’s motionless form was clearly visible as she looked out her own lighted window. Staring at them. There wasn’t much light in his playroom, only a soft lavender glow from the little sun/moonlight entering the window, but it must have been enough for Mara to see exactly what the three of them were doing.

 Kiril grinned as he looked back to Tamche and Mikkarn. Tamche was off in the land of bliss, obviously getting the fuck of her life. But Mikkarn…

 Mikkarn was looking out the same window, into the same window. At the same woman. Wearing the same grin. Well, shit .

 * * *

 She was watching. Just like he knew she would be. Mikkarn had watched Mara himself when Kiril had welcomed Tamche. He had seen her fondle her breast, watched her hand drop below her waist. He’d known the exact moment her orgasm overtook her. He’d known she hadn’t made a sound. It would be typical of her. She wasn’t the screaming type.

 Correction. She could be the screaming type if she’d just lose that damned control. She wouldn’t be like Tamche, though. He’d seen Kiril wince when he first entered the room. He’d winced more than a couple of times himself. He’d never been one for bondage -- that was Kiril’s thing. But now would be a really good time for a gag.

 Mikkarn kept his eyes on Mara as he thrust repeatedly into Tamche. The woman was definitely getting her pleasure, but he honestly didn’t give a damn. Right now, he only had eyes for Mara. Tamche was deliciously tight though. So tight he could feel Kiril’s movement every time he thrust. When he felt him pause, he couldn’t help but catch the other man’s gaze.

 Kiril’s face was… hard. He had a look about him. Like he was saying “back the hell off!” When Kiril looked to the window then back at him, Mikkarn knew what was going on. Well, shit .

 Mikkarn kept his rhythm steady. He didn’t particularly like Tamche, but he didn’t want to hurt her by having to explain why they had suddenly stopped. Judging by the sounds coming from the woman sandwiched between them, she couldn’t really have cared less what they were doing, as long as they kept doing her . Her shrieks were increasing incrementally and she was thrashing about so much Mikkarn wasn’t sure he could keep inside her.

 Kiril grabbed her hips, holding her still enough to finish her orgasm. No way either of them was getting off this time. That sound alone prevented it. As Tamche’s screams and squeals reached a pinnacle, Mikkarn glanced out the window once more. Mara hadn’t moved. He wished he could read her expression, but he was too damned far away. When he looked back, Kiril was looking out the window and when he turned back, their eyes met. This was going to be difficult.

 Tamche finally collapsed and fell silent, breathing rather heavily. “That was amazing,” she panted. “Is this what I’m in for all weekend?”

 “Perhaps,” Kiril said. “For now, I think you could use some rest.” Kiril disengaged himself from Tamche’s pussy.

 “Mikkarn and I have some things to do, so you won’t be disturbed. Shower, get a bite to eat, take a nap. We’ll be back later.”

 Mikkarn didn’t argue. He simply rolled Tamche over so he could slide out of her gripping ass and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. “Rest up.” He playfully swatted her on the rump and left with Kiril, wondering what his friend was up to.

 * * *

 Kiril stalked down the hall, through the kitchen, and out the back door, jerking various articles of clothing on as he went. He was seething. But not for the reasons he should be. Universe be damned! He wasn’t sure why he felt this intense need to share women with Mikkarn, and he damn sure didn’t want to share Mara. But something inside him made doing anything else almost impossible. These feelings would be the death of him! Unfortunately, his anger and confusion caused him to lash out, and the only one around for that was Mikkarn.

 “Just what the hell were you thinking?”

 A slow smile spread across Mikkarn’s face. “Apparently the same thing you were.”

 “You know what I mean,” Kiril snapped. “What would you have said if Tamche had seen you staring at Mara?”

 “Look,” Mikkarn said, crossing his arms. “I’m not in love with Tamche. I’m not sure I even like Tamche. I wouldn’t set out to intentionally hurt her, but facts are facts.” Mikkarn punctuated himself with a finger pointed at Kiril’s chest. “You said she approached you about this weekend. I have no problem giving her all the sex she can handle, but I won’t pretend I care about her when I don’t.” Mikkarn sighed and ran his hand through his golden hair, mussing it slightly. “I’m not saying it’s not fun, but damn it, Kiril, I’m tired of this. Tired of meaningless sex to ease my frustration. Are you even remotely interested in any of the women we’ve been with lately?”

 “No,” Kiril said without hesitation. “I’ve found the woman I want and she’s right over there watching us.”

 “Then we have a problem, my friend. Because she’s the one I want, too.”

 Both men stared at each other. “She’s the one,” Kiril hissed. “I felt her hurt along with her fascination. You will stay away from her.”

 Mikkarn took a staggering step backward, a look of utter confusion on his handsome face. Kiril was about to turn away when Mikkarn narrowed his eyes and said, “And if I don’t?”

 Kiril spoke through clenched teeth. “Then I will show you why I am one of the most feared warriors on Gothe’mar.”

 Mikkarn grunted. “May the best man win, Kiril.” He stuck out his hand.

 Kiril snorted as he took it. “Yeah. As long as it’s me.”

  

  

  

 Chapter Five

  

 Mara sobbed brokenly. Her lovers were with another. They had betrayed her and she hurt more deeply than she ever thought possible. She could feel the pleasure they took in Tamche’s body, and the pain in her chest increased.

 She floated over the trio, their images blurred through tears that ran unchecked down her face. She knew she was dreaming, but couldn’t seem to break free, even when it was the only way to end this terrible pain.

 The incredible sensations flowing through them assailed her. Their pleasure was hers, and she hated them for it.

 “Mara…” Mikkarn’s voice was a whisper in her mind.

 She wrapped her arms around her body, trembling with the desire coursing through the two men, desire that was also her own.

 “Come to us.” Kiril’s voice this time. “We will give you pleasure beyond your wildest dreams.” He looked up, straight into her eyes, her soul, as he thrust deep into the body of Tamche.

 Uncontrollable lust swamped her, combined with unbelievable anger. Anger at Tamche, anger at Mikkarn and Kiril, and anger at herself.

 Tamche had no right to be with either man. The woman didn’t care about them other than as her latest conquest. That fact was something she flaunted daily. Mikkarn and Kiril didn’t care about Tamche other than as a means to release their own sexual frustration. She couldfeel the truth of that in her dream. Even knowing all that, even knowing they willingly took pleasure in the other woman’s body even as they wanted to take Mara into their bed, she still would have given everything she had to be in Tamche’s place at that moment.

 She wasn’t sure she could ever forgive herself for that. She should have had more self-respect. She deserved much better.

 With anguish in her heart, Mara closed her eyes and screamed…

 … until she woke herself. Her body was covered in sweat, her heartbeat pounded, and her chest constricted painfully because of the images she had witnessed, and because she just knew Mikkarn and Kiril were with Tamche at that very moment.

 And they were most likely fucking the bitch into oblivion.

 Desperation built within her. She was losing herself, and she had to regain control. Her whole life was about control. If she wasn’t in control of her own body, how could she possibly hope to control the knowledge of life and death she had worked so hard to learn?

 “What’s the time?” Her voice shook.

 A monotone, but slightly female, voice responded. “Twenty-three hundred hours, Earth Standard Time.” Gothe’maran time being roughly the same, that meant the sex bars should be in full swing.

 Gothe’marans mated for life, but until then they took their pleasures often. Sex bars here were as prevalent as sports bars on Earth.

 Mara saw her problem as sexual frustration, and that was a problem she intended to solve.

 Tonight.

 * * *

 Mara didn’t have much in the way of sexy clothing, but she figured she could manage. Deciding to go simple, with her favorite pair of jeans and a white silk blouse, she put on a touch of makeup before heading to her personal shuttle. As she lifted out of the driveway, Kiril stood at the huge window in the same room where he and Mikkarn had fucked Tamche. He stared at her, a little, knowing smile on his face.

 Ain’t life a bitch.

 Resolving not to think of either of them, she reached for her determined mindset and headed straight for the most depraved club she knew. Her first step inside was into almost total darkness, which served to heighten her other senses. The smell of smoke, slightly stale sweat, and strong Gothe’maran liquor assaulted her, and she wrinkled her nose. The only well-lit section of the whole bar was the stage in the center of the room. The sight going on there was one that brought back disturbing and, strangely enough, painful memories.

 Two very large Gothe’maran males -- okay, so all Gothe’maran males seemed to be abnormally large to her -- were being sucked off by a dark-headed, dark-skinned woman on her knees in front of them. One man had his hand fisted in her hair, while the other one bent over to fondle a plump breast.

