Collateral Trade (14 page)

A large hand reached over her shoulder and slammed the door shut. “I said, strip.”

“As in naked?”
Well, duh… what do you think the macho ass means?

“Except for your collar, of course.”

“This is so not happening. You’ll have to rip it off me.” Sharell watched his eyes flash dark, and then soften to almost tan. “Get away from me.” She tried to duck under his arm, and he caught a fistful of her hair. Sharell swept a long leg out to kick him, and he caught her ankle. Tian sent a blast of calmness into her and her other leg threatened to buckle. “No fair double teaming. You said you were staying out of this.”

“I said I help communication. Right now, Chaya, our family leader, has communicated he wants you to strip.” Tian felt Chaya’s building passion with his first major influx of dominance. “I suggest you do as he has ordered.”

Sharell was sunk. She was exhausted from fighting Chaya, and Tian’s calming voodoo was melting her. Her fingers released her grip on the hand Chaya had wound through her hair. “Fine.” He dropped her leg. Angry tears sprung from her eyes and she reached for the hem of the shift. “If ordering me around makes the two of you feel so damn good about yourselves, well, just fine.” She tossed the shift towards the couch and swiped her cheek. It pissed her off to cry, but she always did when she was this angry. “Now what? Is this enough punishment for you?”

“Lie down on the bed.”

“You said you couldn’t… oh fine.” Sharell stormed over to the large bed, climbed on, and pulled the blanket over herself. She looked at Chaya’s face and tossed it off again. “Fine. Feel better about yourself, Mr. Control Freak?”

She is still raging inside, but I sense a flicker of desire I don’t think she is aware of yet.

Be prepared to help, Tian. I want her passion overloaded with need for us.

A wise course, Chaya.

“Dammit, stop that.” Sharell’s body turned to gelatin with the calmness Tian threw at her and her head swept towards him. “And
you
, stop that. Let me be pissed off if I want to be.”

“There’s no reason for you to be angry,” Tian replied.

“I’m lying on your bed naked except for a collar, being bombarded with Mr. Mushyfeeling’s voodoo and Mr. Macho Butthead’s demands. My planet has exploded, and my best friend is on her way to a piece of shit landfill. I’m not in the mood for warm and fuzzy.”

Warm and fuzzy?
Tian thought of small animals on planet, but he did not think this was right. He glanced at his brother.

No clue. Maybe it’s like a hat?
Chaya watched her thumb stroke the edge of the blanket and he longed to feel her hands on him. He walked over to the bed and stared down at her.
She’s so beautiful, even when she’s angry. Her green eyes flash like brezan jewels.
He sat next to her running his fingers through her hair, letting her wind down.

There is some fear and confusion on the edges, with desire feeding the feelings.

For me and my touch, or you and your push?

A combination of both, I think, though I have pulled back a lot of my influence. She’s exhausted… even more so than last night.

Her rage has tired her.

Sharell knew they were communicating again. She was beginning to think it was as natural to them as breathing, and not something they could stop doing without concentrating. Chaya’s eyes were dimming from anger, at least. She suspected Tian’s were lightening, as well. “I don’t know what else you want from me.”

“Your outburst is finished?” Chaya asked. This would be something she must control on planet. He could not have her trying to match wills against him and suggesting he could not lead their family. No doubt unbonded Casiqua mate twins would challenge for the opportunity to claim her.

“Why is it I have to learn your ways, and mine don’t matter?” Sharell rolled onto her side and shivered when Chaya’s hand continued stroking her hair down her rib cage to her hip.

His eyes darkened for just a moment, but Sharell thought she sensed passion instead of anger. “Because
we
did not blow up our planet.”

“That’s not fair. I had nothing to do with that.”

“It is within your species to be so destructive, and it would upset our balance.” His fingers brushed over her nipple and his balls tightened.

Tian joined them, lifting one of her arms and caressing it. “You are under the impression we are rigid and have no creativity or spontaneity. This is not true, Sharell. We have artists, musicians, weavers and such. The most lovely and inspiring pieces are created by our women.”

