Davies, Corinne - Steam-Driven Seduction [Steampunked Lust 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (18 page)

“Yes, Captain.” Connor disappeared down the hall to the communications station.

“The
Seahawk
are pirates. Why would they care about
Atlantis
?” Raz stalked over to her. When she wouldn’t look at him, he placed his hand over the map she’d been reading.

In an instant, Kass had the pistol pulled and pointed at Raz’s surprised expression. “Back off. I know what I’m doing. This is my ship, not yours, and you will follow my orders. We will contact people I trust to help us. We will fly in the direction I choose. There’s someone on
Atlantis
masquerading as one of my crew members. Julien will not expect an internal attack if he believes this man flew with us. Now, if you want to argue, then I invite you to take one of the parachutes and feel free to leave my ship.”

Raz held up both hands and stepped back. “As you wish, Captain.” His tone was filled with derision, and she didn’t doubt that he was itching to take over. Well, he could stand in line. “Gabe, do you hold the same feelings as your brother?”

“I’ll always side with my brother, Captain,” Gabe answered as Raz stood next to him. They were a formidable team, and she knew they were loyal to Julien. “But, we’ll wait till we get to
Atlantis
and see exactly what’s going on.”

“Fine.” She bent her head and continued to measure out time and distance, wanting to figure out the safest and fastest route. No matter what she came up with, the fastest route by far was the most dangerous. Miguel stepped up behind her and placed a hand on her lower back. He looked at the path she’d chosen for them. It was going to take them over a major city and a militia stronghold. With the New World’s attitude toward Old World technology, their armed forces would shoot first and ask questions later. Considering the circumstances, she needed to get there as fast as possible. If the unthinkable happened and the militia managed to shoot them down, she’d know that there were other ships en route.

“This will make for an exciting trip.” He pointed out some of the more dangerous areas she planned on crossing.

“I want us moving as fast as possible, and with a bit of luck, by the time they assemble their forces, we’ll already be gone. The militia is essentially a lazy bunch. If they don’t have any reason to think we’re trying to attack, I’m hoping they will leave us be.”

Miguel rubbed small circles on her lower back. It went a long way to calming her. She glanced over at the twins. They were whispering furiously to each other, and she feared they might be planning to take over.

“Don’t worry about them. They’re loyal to Julien and want to make certain
Atlantis
is fine. There’s a possibility we will rush back and he’ll have taken care of the situation on his own.”

“I’m hoping that’s exactly what happens.”

“Captain, I reached the other ships,” Connor said as he re-entered the bridge. “The
Seahawk
is dry docked for the moment as their missus is due to have a child. The
Apollo
is there as well. I spoke to Captain Liam and he’s readying to meet us at
Atlantis
as we speak, but they won’t be ready to go for another hour.”

“Yzzi must’ve wanted to be there for her sister.” Kass didn’t know if she had the right to ask her to leave her family at such an important time. She never had a sister who cared for her like that. But, if there was danger, she would want to know she had backup.

“Yzabeau of the
Apollo
?” Miguel chuckled. “They have as much chance of leaving her behind as I would have trying to make you stay put.”

Both Gabe and Raz walked over to the navigational table and took a look at Kass’s flight plan. Raz continued to scowl as he looked over the path. “It’s not going to matter who you have called to help. We’ll be shot down long before we make it over the water.”

“Then I suggest you fly her as well as you think you can and avoid what they might launch at us.”

Raz snorted. “They’ll never hit us.” Raz held out his hand and Kass shook it.

“Come on.” Miguel wrapped his fingers around her wrist. “There’s nothing we can do for the next couple hours except lie down and regain some strength.”

“I’ll get us to
Atlantis
, Captain,” Raz said. He didn’t look as defiant as he had before, and she wondered what Gabe had said to him for such a change in attitude. For now she would accept it because she felt so very tired. Miguel was right. She needed to lie down for a bit and re-energize.

“Alert me if anything happens or if we meet up with any other ships. Julien has a lot of allies, and we may need as many as we can get to aid us.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The twins spoke in unison and then concentrated their attention on the maps and windows in front of them.

“You have the wheel, Raz. Gabe, make certain he doesn’t get lost.”

“Yes, ma’am,” they replied in tandem, making Kass smile as she left the bridge.

Miguel was completely silent as he led the way back to
their
quarters. Kass allowed herself a small amount of pleasure, thinking of that. Part of her wanted to believe that she could stay between him and Julien forever, but her heart ached with the memory of a whip in Julien’s hand. How could she stay with a man who found pleasure in being so brutal toward another human being? She alone wasn’t enough for Julien before, and her stomach clenched at the thought of Miguel being treated so viciously. No, she couldn’t live like that. She wasn’t certain her heart would survive leaving again, but it was something she would have to do.
 

The moment they entered their rooms Miguel backed her against the door and kissed her as if it was vital to his very existence. She returned the passionate attack. Part of her knew this was Miguel’s way of avoiding what was upsetting him. He’d been silent ever since returning from the drop-off, and she’d planned to press him for information, but for now she wanted to feel and not think.

They tore at each other’s clothes, ripping what wouldn’t part quick enough as they staggered to the bed. She fell back along the mattress and kicked off her underclothes, and he pounced. Lifting one of her legs over his shoulder, he plunged his cock into her.