 Mara looked away. She couldn’t see a damn thing! The lighting was practically nonexistent and with her eyes wandering back to the stage every couple of seconds, she was sure they’d never adjust enough to find a table or even make her way to the bar.

 She definitely shouldn’t have come here. Especially not alone. She stood out like a sore thumb, which would have been good if she had really wanted to be noticed. As she started to make her way farther into the bar, she ran into a leather-wearing, whip-wielding, body-pierced thug she wasn’t sure was actually going to take “no” for an answer.

 Finally convincing her would-be Romeo she wasn’t interested, she glanced back toward the stage and watched, transfixed, as the woman, her almost black skin lustrous from the sweat of her exertion under the heavy lighting, raised one leg to hook around the hip of one of the men. Once he had guided himself inside, he grabbed her ass and lifted, allowing her to wrap the other leg around him.

 Feeling her own pussy clench in response, Mara sucked in a breath as she turned her attention to the bar and ordered a drink. A strong one. Downing it in one gulp, she let her eyes snapped back to the stage.

 The second man had maneuvered behind the woman. He greased himself liberally with a gleaming lubricant and slid easily into her ass. After a little adjustment, the trio began to move in harmony, the cries of the female almost as loud as the moans of the two men.

 Is that what Mikkarn and Kiril are doing with Tamche right now?

 The thought annoyed her more than anything else, and she decided she’d get no peace here. Mindless sex with a complete stranger was not what she needed. She didn’t want to think about what she did need.

 Mara knew she’d made a mistake. She wasn’t sure exactly what she’d expected, but this was way more than she bargained for. Her head was spinning. It was time to get the hell out of Dodge.

 As she turned to leave, her eyes having adjusted to the dim interior, she noticed various acts of sex being played out before the eyes of anyone who cared to watch. Women were fucked by multiple men, and these scenes made what had gone on at her neighbors’ home seem domestic. Women were flogged by their Masters, men forced still other women to suck their cocks or the cocks of other men. One woman was flogged until she screamed, then fucked by another woman wearing an impossibly large dildo. All that, combined with the smells and sounds and the heat of so many bodies in one place, was nauseating.

 She needed to leave. Now .

 A woman lying spread-eagle on the bar with a man’s face glued between her legs snagged her attention. How in the hell could she have missed all this before?

 She had almost made it to the door when an arm snaked around her middle and pulled her up against an impossibly strong chest. Oh, God. No ! She struggled wildly, afraid those around her would think it was all part of the show. The man grunted, tightening his grip.

 “It’s okay, Mara. It’s me, Kiril.” His voice, right next to her ear, sent cold fire racing down her spine. Gooseflesh rose on her arms and hot, liquid need wet her pussy. God, he smelled good. His clean, slightly spicy, masculine smell surrounded her, overriding the sickening scents of the bar.

 Mara stopped fighting and relaxed somewhat against him. She felt his breath on her neck and couldn’t suppress a sigh as she tilted her head to give him better access to her. She felt more than heard his chuckle as she savored this moment. Finally, she was in the arms of a god.

 * * *

 It felt good to finally have her in his arms. This was where she should have been from the moment he first saw her. Her body was warm, soft, curvy. A woman’s curves. He inhaled deeply, nuzzling her neck. Her sweet smell was intoxicating.

 Kiril felt her hurt. She didn’t know anything about soul’s mates and the mental connection that developed, but she definitely knew something wasn’t right. Well, that, and she was livid. Not that he could blame her.

 When she pulled up outside the club, he never thought she’d actually try to enter. He was even more surprised she’d gotten in. In addition to the fact she wasn’t Gothe’maran, she wasn’t exactly their normal clientele. He’d followed her inside with every intention of dragging her back out again, but he had trouble getting to her through the crowd. He’d been stopped several times by women offering sexual favors, which was normal. That was why everyone was there, after all. Eventually, though, his patience ran out. He had to get Mara out of there.

 When he found her, he rethought that notion. She was watching the woman getting eaten out at the bar. She’d been moving steadily toward the exit, but her attention was definitely not on where she was going. He grinned. Maybe he could use this to his advantage.

 “You really do have a thing about watching, don’t you,” he whispered close to her ear. She shivered in his arms.

 “No. It’s just hard to miss.” Her voice trembled slightly.

 “Would you like to offer yourself to me while all these people watch? Would that make you hot?”

 She jerked away from him and turned around. “No! Absolutely not!” Her eyes were wide, and she looked panicked.

 “Relax, sweetheart.” He moved forward and reached for her face, stroking her cheek. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. You seem so interested in watching, I thought you might like being watched.”

 “I -- I could never --” she stammered. “What if someone from Medical Command saw me?”

 He pulled her close. “It wouldn’t matter. I’m sure there are officers here -- there usually are. Besides, no one said you had to.” He kissed the top of her head, then gently turned her around, her back to his chest. “Now, look.” He pointed back to the bar. The woman’s head and shoulders were hanging off the edge and the bartender’s face hidden between her thighs.

 A man standing next to the woman, tweaking her nipples, unzipped his fly and pulled out his cock. She immediately turned her head and opened her mouth to take him. His thrusts were shallow and slow at first, but soon he was pounding away at the woman’s mouth.

 “Did you enjoy watching Mikkarn and me fuck Tamche?” he whispered, kneading her shoulders and giving her ear a little nip. She shivered a little but said nothing. “Did you come that time, too? I know you came when I ate her out.”

 “That’s really none of your business,” she said, so softly he barely heard her. “I want to leave. I don’t like it here.”

 “Really? Your nipples are hard and your breathing is much too fast. I’d say you were enjoying yourself. Should I see if your cunt is wet?”

 She whirled around and raised a hand, presumably to slap him. Hell, he’d have slapped himself for that remark. He caught it easily and pulled her to him, pinning her wrist behind her back. She stared up at him with angry eyes.

 “I will not let you touch me in public,” she bit out. The fact she didn’t say she wouldn’t let him touch her at all didn’t escape his notice.

 He grinned. “But you do like to watch.”

 “No! It’s just…” She looked away, back to the bar. “It’s hard not to watch when it’s right in front of you,” she said softly.

 “And Mikkarn and I? You didn’t have to look out the window. You were in your own house.”

 “I’m sorry.” She didn’t say the words so much as mouth them. He saw the tears glisten in her eyes and felt like a complete idiot. He didn’t want to make her cry. But he knew what was bothering her.

 “Mara, you don’t have to feel bad about liking to watch. It’s arousing. That’s why most of these people are here. To be watched. To watch.”

 “But you didn’t expect me to be watching. I violated your privacy.”

 “Actually, you didn’t.” When she looked back at him in confusion, he said, “Mikkarn left the window undimmed on purpose. At least I think he did.”

 “He what?” Her eyes were wide in surprised outrage.

 Kiril chuckled as he took her hand and led her to a nearby corner. When her back was against the wall and he was sure she wasn’t able to bolt on him, he said, “You obviously have no idea what you’ve been doing to us these past two years. I’ve wanted you since the first time I saw you. Apparently Mikkarn feels the same. I, however, intend to keep you for myself.”

 When she opened her mouth to protest, Kiril dipped his head and captured her lips with his. He plunged his tongue into the depths of her mouth and groaned. She tasted like heaven. In her shock, Mara didn’t respond at first, but it didn’t take long for her to slip her tongue around his and sigh.

 When she accepted his kiss, he decided he’d seduce her. Right here. He wanted her to enjoy this walk on the wild side. Pressing his body full against hers, he let her feel all of him. His cock hard against her belly, his muscles bulging with suppressed desire. Her body felt better than he could have ever hoped, and he wondered why he had waited so long for this in the first place.

 Mara accepted him eagerly, tangling her fingers in his hair. The pain she caused to his scalp when she pulled him to her neck only fueled his desire for her. Kissing his way down her neck, he tugged open the top button of her blouse and nuzzled the top of one breast. She let out a soft cry and jumped a little, trying to pull his head up, but he simply licked a long path across the top of her exposed flesh and she changed directions. Now she pulled him against her chest, and he wasn’t about to waste the opportunity.

 Her breath came in pants, and her chest heaved. Gently tugging her blouse, he exposed one ripe nipple and gave it a wet lick. This time, she actually gave a little whimper. Finally, a sound. This is good .