“But you have no books, other than your scrolls.”

“No, there are no books.” Tian gazed into her eyes and she gasped with a soaring feeling of wonder. “It is because we live our adventures, Sharell. We don’t need to create fantasies that cannot compare to what we experience. Even Chaya and I have pieced together wonderful times, after living under the shadow of our first twin brothers.”

Chaya removed his clothes during Tian’s speech and stretched out behind her. His arm wrapped around her and fingers moved up her belly and ribs to her breast. Tian pulled his tunic over his head and shook his mane of blonde hair. “Um… guys?” Gads, he was gorgeous. His golden hair cascaded over bronze chest muscles and his eyes were blue glass.

Chaya nudged her hair off her neck and whispered under her ear, “You have earned punishment, Sharell.”

Her mind swirled in terror, but her bottom pressed against him while her pussy cramped with his threat. Logic told her she should be screaming to get away from them. Something deeper, instinctive, led her to certainty they would not hurt her. Tian lay in front of her and Sharell continued to gaze into his icy stare.

Tian smiled at her and ran a finger over her lips. He arched a brow in amusement. “You mean to use me to avoid punishment?”

Sharell smiled. “It crossed my mind, you being so compassionate and all.”

“Mmm… Mr. Mushyfeeling.”

“You turn me to mush.”

Chaya’s fingers were coaxing her nipple to peak. Not a tough thing to do, as she could already feel her pussy damp and itching to have him inside of her.

Tian’s lips brushed against hers. “And this is a bad thing?”

Oh shit
. “No. It’s just weird having you screw with my emotions.”

His lips settled onto hers and his tongue reached out to trace her mouth. He pulled back and murmured, “Have you been hurt by my influence?”

“I don’t like being controlled.”
Shit
. Chaya rolled her nipple like a pebble, pinching harshly and then rubbing the pad of his finger over the swollen tip. At the same time, his fingers massaged her breast with gentle pressure. He kept brushing his lips on her neck and his warm breath breezed her ear. She closed her eyes for a moment, imagining how his magnificent body must look cradled behind her.

Tian’s hand traced the path down her side and over her hip. Her thighs pressed together and she pushed herself further into Chaya’s groin. His shaft was rock hard and nestled in the crevice of her bottom, pulsing occasionally and making her squirm. Tian’s fingers trailed over her belly, reaching down. Sharell held her breath and her lips trembled against his.

The assault on her body was overwhelming, and she finally sucked in air. Tian kissed the side of her mouth while Chaya kept playing with her nipple and squeezing her breast. His lips and tongue stroked her neck while Tian’s fingers sifted through the damp curls of her pussy. Her hips rocked forward when he ran his finger between her labia, and every nerve in her body jolted when it brushed over her clit.

Her channel clenched around a finger.
Tian’s
, she thought.
Shit, what’s happening to me?
The two and a half year dry spell on the Manerea seemed like a distant memory. She pressed into Tian’s hand while trapping Chaya’s cock between her thighs, rubbing herself against hands, fingers, and lips. Her breaths came in shallow panting gasps and her body began to quiver with her impending climax.

And then, everything stopped. Chaya gave her nipple a pinch and both men kissed her quickly while their hands deserted her. Sharell shook her head and her half-lidded eyes opened to Tian’s smile.

“Punishment, Sharell,” Chaya’s voice whispered from behind her.

“You have got to be kidding. Over two years I’ve been doing without, and now you alien creeps are teasing me?”

“Punishing,” Tian reminded her. “You were warned.”

Sharell rolled onto her stomach. “Fine. I’m warning
you
. This is not going to work.”

Chaya ran a finger down her spine and she quivered. “By the way, our father does not punish this way. It is best to avoid angering him.”

The twins curled towards her, each wrapping an arm around her and settling to sleep. No matter which way she turned her head, she was facing one of them. They were as opposite as day and night, and yet each excited her more than any man she had ever met.
And I can have both of them. God, what am I thinking? It’s just two years dealing with this space nonsense. It’s screwed with my mind. Yes, that and the time in the cave. No wonder I’m batty.