It was a frenetic meeting of bodies desperate for reassurance. Miguel was as concerned for Julien’s safety as she was. He would be as terrified as she was that they wouldn’t make it on time. He plunged into her body, the angle allowing him to gain a deeper penetration and have easier access to her pussy. He swept Kass along in his passion, quickly working her up into a frenzy of want and need.

His teeth were clenched, his expression almost primal in nature. It inflamed her, seeing him like this, on the border of losing control. She gripped his shoulders, curling her fingers against his skin.

“Oh yes,
mi corazón
. Scratch me, make me yours.”

Kass wanted to mark him as hers. She pressed her fingers closer and scratched him down the backs of his arms. Miguel snarled out an almost inhuman sound. “Again.” He slammed his hard cock into her again. “Punish me.”

Kass reached around his chest and clawed at his back. His eyes blazed, and he pulled out of her. Flipping her onto her stomach, he slammed into her again. A sharp smack connected against her hip, but instead of hurting it ratcheted her pleasure higher. He did it again and pistoned his cock into her.

“I’m going to tie you down, Kass, and I’ll spank your ass until it’s red if you do anything to endanger yourself. Do you hear me?”

“Yes!” She could feel the heat from his hands on her skin and wanted to feel it again. She envisioned being at his and Julien’s mercy. Instead of fearing it, she craved that moment.

“Then come on my cock and swear you will stay safe.”

“I swear, I swear!”

Miguel reached under her and manipulated her clit, stroking his roughened fingers over the swollen button of nerves. Kass screamed out her release, feeling the heart of Miguel’s as he slammed into her over and over.

They collapsed, but Miguel braced himself over her. “Lie on me, Miguel,” she whispered, “I need to feel you.”

Miguel lowered himself onto her, pinning her to the bed, trapping her underneath his body. She felt safe and secure and floated in her calm bubble until he rolled off her and tucked her up next to him. “Remember your promise, Kass. I will.”

Kass smiled. A promise made in the middle of a screaming orgasm wasn’t fair, and she would argue that as soon as she was able to form words.

* * * *

Miguel could tell by the smile that curled Kass’s lips she’d no intention on following through with his request. It was a spontaneous moment, and he knew he was setting her up. Kass would do something rash and no doubt put herself in danger at some point.

He felt as though he’d betrayed them to a certain extent. He should’ve paid closer attention to the crew on Hedon Dubrova’s ship. This Walter Miller, whoever he might be, had to have snuck on board much the same time he did. Miguel hated the fact that he’d left Julien behind unguarded.

All he could think about was being too late. He should’ve stayed behind. Kass was right. She could’ve handled this drop-off on her own. He was certain she wouldn’t have gone off with Devon and Gilbert. Once this was all settled, he was going to dig a bit deeper into the lives of those two and make certain that they were as honest as they tried to portray.

“You’re thinking so loud I can’t sleep,” Kass mumbled and pulled herself up, leaning her head on her elbow. Miguel smiled and rolled them over so that she lay on her back and he draped over her. Tucking his leg between hers, he rested his arm across her chest. He braced his elbow next to her shoulder and propped his head up. Her body relaxed even further as his partially trapped hers against the bed.
Interesting.
She’d reacted beautifully to the couple of smacks he’d given her. All pointed to her increased compatibility with him and Julien. She might never feel pleasure at the end of a whip as he did, but he didn’t want her to see it as something to be feared. He prayed that this threat turned out to be nothing and he had the ability to redeem himself.

“I’m afraid that this Mr. Miller came aboard
Atlantis
much the way I did. This entire threat may be my fault.”

Kass yawned and pulled at his shoulder. Miguel lay down and tucked his face into the crook of her neck.

“Do you know him or his plans?”

“No, of course not.”
I would’ve killed him first.
Kass stroked her fingers through the hair at the base of his neck. The movement soothed him, easing his thoughts.

“Then how can you be to blame? This hasn’t been the first time that someone has tried to attack Julien, and it may not be the last.”

“He needs better security.” Miguel thought of all the holes he noticed in the overall safekeeping of
Atlantis
. There were many ways someone as trained as him could exploit them.

“You can talk to him about that and make all the plans you two want.”

“What would you do?”

“That’s easy. Stand behind Julien and shoot anyone who comes near him.”

Miguel grinned at her simplistic answer. “In that case, I’ll stand behind you and do the same.”

“You are one of only a couple men that I would trust behind me, Miguel.” She patted his back and yawned. “I hope I didn’t hurt you.”

Miguel felt a slight sting against his back from her nails, but he loved it. She’d marked him, and he’d proudly bear her marks. “I’m fine. You’ll have to try harder next time.”

She snorted lightly but he heard the change in her breathing as she drifted off to sleep. He lay there in the quiet, listening to her breathing and the soft hum of the ship’s engines. The next couple hours would be the calm before the storm. They had no idea what they were flying into, and he didn’t like that feeling at all.

* * * *

Julien sat behind his desk contemplating how many minutes would pass before the
Aphrodite
would dock again. They had to have made the delivery by now and been on their way. Avoiding any strongholds and heavily populated areas, they had to be at least another four hours out.