 Kiril watched as the little bud became increasingly hard. “Your nipples are beautiful. They crave my touch.” Mara’s eyelids drooped. She was feeling the moment rather than watching what he was doing. That was just how Kiril wanted her. He didn’t want her to think about where they were, but he wanted her to enjoy watching the sex going on around them. Not that anyone could actually see the two of them. They were half hidden by a tall, gargoyle-like statue. Still, he wanted to prove to her how much she could enjoy this.

 “Watch the woman at the bar,” he murmured. “I want you to come when she does.”

 When she sucked in a breath, probably to protest, he bent his head and sucked her nipple, nipping gently when she groaned. Finding the other bud with his fingers, he pinched and twisted it lightly through her blouse and bra. A fine sheen of sweat formed on her body. Her breathing grew more labored and he knew she was on the brink. Roughly yanking her clothing away from the other breast, he pushed their generous mounds together and sucked both nipples hard.

 The woman at the bar shrieked her climax and Kiril knew it was time. “Come for me, Mara,” he said as he repositioned his mouth to receive more of her. “Come now.”

 Mara hooked one leg around his hip and ground her sex into his thigh. Her fingers tightened in his hair to the point of pain and she gave a soft cry as he carried her to orgasm. Kiril continued to suck and lick until she loosened her grip on his hair and her breathing returned to normal. He kissed her cheeks, her eyelids, her nose, then he straightened her top, cupped her face, and kissed her lips gently.

 When she opened her eyes, he smiled at her. “Now, wasn’t that fun?”

  

  

  

 Chapter Six

  

 His words were like a bucket of ice water thrown in her face. Her cheeks warmed and a sharp pain stabbed her belly. She’d acted like a whore. Worse, he’d treated her like one. There was no way she could keep the tears at bay, but she’d be damned if she’d let him see. Shoving past him, she ran for the door and kept running until she reached her personal shuttle. She didn’t know if he followed her -- most likely not -- but she wasn’t taking any chances. Powering up, she sped away.

 She desperately wanted to go anywhere other than home. Going home would be tantamount to running straight to Kiril and she didn’t know if she would ever be able to face him again. All she had brought with her was enough money to get into the club and to buy her drinks. No way she had enough for a hotel. Besides, she couldn’t avoid him forever unless she moved.

 She cried so hard on the way home, it was a wonder she didn’t wreck. Her tears had slowed somewhat but hadn’t stopped altogether by the time she pulled into her driveway. And she had a whopper of a headache. Neither of them deserved her tears. She had seen Kiril and Mikkarn’s sexual escapades and knew something like this would happen. They could have Tamche, as far as she was concerned.

 Stomping into her living room, she stripped as she locked the door and made her way to the bathroom, leaving a trail of clothing behind her. A shower was a necessity. She smelled like smoke. Worse, she smelled like Kiril. His masculine scent, wild and spicy, still enveloped her.

 The last two years of her life had been spent lusting after those womanizers! And she had no one but herself to blame. She had wanted to be different from all the other women. So much for daydreams.

 When she finished her shower, her skin bright red from the too hot water and the vigorous scrubbing, she heard a pounding at the front door. Well, shit . Putting on her robe, she decided she’d tell him to get lost.

 “Mara. Open up. It’s Mikkarn.”

 Mikkarn? Curious, she pulled her robe tighter around her and opened the door.

 Mikkarn didn’t enter her home so much as explode into it, taking her with him. Before she could protest, he picked her up and marched down the hall until he found her bathroom.

 The bathroom? “What are you doing?” She pushed against him. “Put me down.”

 He set her on the counter and took her face in his hands. Tilting it to the light, he examined her face for several seconds.

 “Will you stop?” She pushed away from him and captured his wrists in her hands. “What the hell are you doing?”

 “You’ve been crying.”

 Mara’s gaze shifted away from him. “So? It’s nothing. Certainly not something I’m sharing with you.”

 “Kiril told me what happened,” he said as he busied himself with wetting a washcloth and started to wash her face. The gesture was totally unexpected and not unwelcome, but she’d be damned if she’d show weakness again tonight.

 “God! Why won’t you two just leave me alone?” She hopped off the counter, rushing out of the small space. Despite her protests, his presence was comforting. That was definitely something she didn’t want him to know. “What is it with you guys? I’ve spent two rotten years right across the street, and you’ve never even so much as struck up a conversation outside of work. Then all of a sudden, Kiril practically begs me to watch him have sex with Tamche by the pool and he said you’re responsible for leaving the window undimmed while you guys fucked her.

 “Then Kiril follows me to the bar and…” She trailed off, knowing her cheeks were probably a very bright shade of red.

 Mikkarn smiled a slow, wicked smile. “Well, you didn’t have to watch, you know. I only left the window clear because I saw you get yourself off watching Kiril and Tamche.”

 “Damn it! I do not like to watch! It’s just hard not to when you guys are fucking every woman within a ten mile radius, practically in my backyard!”

 “Hmm.” Mikkarn rubbed his chin in contemplation. “If you don’t want to watch, what do you want?”

 “I don’t know!” she snapped.

 Silence.

 Mara sighed. “I just know that my daydreams came to life only to turn into a nightmare. Now, I’ll just stick to my daydreams. Only maybe they’ll take a different form. Now --” She started down the hall to the door. “-- if you’ll kindly leave, I need to get ready for bed. I’m tired and --”

 Any further explanation was cut short when Mikkarn pulled her into his arms and silenced her with his lips.

 She struggled a little at first, but his mouth molded itself to hers with insistent gentleness. He coaxed a response, angling his head until he covered her lips at just the right position. She sighed, and he slipped his tongue inside, gently licking. She couldn’t help herself. Try as she might, she couldn’t fight the feelings that had been building for the past two years. Something deep inside her yearned to mean something to this man, even though her better judgment warned her against it. She wanted to be more than just a one-time fling. She wanted the daydream.

 Funny thing was, she wasn’t so sure he didn’t want the exact same thing.

 That thought brought her to her senses. She broke the kiss, but he used that opportunity to make his way down her neck. His hands caressed her back while his lips carefully sucked her face and chin. Chills ran down her spine, and her hands gripped his muscled shoulders.

 “Mikkarn. Please stop. I can’t…”

 “Why?” Mikkarn didn’t break contact with her. “Because of what Kiril did?”

 “Because of what you are. I’ve wanted you so long, I’m afraid what this will do to my heart.” She knew she was going to cry. She couldn’t help it.

 “What do you think I am? Is it because of the women, or because I’m Gothe’maran and you’re human?” Mikkarn never stopped his pleasurable torment of her neck and collarbone.

 “Because you have so many women,” she wailed. “I don’t want to be another notch on your headboard come morning! My feelings have nothing to do with you being a Gothe’maran man. They have everything to do with the fact that you’re just like every human man I’ve ever met. Once you get what you want, you leave. I don’t think my heart could stand that, and I have no idea why!”

 Mikkarn raised his head and looked her straight in the eye. “Mara.” His voice was just a breath, less than a whisper. “When I get through with you tonight, you’ll know just how special you are to me. And I promise, there will never be another woman in my heart other than you.”

 Dropping his hand to the belt holding up her robe, Mikkarn tugged it free. Mara immediately pulled the lapels of her robe together. This was more embarrassing than being caught masturbating. She stumbled backward, moving farther down the hall, still clutching her robe to her body. This didn’t feel right. Something was missing. Something very important. She only stopped when her back met the wall.

 “Please leave now,” she said. “I want to be alone. I don’t want this.”

 Mikkarn approached her carefully. “I don’t think that statement is entirely true, but I’ll respect your wishes.” He cupped her face gently and urged her to meet his eyes. “Next time, I’ll respect your other wishes.” He smiled. “You want me, and not just because you’re curious. Something about me touches something deep inside you…”

 He stopped. Then he backed up, a strange expression on his face. Mara could have sworn she actually felt his discomfort. Impossible ! “Unfortunately, I’m not the only one you crave.” Mikkarn’s smile was tight, as if the effort was solely for her benefit.

 “What’s going on? How can you know that?” Mara was beginning to panic. This was all too weird. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear the two men could actually read her mind sometimes. The thought was not comforting.

 Mikkarn shrugged and said simply, “Because you’re my soul’s mate. Kiril thinks you’re his soul’s mate as well. I guess this is something he and I will have to work out on our own.” Stepping close to her once again, he brushed his lips against hers gently. “We’ll talk later. In the meantime --” His grin was positively wicked. “-- keep your eyes open. You might see some interesting things.” He winked.

 As he retreated down the hall to the front door, she screeched after him, “I do not like to watch!”