She turned and faced Chaya. His strong jaw and full lips were mesmerizing, though even in sleep he was intimidating. Sharell reached out and ran her fingers through his hair. It looked coarser than it felt and slid easily through her hand. Her fingers brushed along his bicep. His skin was warm, and the muscle underneath tight. Her hand swept across his chest and her thighs clenched.

Chaya’s eyes opened and he smiled into her shocked green stare. Quickly turning her head towards Tian, she was met by his ice blue gaze. Both men tightened their arms around her.

And I’m supposed to relax like this?
Sharell closed her eyes and felt Tian’s soothing brush waving her to sleep. “Stop that,” she sighed. She drifted off with his lips pressed against her forehead.

Just as the morning before, Sharell woke alone, staring over an empty pillow at the wall. More than ever, she needed to get away from them and sort out her feelings before she lost her willpower to fight them. The thought of stowing away aboard the spaceship made her queasy. If she followed their instructions she could go onto the planet and finally put her feet on solid ground.

Sharell decided it would be easier and far preferable than staying on the Cathisis. Tian could sense her feelings, but Sharell did not think he could read her thoughts. The two men would probably be encouraged if she followed their training while acting interested in her new home.
It just won’t be an act. I really need to know what’s down there before I run.

“You’re awake?”

It was Chaya’s deep rumble instead of Tian, which made sense because Tian could tell when she woke. Sharell pasted a smile onto her face and rolled over.
Shit, he’s got my tablet again.

Chaya frowned while he scanned the writing. Sharell noted Tian was gone, and she rose with the blanket and opened the wardrobe. The simple shift was hanging with the tunics, and she slipped it on. She curled up onto the sofa and reached for fruit. “What are you reading?”

“It is a book about Dianne and Larry.”

Dianne and Larry? At least it doesn’t sound like another love triangle.
“You don’t look like you enjoy it. Why not try something else?”

“I want to discover if they ever join in bed.”

Okay, a tamer offering.
“In some books, the lovers don’t hit the sheets until the very end of the book.”

“Is this her training or preparation?” Chaya sat back in the chair and watched her mouth while she ate.

She smiled at the intense look in his eyes. He was reading the sappy love story like it was a manual or held some key to figuring her out. “Some girls like a long introduction period.”

Chaya nodded, though it was obvious he remained utterly confused. “I see. Then this Larry is preparing her well. They have joined in the car, a bathroom, an elevator, an office, a…”

Sharell burst out laughing. “Okay, not so tame.”

“Tian will know what some of those places are, but it does not sound like a bed. Do you need to join in places you are comfortable before joining in private chambers?”

“God no. I mean, some couples enjoy the chance of getting caught, but I’d prefer to keep my ‘joining’ private.”

“I prefer that, too. I don’t need other men watching your passion. It will be distracting enough to have other men watch you at the communal baths.”

The piece of red and yellow fruit froze at her lips. “The communal baths?”

“Yes. Tian is responsible for your grooming, but I will stand near for protection. I don’t think I will trust others around you for a while.” How could he? With her small stature, beautiful green eyes, waves of dark hair almost as long as his own… no, he would not force Tian to try to take all the responsibility for her.

“Wouldn’t it just be easier to find someplace private?”

“But, then no one would see you. Tian is so proud, and he is looking forward to other light twins seeing how he cares for you. It is important that others see our mate and know we have a strong family.”

Sharell nodded. “You want to show me off.” The thought pleased her, and she bit into her fruit. She could imagine Chaya standing under a palm beating his chest while Tian washed her hair.

“Family structure is important to us,” Chaya asserted.

“You want to show me off.”

Chaya looked down at the tablet. “We want to show you off.” He looked up at her. “It
is
the way we do things, but our brothers and other first twins have had mates to lead to the baths for years, flaunting their fortune in front of us.”

“That was cruel.”

“No, it is the way it is done. Tian constantly reminded me.” His dark eyes flashed in a smile. “I will not be denied my retribution.”

“So, compared with your woman, I’m okay?”