  

  

  

 Chapter Seven

  

 The house was eerily quiet when Mikkarn returned. He knew Kiril was there, knew Tamche was still there as well, but he didn’t hear a sound anywhere. Then the sharp staccato sound of flesh slapping flesh caught his attention. As he made his way up the stairs, the sound grew louder, accompanied by muffled cries and harsh groans. In the playroom, the sight he witnessed was… disturbing. Not because of the act itself, but because of the savage, angry expression on Kiril’s face.

 Tamche was face down -- the ball gag he’d wished for earlier firmly in place -- but lying on one hip with her knees together. Her wrists were tied to the bedpost and she seemed stretched almost uncomfortably. Hell, no way she wasn’t actually in pain. It looked like her shoulders might dislocate if any more pressure was put on them.

 On his knees behind her, Kiril had a bruising grip on her hip and thigh as he pounded ruthlessly into her ass. He was red-faced, the veins in his neck prominent as he strained for release. Over and over he thrust himself into her back opening, faster and faster as he growled and grunted loudly with each thrust. He slammed into her one last time with a fierce shout, and then pulled himself from her ass roughly, and shoved her away. Jumping up, he stalked across the room.

 Mikkarn immediately moved to the bed and removed the restraints and the gag from Tamche. Gently rolling her over, he asked, “Are you all right?”

 Tamche opened her eyes and gave him a weak smile. “All right? I’ve just had the best fuck of my entire life. What do you think?” She laughed softly as she stretched. “I think I’ll keep him.”

 Mikkarn looked to Kiril, whose expression was just short of murderous. He glanced at Tamche before going to his friend. Tamche had spread her legs and she shuddered as she brushed her clit. She froze when her fingers ventured farther, to her ass.

 “Kiril, you didn’t come. What happened?” She sounded as puzzled as Mikkarn suddenly was. Why had Kiril held back?

 “What happened?” Her voice was very angry indeed.

 Face still red, his whole body actually shaking -- most likely from anger -- Kiril looked directly at Mikkarn and pointed an accusing finger at him. “You fucked her, didn’t you?”

 Before Mikkarn could respond, Tamche looked from one of them to the other and with eyebrows raised said, “Of course he’s fucked me. You were there.” Her tone was a bit condescending, but Mikkarn tried to focus on his friend. Something wasn’t right.

 Kiril turned his furious gaze to her and spat, “I don’t mean you! Why would I be upset about him fucking you ?” His eyes found Mikkarn’s again when he shouted angrily, “I’m talking about Mara, you bakara !”

 Mikkarn silenced anything Tamche was about to say with a hand on her shoulder. “Let’s discuss this later, Kiril. You’re being disrespectful.”

 Tamche brushed aside Mikkarn’s hand and turned to Kiril. “Why would you care if he’s fucked Mara? She’s nothing but a silly Earther who thinks she can pick up a few tidbits of knowledge. And why didn’t you come in my ass? You sounded like you got off nicely.” She grinned at him as she slithered from the bed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You know I’m very wealthy. Promise to master me in the bedroom like that every night and I’ll take you as my consort until I find a male worthy of me to take as a mate.”

 Mikkarn winced. He had begun to feel very sorry for Tamche, but remarks like that reminded him the woman could fend for herself. She was on her own now, and it was time she was on her way as well.

 “I don’t mean to offend you, Tamche, but something urgent has presented itself. We must cut our week’s end short,” Mikkarn said, still trying to be diplomatic. Women might be as ruthless as men, but he believed they should be treated with respect. After all, it was from them that their children were birthed and nurtured.

 “No. I’m not leaving until this weekend is over. You promised me I’d be fucked until I couldn’t walk straight.” She lay back and spread her legs. “So fuck me again. Now, Mikkarn.”

 Mikkarn could see the woman expected to be obeyed. She had closed her eyes once again and grasped her knees, pulling them to her chest. Her cunt glistened with her juice, and her musky scent wafted in the air. It made Mikkarn slightly nauseated.

 “No, Tamche. You may rest here if you wish, but our involvement sexually is over.” He turned to Kiril. “Out. Go to the pool and wait for me there.” When Kiril snarled at him, looking like a wild beast with his teeth clenched and his hair in such disarray, Mikkarn said softly, “She remains untouched by me. We need to talk .” The tension seemed to lessen somewhat in his friend. It must have been pretty heavy because Mikkarn actually felt lighter. Not much, but better.

 “You will not leave!” Tamche screeched. “ Isay when this is finished! No one leaves me without my permission!” The skinny woman looked furious. Mikkarn could feel a headache coming on.

 He sighed. “And how do you propose to keep us here? I don’t think you can make us perform.”

 “You will. Or perhaps I should concentrate on Mara.” A contemplative look crossed her features. “Yes, I think perhaps it’s time for Mara to realize she’s a guest on this world. A guest who is tolerated , not wanted.”

 Yep. No doubt about it, there was definitely a headache in Mikkarn’s future. He watched Tamche dress, not sure exactly what to say. Warning her against doing anything to Mara was out. That would only increase its likelihood. She moved with all the grace of a queen and looked at him over her shoulder.

 “I want Kiril, and I intend to have him. He won’t make a suitable mate, but he will be one hell of a consort. Tell Mara she can have him when I’m finished.” She turned to leave then but paused as the door slid open at her approach. “That is, unless I decide to keep him.” She smiled, then walked out.

 Mikkarn watched her walk to her personal shuttle and pause when she would have slid into the cockpit. Tamche looked to Mara’s house, where the other woman stood gazing out her living room picture window. Tamche waved to Mara then turned to the pool area, where Kiril presumably waited, and blew a kiss. Then, thankfully, she left.

 Mikkarn took his time going to Kiril. The other man needed time to cool down. And Mikkarn needed time to talk himself into telling Kiril what he thought was really going on. Grabbing a tube of lubricant as he headed to the pool, Mikkarn had a feeling he’d probably need it.

  

  

  

 Chapter Eight

  

 Mara watched with a heavy heart as Tamche’s shuttle lifted off. She hadn’t missed the intimate gesture directed poolside as Tamche left, and she definitely hadn’t missed seeing Kiril lower himself, naked, into the water. No doubt about it. Mara needed to find a way to distance herself from both of them.

 She could leave. She had definitely thought about that, but she had come to love and respect the people of this beautiful world, so it wasn’t just the two infuriating men in her life here she’d miss. Besides, she was never one to quit.

  She’d given as much as she had taken. Hopefully, the lessons would be remembered, and Gothe’mar would remember doctors needed hands-on knowledge of their patients. All the technology and automation was great -- wonderful -- but there had to be a balance, and she had proven that on Earth. Her goal was to combine both approaches to medicine, and she felt pretty sure that would be accomplished.

  She was about to ready herself for bed, again, when she saw Mikkarn step out the pool-side patio door, strip, and get into the pool with all the grace his sleek body implied. The light from Gothe’mar’s moons created a silvery glow around the two men in the water, and her mouth went dry, her heart rate skyrocketing. What would it be like to be equally naked and in that pool right now?

 She couldn’t help herself. She was mesmerized. There was no way in the world she could have stepped away from that window if her life depended on it. She had to watch them, even if it was something as innocent as an evening swim. Innocent. Yeah, right .

 * * *

 Mikkarn knew Kiril was hurting. He also knew Kiril was confused. The other man was starting to put everything together and he wasn’t sure he liked what he saw.

 How could they have been so blind? Mikkarn had had a “connection” to Kiril almost from the moment they’d met. He had never considered it was anything more than a deep, abiding friendship. Now, he was convinced it was more. Was it possible both Kiril and Mara were his soul’s mates? One thing was certain, Kiril would probably fight it. He was nothing if not traditional.

 “She wants you, Kiril.” Mikkarn removed his own clothes to join the naked man in the pool. “She’s just fighting it because she wants me, too.”

 Kiril snorted. “She is my soul’s mate. She cannot have you.”

 “And what if I were to tell you she was my soul’s mate, too? How would you feel about that?”

 Kiril slowly turned to face him. “Impossible. There is only one mate for each soul in the universe. It is common knowledge.”

 “Is it?” Mikkarn asked, quietly.

 “If that is true, there could never be balance in our relationship!” Kiril was becoming angry, something that Mikkarn felt acutely. It was the last piece of evidence he needed to convince himself he was right.

 “If that were truly the nature of the relationship, you’d be right. Mara cannot have two soul’s mates while each of us has only one. Our very nature would destroy all chance any of us could have for a happy existence. Gothe’marans mate for life. How could either of us accept that we must share our mate with the other?”

 “I will not share her!” Kiril made a valiant effort to calm himself. Mikkarn felt the conflict in his mind, saw it on his face. “She is… precious. She’s not like the women we’ve shared in the past, and I will not cheapen her by asking that of her.”

 “And if she insists, if I insist?” Mikkarn’s voice was quiet, almost a whisper.

 Kiril narrowed his eyes. “Say what you mean, Mik. We’ve never minced words with each other before.”

 Mikkarn took a deep breath. This was it. “She is your soul’s mate, as she is mine. But you are also my soul’s mate. As I am yours.”

 “You’re mad! How could that possibly be…” Kiril’s comment was lost as he seemed to lose focus on Mikkarn and turned himself inward. “She is watching us,” he whispered. “And the images she’s having are… vivid.”

 Mikkarn couldn’t control the surge of lust if he tried. He’d caught her spontaneous fantasy, too. Before Mikkarn could respond, Kiril sucked in a startled breath and his sharp gaze snagged Mikkarn’s. Kiril had felt Mikkarn’s desire. If Kiril didn’t realize now that Mikkarn had reasoned this correctly now, he never would.

 Kiril lunged for Mikkarn and grabbed him by the hair, tilting his head back, seeming to tower over Mikkarn even though he was the shorter man. “By the Universe, you are mine! I will take what I’ve been denying myself all these years.”

 * * *

 As Mara watched, the two men appeared to talk for a few moments. Nothing more. But Mara’s lust rose with every second. Sweat dampened her body and her own intimate moisture dampened her panties. Suddenly, there was nothing more she wanted than to see these two men please each other. Why? Who knew, but she wanted to see Kiril buried balls deep in Mikkarn’s mouth. Or ass. She wasn’t picky.

 The conversation appeared to turn into an argument, with Kiril angry enough to hit Mikkarn. Finally, unbelievably, Kiril reached for Mikkarn and jerked his head back by the hair, saying… something. Mara thought he might actually harm the other man, but instead, he hefted himself onto the ledge of the pool. The erection he sported was a sight to behold, but Mara only caught a glimpse of it before it disappeared into Mikkarn’s mouth.

 Mara gasped at the same time she imagined Kiril did. She couldn’t believe this! The pleasure on Kiril’s face alone was enough to send her into orgasm had she been touching herself. He leaned back, giving Mikkarn the room he needed to move, resting his hands on the pool’s edge.

 With Mikkarn’s hair flowing free and his lower body in the water, it should have seemed like just another woman giving Kiril head, and good head judging by his expression, but Mara actually felt the difference. It was almost like she had put her mind in Kiril’s. She was shocked that Mikkarn was doing such a thing, even more shocked to discover she liked it, but the thing that made her cunt ache with maddening desire was that she knew Kiril was going to be buried in Mikkarn’s ass very soon.

 Sure enough, Mikkarn crawled out of the pool and leaned his elbows on a nearby table, presenting his ass. As he looked over his shoulder at Kiril, his face was savage, strained in his desire, and Mara could see his cock, proudly standing up from the blond hair at its base.

 Kiril reached for the tube Mikkarn had dropped near his clothes. He greased himself, sliding his glistening cock inside the other man’s ass in slow, persistent strokes. He continued tentatively for a while before grasping Mikkarn’s hips and increasing the pace and strength of his thrusts. Soon, he was pounding almost viciously, and Mikkarn was meeting him thrust for thrust as he reached a hand to his cock and stroked himself.

 It didn’t take long before Kiril’s hips began to convulse erratically as they met Mikkarn’s buttocks. Mikkarn’s fist pumped furiously, and as Kiril threw his head back and arched his spine, Mikkarn sprayed the ground with his seed, shuddering and grinding his ass back against Kiril’s groin.

 Mara’s own release came at the same instant. Her head fell back and she had to grasp a nearby chair for support. She actually cried out her pleasure. Given the fact that she hadn’t been touching herself, she was very surprised -- probably why she hadn’t clamped down on the sound as she normally would have. Thank goodness the men across the street couldn’t hear.

 But they could see.

 And they were both staring straight at her.

 Mara decided to simply ignore them. Leaving her window, she discarded her robe and curled up in her bed. Tears stung the backs of her eyes and she didn’t know why. She had no expectation that either man would profess undying love to her. She wasn’t even sure she liked either of them. But seeing them with Tamche, and especially with each other, had changed something inside her. She didn’t want either of them to be with another woman ever again. She wanted them to be with her.

 Both of them.

 And that was impossible. Even if Earth allowed such an unconventional union, the very foundation of Gothe’maran religion and society would forbid it.

 Tomorrow, she would start looking for a new sponsor at Medical Command. She was probably stuck in the house because it was provided for her, and she’d feel like a jerk asking to be moved. She would just have to figure out a way to live next to Kiril and Mikkarn, knowing they were with other women, without her heart breaking.

 She let the tears flow freely. Best to get that over with so she didn’t do it at work. How she was going to face Tamche the next day, she didn’t know. With one last sigh, she drifted off to sleep, and into the dream world that had plagued her for the past two years.

 * * *

 “ You should be with us. You belong with us, as we belong to you.” The male voices were fused together, but she would know them anywhere. Mikkarn. Kiril. Together, they were even more beautiful than when heard separately. A perfect harmony she desperately wanted to be the melody for.

 “Ah, but you are. You always have been.” Kiril’s voice at her ear sent shivers spreading through her already tingling body. His arms snaked around her middle from behind and she snuggled against his chiseled chest.

 A calloused hand found her breast and plucked the nipple gently. “Your body responds so beautifully to our touch,” Mikkarn rumbled, his mouth tantalizingly close to her left breast. The erotic puff of air as he spoke raised the fine hair all over her body. Her nipples were impossibly hard, needing his touch -- their touch.

 Desperately, she tried to pull away. “You’re both trying to consume me!” Mara gasped as Mikkarn’s clever tongue dipped into her navel with a wet lick. “I’m my own person! I say who I want. I will not be forced intoany relationship, no matterhow mutual the attraction.”

 Kiril’s growl reverberated through her body a second before his mouth fastened onto her throat. He bit -- none too gently -- before soothing the hurt with a swipe of his tongue. Mara shrieked and bared her neck even more to him, unable to resist the lustful temptation as moisture rushed from her pulsing cunt.

 “This is not just any relationship, Mara,” Kiril growled. “Our souls search for each other in every lifetime. Only the luckiest find their mate. Only the strongest love, the truest hearts, find their mate in more than one life.”

 “How can youboth be my mate? None of this makes any sense!” Mara was frantic to escape.

 Her body had other plans.

 Mikkarn’s lips found the other side of her neck, kissing, nipping. The contrast to Kiril’s more forceful touch was astounding.

 “We will come to you.” They again spoke in unison. “We will win your heart, and your soul will recognize us for what we are…”

 Mara’s neck throbbed and her hand covered the spot Kiril had bitten. Her sheets were tangled about her body and she struggled to kick free.

 Taking a deep, calming breath, she climbed out of bed and headed for the shower. Maybe she could find some peace in helping others. Maybe she could forget how wonderful it was to be in the strong arms of both men.

 Men she knew, without a doubt, she loved with all her heart.

  

  

  

 Chapter Nine

  

 The dreams were always welcome to Kiril. This one especially because he knew beyond any doubt that Mara was his -- theirs.

 Which brought along a whole new set of circumstances. As he stretched his naked body, Mikkarn stirred next to him and Kiril smiled. They had enjoyed exploring each other after the explosive coupling by the pool. Kiril got out of bed and padded silently to the window.

 “Mikkarn, did you ever think it possible to have more than one mate?”

 “Not until tonight,” he said as he joined Kiril. Mikkarn had been silent most of the time since that first mating. Now that the connection was realized, Kiril was surprised they hadn’t seen it before.

 “I understand now why I’ve always had the need to be near you all these years, even to the point of requesting to be your guard when I was second in command to General Kahn himself.” Kiril placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “You have always been very important to me.”

 Mikkarn smiled. “I know. If it hadn’t been for Mara…”

 “I know, Mik.” Kiril took a calming breath as he looked out the window, through the night, to Mara’s home. “Do you think she will understand?”

 “I suppose that is up to us. I’m still not sure of all she feels, but she is confused. She knows something is not right when she is with only one of us, but I don’t think she realizes why.”

 Kiril shrugged. “Or maybe she just doesn’t think it’s possible to love us both.”

 Mikkarn turned sharply to face Kiril. “Then tomorrow, we prove to her she can.”

 * * *

 Mara’s dreams were filled with images of Mikkarn and Kiril. Sometimes together, sometimes with her. Always, they expressed their love for each other, and for her. Even more, she knew these feelings weren’t hers alone.

 She was more confused than ever. Why was she catching their thoughts ? She had looked into the whole soul’s mate thing after Mikkarn’s reference. She wasn’t sure how much she believed, but she was hard-pressed to find another plausible explanation for her insight into the two men’s thoughts and feelings. Telepathy only existed on Gothe’mar between soul’s mates.

 Scrubbing herself vigorously, she pulled herself together. She had work to do. Her personal life would have to wait.

 As Mara left for the hospital, she couldn’t help looking toward the house across the street. Had their night been as eventful as her dreams had been?

 Shaking her head, Mara sped off. She was so in over her head!

 As she made rounds, she tried to pull herself together. It was all she could do to concentrate on her patients. Thank goodness this was Gothe’mar. Everyone was simply waiting their turn with a healing tube. All of them would be completely well by this time tomorrow. Rounds were more a habit for her than a necessity.

 Mara was charting on her last patient when the one person she didn’t want to see sauntered into the lounge. Tamche leaned casually against the doorframe.

 “Congratulations, Mara. Your… um, physical… approach to medicine has been well received.”

 Uncomfortable, Mara stood and straightened her lab coat. “Thank you.”

 Tamche smiled sweetly. “I didn’t mean it as a compliment.”

 “I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”

 Moving casually around the room, running a finger over various pieces of furniture as if anything in the room was of more importance than Mara herself, Tamche laughed softly. “Our technology makes your methods obsolete. You can never hope to make enough of an impact with anything you can do to gain the respect of Medical Command.” Finally, Tamche stopped and faced Mara from across the room. “You’re a mascot. A cute but unnecessary addition to our team. It is my opinion that you’re wasting everyone’s time and resources with archaic and barbaric equipment we will never need.”

 Mara blinked, taking a small step back. “I’m sorry you feel that way. I’d hoped to make everyone understand that Earth methods could be used as a means to improve your own.”

 “How can such a primitive culture improve on a thousand years of technical and biomedical research?”

 Mara shook her head. “I’ve been working with you for two years. Why are you doing this now?”

 “Because you need to know your place!” Tamche transformed from a smiling, if condescending, colleague into the most alien, hate-filled person Mara had ever seen. “You don’t belong here. I suggest you leave before you make the wrong people angry.”

 Mara shrugged. “I think you know I’m not going anywhere, Tamche.”

 “Oh, but I think you will.” Tamche pulled a gun from behind her back and aimed it at Mara. An Earth gun. “Killing you with a weapon of your own people will prove none of you belong here. They’ll send everyone home, but you won’t care.” Tamche smiled again, an unholy, evil smile. “You’ll be long departed from the Universe.”

 * * *

 Kiril’s attention was uncharacteristically divided. Mikkarn had spent the day in the mainframe chamber adjusting the failsafe alarms on the recently implemented interventions for human patients. Kiril had nothing to do and he tried to blame that for his restlessness. The cause of his agitation, however, lay in the fact that they hadn’t seen Mara all day.

 Kiril tried to reach for her mind, to catch some emotion from her, but he felt nothing. Knowing how focused Mikkarn needed to be, Kiril refused to bother him. Kiril was simply having a tough time accepting that he had two soul’s mates. Such was unheard of.

 Pacing down an aisle between the massive machines, Kiril stopped in his tracks. He stilled and concentrated. Something wasn’t right.

 I’m going to die. Mara’s voice was clear in his mind, her extreme fear calling out to him.

 “Mik! Mara’s in trouble!”

 The other man was already sprinting from the other end of the cavernous chamber.

 “Go, Kiril! I’ll follow!”

 Not pausing even a moment, Kiril hurried through the three security checkpoints, reaching for Mara as he went.

 Where are you, Mara?

 He didn’t hear her voice, but he caught images of her surroundings… and her attacker. Tamche !

 The room was familiar, thank the Universe, and he ran as quickly as he could, shoving people out of his way. When he reached the door he was sure led to Mara, he didn’t stop to collect himself, or to wait for help. He simply disengaged the lock and burst in.

 A mistake he only hoped he lived to regret.

  

  

  

 Chapter Ten

  

 Mikkarn wasn’t far behind Kiril. The simple fact that Kiril had to maneuver through the crowded halls ensured that. When Kiril reached the door to the lounge, Mikkarn expected to be able to catch up. Instead, Kiril opened it and roared inside.

 His battle cry was cut short by a loud BANG , and Kiril halted abruptly.

 Mara screamed and lunged for Tamche.

 “Mara! Don’t!” Mikkarn’s cry was frantic.

 It was too late. Mara already held Tamche’s wrist above her head, struggling with the gun. Not waiting on the outcome, Mikkarn simply grabbed Tamche from behind with one hand and the gun with the other. Tamche struggled wildly and Mikkarn wasn’t sure how long he could hold her.

 Before Mikkarn could decide what to do, Mara landed a punch to Tamche’s jaw, effectively knocking the kicking, screaming woman out cold.

 “Kiril,” Mara whispered, and she turned deathly pale.

 Turning around, Mikkarn watched as Kiril fell to his knees, his eyes wide, his skin pale and glistening with sweat. Blood oozed steadily from a wound to the right side of his chest. Mikkarn could hear a sickening sucking sound with each breath Kiril took.

 Mara was at Kiril’s side in a flash. Pulling a small pair of bandage scissors from her pocket -- she had always insisted on carrying items she would normally have used if she were on Earth -- she cut away his shirt. Removing her lab coat, she wadded it into a ball and pressed it to Kiril’s chest. “Hold this.”

 He activated the communication unit on the wall as he followed her instructions, cursing the need to remove his personal comm device when he’d entered the mainframe chamber that morning. They would have to wait precious seconds before help arrived.

 Mara searched the room methodically until she found a sandwich wrapped in plastic. Carefully unwrapping it, she tossed the food aside and knelt beside Kiril. “Remove the dressing.”

 Mikkarn did. Blood still oozed, but not in great amounts. The gurgling sound persisted.

 Mara carefully placed the plastic over the small wound in Kiril’s chest. “Hold that by the edges.”

 Again, Mikkarn did her bidding as she dug through those ever bulging pockets until she came out with a roll of tape. Tearing three long strips, she taped the plastic down at three edges.

 “We need to get him to a healing tube,” Mikkarn stated as several Medical Command personnel entered the room.

 “No, really?” Mara’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “I never would have guessed.”

 “Are you always such a bitch in a crisis?”

 “Only when people state the obvious.”

 Kiril moaned and both bickering doctors turned their attention back to him. “If I make it through this, I’m putting you both over my knee.” Kiril’s voice was weak, but Mikkarn couldn’t help but smile.

 Mara’s soft bark of laughter sounded suspiciously like the beginnings of a sob. “If I let Mikkarn make it through this, I’ll help you spank him.”

 Mikkarn grasped Mara’s arm firmly, a gesture meant to comfort. “Let’s get him on the stretcher.”

 * * *

 “Faster! Move it!” Mara tried to hurry the three men who had responded to Mikkarn’s call for help into pushing Kiril’s stretcher faster , but they refused to listen to her.

 “This hospital is full of people, Doctor.” One of them, a big, burly man, spoke calmly. “Commander Kiril will be fine when we get him to the healing chamber.”

 “Where’s Mikkarn?” She had lost him after they’d loaded Kiril and started off with him. How dare Mikkarn abandon her and Kiril!

 “He’s calling ahead to make sure the healing tube is readied,” the same burly officer explained patiently. He pushed the stretcher at the impossibly slow pace, as though he had all the time in the world. He sounded like he was talking to a child, which only annoyed Mara more.

 “Do you even understand the seriousness of his wounds? His lung has collapsed, possibly both lungs, if the bullet ricocheted inside him. He could very well die without immediate intervention.” Mara knew she wasn’t getting through to the man. She only hoped nothing delayed them from getting him to a damned healing tube.

 Gritting her teeth, Mara decided her best course of action was to go ahead of the stretcher and clear the way. They were about halfway to their destination when a sudden surge of panic almost brought her to her knees. The damn tubes are full ! Mikkarn’s intense emotion caught her up in the maelstrom and she screamed her rage, never questioning the certainty of what she now knew, or how she knew it.

 “No! Fucking hell! I knew something like this would happen!” Mara stopped the stretcher and shoved it in the opposite direction. Toward the ER.

 “What in the Universe are you doing, Doctor?” Big and Burly asked. “I thought you were anxious to get Commander Kiril to the healing chamber?”

 “It’s full and he can’t wait.”

 “What do you mean it’s full? There’s always a place for the very sick and injured.” He redirected the stretcher, again heading them in the opposite direction.

 “Would you listen to me? We’ve got to get him to the Emergency Room. It’s the only place that has the equipment I need!” Mara was becoming desperate. Where the fuck was Mikkarn?

 “This is not the time for you to play the hero, Doctor.” Big and Burly sounded impatient. “I’m sure you’ve learned much, but I will not let you endanger Commander Kiril with your barbaric medicine.”

 Mara didn’t even bat an eye. She picked up the first object she saw -- a chair -- and swung it with all her might at the hulking guard. The other two guards immediately moved to subdue her when Mikkarn’s authoritative voice commanded them to stop.

 “You will bloody well do what she tells you to! More than half the tubes are down for upgrades and there is no place to put Kiril.”

 “It’s about fucking time!” Mara snapped. “Help me!”

 “You two --” Mikkarn indicated the remaining two guards, “-- see to him. Get him to the ER as quickly as you can.”

 Kiril was deathly pale, his lips taking on a faint bluish tinge. Mara led the way, as she and Mikkarn heaved the stretcher into motion. When they wheeled Kiril into the ER at breakneck speed, several nurses looked to Mikkarn for instructions.

 “Get Dr. Jensen whatever she needs.” Mikkarn hooked Kiril up to various monitors as Mara cut away the rest of his clothes to look for more injuries.

 “I need the chest cart.” Detaching herself from everything but her patient, Mara didn’t look up. She needed to know exactly what she was dealing with, and she needed to do it effectively. No distractions of any kind.

 “What’s she going to do, Doctor?” The fresh-faced nurse watched in fascination as Mara gowned up.

 “Just do what she says. Seconds count.” Mikkarn was actually wondering the same thing. He couldn’t fault the nurse for asking.

 “OK.” Mara turned to Mikkarn. “Here’s the deal. Kiril’s most obvious injury is an open pneumothorax. The bullet caused an opening in the pleural space and his right lung has collapsed, making adequate air exchange impossible.”

 “I know what it is, Mara. How do we fix it?”

 Mara felt her face heat up in her embarrassment. “Sorry.” Moving to a cart in the corner of the room, she started looking for the supplies she needed. This archaic equipment was the only thing that could save Kiril now.

 “We have to drain the air and blood, if there is any, so the lung can fully expand again.”

 Mikkarn rolled his eyes skyward. “Again, that’s obvious. How do we do it?”

 “Lighten up! If you had paid attention to me when I built this damned cart, you’d know,” Mara snapped. Taking a deep breath, she rolled her shoulders to relieve the tension. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m a bitch in a crisis.”

 Mikkarn smiled. “Just tell me how to help you.”

 “I want a thirty-eight French chest tube. I think there is only a pneumo, but if there’s blood in the pleural space, the larger tube will be helpful.” Turning to the nurse at Mikkarn’s side, Mara said, “I need some Betadine, size six sterile gloves, and a local anesthetic.” She pressed a button to raise the stretcher to a comfortable level for her to work. Leaning close to Kiril, she brushed her lips to his. “Hang in there. This will hurt, but when I’m through, you’ll be able to breathe easier.”

 Kiril managed a weak smile. “I trust you. Do what you must.”

 A rush of tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She absolutely could not lose this man. Looking to Mikkarn, she realized the same was true of him. She would be lost without either of them.

 Taking a deep breath, Mara spoke to the nurse again. “Do you remember how to ready the Pleur-evac? I’ll need you to do that while Mikkarn and I put in the chest tube.”

 The nurse nodded her head and pulled out the sheet of instructions, fumbling with them as she tried to set up the equipment. Thank God the English to Gothe’maran translation had been included in the package. Checking for the correct amount, the nurse filled the atrium with sterile water and hooked it to the suction device.

 Mara nodded her head in satisfaction. At least someone had paid attention to her.

 “Raise your right arm over your head, Kiril. Mikkarn, glove up.” Mara put on her gloves as well and carefully cleansed the proper area, explaining herself to Mikkarn as she went. “Imagine there is a line from the very center of his arm pit running the length of his side to his waist. We’ll call this the mid-axillary line. We want to make an incision horizontally slightly in front of this line. Count the spaces between his ribs. You want to go into the sixth space, which should be at about nipple level in a man.”

 “Would you two please stop talking about me like I’m a piece of meat?” Kiril looked annoyed, felt annoyed. “I’m not some cadaver for you to practice on, Mikkarn. Let Mara do it.”

 Mikkarn chuckled. “What? You don’t trust me?”

 Kiril snorted. “Sure I do. But I trust her more at this instant.”

 Mara tested the syringe of anesthetic. “You’re going to feel a stick, then a stinging sensation. This will numb you locally. Once I make the incision, you’ll feel some discomfort as the tube goes in, but it should be bearable.”

 Kiril nodded. His breathing was becoming more labored and his oxygen saturation was dropping slowly, but steadily.

 Mara made her cut. Quick, clean. She carefully broke through the subcutaneous tissue over the rib and punctured the tissue inside with her clamp. She swept just inside the incision with her finger to check for organs or adhesions in her immediate path. Taking the plastic-like tube in her clamp, she inserted the blunt end until about half the tube was inside Kiril’s chest. In a few seconds, condensation formed inside the tube and Mara released a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. The placement was successful.

 Hooking up the suction device, she waited a few minutes. It didn’t take long before the bluish tinge to his lips and fingernails began to pinken and his skin was less clammy. “Are you feeling any better?” Mara stroked her hand down the side of Kiril’s face.

 “Maybe. A little, yeah.”

 “His color is coming back.” Mikkarn held the tube firmly while Mara made a few sutures to hold it securely.

 “And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the low tech way to fix a pneumothorax.” Mara smiled, supremely pleased with herself.

 It wasn’t long after that the guards brought their fallen comrade into the room beside Kiril’s.

 “He’s still unconscious, Heirek?” Mikkarn glanced at the guard as he cleaned up the mess he and Mara had made with their equipment.

 “He’s in and out,” Heirek said. “She hit him pretty hard, sir.”

 “He should take the next available tube,” Mara said. “Kiril should be okay for as long as it takes. I can’t do much for a head injury.” She looked to the other two guards. “I’m sorry I hit him. Kiril needed help and he was going too slowly and in the wrong direction.”

 Heirek smiled. “No apology necessary, Doctor. You were right.”

 Mara smiled at Mikkarn as Kiril reached for her hand.

 “Thank you for saving my life, Mara.” Kiril squeezed gently. “Now, if you two would leave me alone for a few moments, I’d like to rest.” Kiril winked at Mara. I think Mikkarn needs to hold you . Kiril’s voice inside her head startled her and she jumped.

 “Quit that!”

 Kiril grinned. “But it’s so much fun.”

 Giggling, Mara took Mikkarn’s hand. “Let’s go. Let the big, bad bodyguard have his beauty rest.”

 Without a word, Mikkarn let her lead him to a private room where she took him in her arms. He held her tightly for several minutes before she realized he was crying.

 Without saying another word, Mara took Mikkarn’s face in her hands and gently pressed her lips to his. She wanted to lose herself in the pleasure of his mouth moving tentatively against hers, but she reached for Kiril almost blindly. She needed to feel the bond the three shared.

 When their kiss grew in intensity, she heard Kiril whisper, I feel complete …

 Strangely enough, she did, too.

  

  

  

 Chapter Eleven

  

 Since Kiril’s near miss two days before, Mara had struggled to come to terms with her relationship with the two men. Once she was assured Kiril was out of danger and Mikkarn no longer needed emotional support, she went back home and locked herself in to think.

 What was she supposed to do? What did she want to do? All this time, she had tried to avoid the two men in anything other than the most necessary aspect of her professional life. Now she wanted, needed , more.

 That’s it. Mara was tired of letting her wants and needs take second place. She was taking what she wanted.

 * * *

 The poolside door was open. Were they expecting her? Mara had trouble reading anything from either of them, but she suspected they were deep in their own pleasure. Entering the house, Mara paused just inside the door.

 We were wondering when you’d finally show up. Mikkarn’s voice was full of love and laughter.

 Come upstairs. Kiril’s deeper, seductive voice beckoned her. There’s something you’ll want to see .

 Mara mounted the stairs quickly, following the sounds of masculine moans. Anticipation coursed through her and her nipples and cunt tingled. Finding a door at the end of the hallway slightly ajar, she slowly pushed it open. The very large bed dominated the room. The men upon it captured Mara’s attention like nothing else.

 Mikkarn lounged naked on his back. Kiril knelt above him, his big body also gloriously naked.

 “Have a seat, Mara.” Kiril’s rumbling voice elicited a warm gush of moisture from her pussy and she whimpered as she sat in the oversized chair across the room. “Watch,” he whispered.

 Mara did watch, fascinated, as Kiril’s thick erection disappeared into Mikkarn’s mouth. Kiril’s head fell back and the veins stood out on his neck. Both men groaned their pleasure. Kiril’s shallow strokes became deeper, and faster. Mara couldn’t resist the urge to cup her swollen breast.

 “That’s it. Turn yourself on,” Kiril ground out through clenched teeth. “Your turn is coming.”

 Straddling Mikkarn’s face, Kiril lowered himself to rest his weight with hands flat against the mattress, his face inches from Mikkarn’s groin. Without breaking eye contact with Mara, Kiril lowered his mouth and enveloped Mikkarn’s long, hard cock.

 Kiril hummed as he sucked. That sound, punctuated by the occasional groan from both Mikkarn and Mara, filled the room, along with the scent of clean sweat, musky male, and a delicately sweet feminine smell. Not unpleasant at all.

 While they pleasured each other, and her, if from a distance -- she knew this was more for her benefit than their own -- Mara took the opportunity to examine each man for the first time up close. Approaching them silently, she looked her fill.

 Mikkarn’s lean body was firmly muscled. The fine hair covering most of his body was as blond as the hair on his head. Even the coarse nest covering his sex was a pale, golden blond.

 Kiril was very heavily muscled. Mara noted several scars on his big body and knew he had experienced many battles, some of them probably on Earth. Rolling off Mikkarn, Kiril stood at the edge of the bed, positioning himself between the other man’s legs. Mikkarn moved to the edge, spreading his thighs and bending his knees. Mara saw clearly the more recent scar on Kiril left by Tamche, and shuddered in remembrance.

 “Do not think of such unpleasantness,” Mikkarn said. “You saved him and Tamche cannot hurt him, or you, ever again. I seriously doubt she will ever get out of prison given the circumstances.”

 “You read my mind so easily.” Mara spoke softly, mesmerized by the sight before her as Kiril squeezed a generous amount of lubricant into the palm of his hand and stroked himself until his cock gleamed with the thick gel.

 Mikkarn hissed as the head of Kiril’s cock slid into his ass. “You can do the same with us. You just have to reach for it.”

 Kiril pumped into Mikkarn with slow, steady, ever-lengthening strokes. Mara did as Mikkarn instructed and reached for his mind. The pleasure was incredible, from the fullness pressing into his ass, the pressure building in his cock and balls, and from knowing Mara enjoyed what she saw. She also felt a lingering darkness in his soul, something she knew would take time to heal.

 Resting a hand on Kiril’s arm, she halted his movements. “There is sadness within you. Your soul is as dark as Kiril’s appearance. Why do you blame yourself when others die?”

 Mikkarn blinked. “I do not blame myself.”

 “Liar,” Kiril and Mara said in unison.

 Mikkarn chuckled. “Ok, so maybe I just think that with all the technology we have at our disposal, no one should ever die of anything other than old age.”

 “Well.” Mara crawled up on the bed and stretched her body out next to Mikkarn’s. “By learning what I tried to teach you, you’ve made a step in the right direction. But let me tell you something.” She took his face in her hands, gently. “You have god-like power with healing, but you are not God. No matter what you do, no matter what you know, people will always die. It’s all part of the circle of life.”

 Kiril gave a shallow thrust and Mikkarn cried out in surprise and pleasure. “Perhaps there is more you can teach us, Mara. But right now, there are more important things I’m concerned about. Like just how many ways the three of us can fuck before we pass out from exhaustion.”

 Mara lowered her mouth to Mikkarn’s and slipped her tongue inside, tasting, teasing. This was what she had been missing all her life and never even realized it. She had truly come home.

 Losing herself in the passion of both men, she opened her mind to their cravings. Each wanted the other, each wanted her. Breaking her kiss, Mara stood and disrobed. It was past time they did this for real instead of in the strange dream world she visited every night.

 “Stretch out on top of Mikkarn with your back against his chest.” Mara never hesitated. She trusted both men implicitly. Carefully, she straddled Mikkarn’s hips and lay back until the back of her head rested on his shoulder, her legs on the outside of Mikkarn’s. Mikkarn cupped her breasts as Kiril, firmly imbedded within Mikkarn, grasped her legs and lifted, hooking her knees over his shoulders, grasping her ass in his hands. Her shoulders supported the rest of her weight where they lay on Mikkarn’s chest and his knees helped to support her when he rested his feet on Kiril’s rock-hard stomach. With a wicked grin, Kiril dove straight for her pussy.

 Mara gave a sharp yelp and arched her back. Her ankles hooked together behind Kiril’s neck, and she levered herself against his mouth, seeking the friction she needed.

 Mikkarn’s arms roamed her body, stroking, plucking her impossibly hard nipples, caressing her hips and ass as she sought her pleasure. “That’s it, sweet. Fuck his mouth.”

 Mara was drowning in a sexual haze. Her climax, when it hit her, seized her muscles and took her breath. As she neared the peak, she screamed. She released every pleasure she had ever held back in that one gloriously hedonistic orgasm. Her breath coming in little gasps, her body drenched in sweat, she still wasn’t satisfied. She wanted what she had denied herself for two long, torturous years. She wanted these men to fuck her senseless.

 * * *

 As the glory of Mara’s climax faded, Kiril gently unwrapped her legs from around his neck. With Mikkarn holding her hips, Kiril once more spread her legs to rest outside Mikkarn’s, exposing her to them both. Carefully, Kiril guided Mikkarn’s cock inside her still pulsing pussy. Mikkarn, his knees still bent, repositioned himself so that his feet were supported by the bed and gave an experimental pump, pushing his cock even deeper into her. Mikkarn’s pleasure magnified his own and Kiril clenched his jaw to keep from taking his own pleasure. Not now. Not yet.

 “She’s so fucking tight !” Mikkarn gasped as he gave another experimental thrust, carefully, always mindful of Kiril’s cock still deeply embedded within his ass.

 “As are you,” Kiril rumbled as he held Mara’s knees against his chest, and started the steady, gentle rhythm once again. His motion drove Mikkarn’s cock into Mara as he pulled her legs to him with each thrust of his body. He effectively fucked them both. Once he sensed they were all comfortable with the new, complicated position, he started to thrust faster, more forcefully. Before long, their rhythm was a driving force, longing to plunge them over the edge of sanity.

 Mikkarn grunted, Kiril growled, and Mara whimpered. As one, they came in a glorious fountain of bliss, the pleasure so intense Kiril actually saw stars. Maybe even a couple of comets and planets as well. No one spoke words of undying love -- they didn’t have to. All they had to do was reach for the others’ thoughts and feelings and it was there. And they did love each other. Passionately.

 When their spasms had ceased, when their bodies had no more to give, Kiril withdrew and cleansed himself. When Mara rolled to her side, sliding off Mikkarn’s softening cock, Kiril washed her and Mikkarn as well. Climbing back into bed on shaky legs, he snuggled close to Mara, who was sandwiched once again between them.

 For the first time in his life, everything made sense. He would never be without Mikkarn, he wouldn’t have to worry about Mara leaving. They were mates. The love they felt for one another was incredible, and Kiril knew it would never fade. Sighing, completely happy and knowing his mates were as well, Kiril closed his eyes and slept.

  

  

  

 Marteeka Karland

  

 Marteeka makes her home in Kentucky with her brat husband and her darling son. (Or is that the other way around?) Family has always and always will be her passion in life. She works as an Emergency Room Technician and has for the past eight years.

 She has been writing for most of her life, but has only recently realized her potential when she found erotic romance. This genre opened up a whole new world of possibilities for Marteeka and she is thriving on the endless promise of what is to come. Science Fiction has been her favorite topic since she saw her first episode of ‘Star Trek.’ Now she combines Sci-Fi with erotic romance and feels she has found her place in the writing world.

 Marteeka welcomes comments from her readers. You can contact her at mkarland@net-power.net.
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