Mastering Their Human Read online

  “Our lives have been redefined. The expectations of Earth no longer apply. It would take a lifetime with a human man to build the sort of bond Mal Ton and I enjoy. I’ve been inside his mind where there are no barriers and no pretense. I know who he is and I’m honored to share my future with him.”

  “Has being with Mal Ton given you unusual abilities?”

  “The short answer is yes.” Lorelle searched her gaze, obviously guessing the reason for the question. “Have you picked up abilities from the overlord? I didn’t think he was a mutant.”

  “He’s not.” She fidgeted beneath her sister’s perceptive stare. She better get used to shocking people unless she intended to hide the nature of her relationship. And that was one thing she was unwilling to do. “Kellan and I have formed a bond with Sean. I understand what you mean about knowing Mal Ton because I’ve experienced the exchange with both my lovers.”

  “You, Kellan, and Sean?” Lorelle’s soft gasp gradually turned to a reluctant chuckle. “And I thought I’d been swept away by this place.”

  Brianna couldn’t fault her sister for her shock. If someone had told her a month ago she would be involved in a committed ménage she would have laughed and discarded the notion as preposterous. The concept of having two male lovers had long been a fantasy, but she’d been unable to find one man who stirred more than superficial interest, much less two.

  “This place presents challenges you’ll never find on Earth,” Brianna said softly, and Lorelle nodded in agreement. “We’ve been interacting with a being who has no physical body. At one point she felt I was being too closed-minded, so she opened my mind to the emotions of others.”

  The shock returned to Lorelle’s gaze. “You’re empathic?”

  “Sean was barely able to stabilize the opening. Until he did, I thought it was going to kill me or drive me crazy at the very least. It was one of the most painful things I’ve ever endured.”

  “Where is this entity now? Did Sean kill it?”

  “We’re not sure. It might have escaped while Sean was healing me.”

  “The spirit? That’s what you call it?” It was Brianna’s turn to nod. “What does this creature want?”

  “It seems like we both have a lot of catching up to do. Why don’t we sit down and fill each other in on everything that’s happened since we were separated.”

  The men joined them and the couples sat on couches facing each other off to one side of the large room. Brianna and Kellan kept their explanations simple and impersonal. Brianna suspected Lorelle and Mal Ton were doing the same.

  “Do either of you know Sarah?” Brianna asked as they reached the present conflict.

  “I’ve met her, though I don’t know her well,” Mal Ton explained.

  A sudden spike of hostility shot through Kellan. Brianna looked at him then followed the direction of his narrowed gaze to the man approaching them from across the large, shadowy chamber.

  Dressed in a tunic and pants similar to those worn in the black zones, the newcomer carried himself with the authority and confidence generally accompanied by genuine power. Red highlights shone in his dark hair and his features were sharp yet attractive. As he drew nearer, his eyes caught the flickering torchlight and revealed their light green shade. Pale yet intense, his gaze shifted from Kellan to her and back to the overlord.

  “Fane,” Kellan greeted, not bothering to stand.

  “Kellan,” Fane returned, omitting Kellan’s title.

  This should be fun.

  Before the hostility could boil over, Fane turned to her and extended his hand. “Welcome to the Underground, Miss San Carlos. I’m glad you’ve finally found your way back to your sister. She’s been extremely worried about you.”

  “I was worried about her too. Are any of the other humans still on Protaria?” Sean hadn’t known the answer and the question hadn’t come up during the info exchange with Lorelle.

  “Karris is still here. Allen Lansky was able to extract the Chrysalis nanites from her body, but she’s in for a long recovery.”

  “What are the Chrysalis nanites?” Kellan asked. Brianna had known that the project involved nanites, but she hadn’t known they had a name.

  “The Chrysalis project was the reason Howyn brought the humans here to Protaria.” Fane stood at the head of the couches, hands clasped behind his back. “He needed biological hosts who hadn’t been affected by the lentavirus. The humans possessed the added benefit of their arrested aging cycle. He hoped to reproduce their genetic anomaly and incorporate it in future generations. However, things went to hell when Max intercepted the ship. The humans were exposed to the virus before they could be inoculated, so Howyn very nearly lost his hosts before they could be implanted with the Chrysalis nanites.”

  “Was Karris the only one who received the nanites?” Kellan’s brow creased and he added a second question before Fane could answer the first. “What do these nanites do?”

  “The nanites store and amplify mutant energy, thereby empowering the host with paranormal abilities. The result was temporary but impressive.”

  “Were the nanites destroyed?” Brianna wanted to know.

  “Of course.”

  “What use do mutants have for such nanites when they already have paranormal abilities?” Kellan crossed his legs, resting his ankle on his knee, his foot tapping in midair.

  “Were all the nanites recovered, or is someone out there picking up where Howyn left off?” The sick feeling in the pit of her stomach told her the answer before Fane confirmed her suspicion.

  “Howyn’s lab had been raided when we got there. Unless Kellan or one of his warlords was responsible for the raid, there is still a very real threat out there somewhere.”

  “The only thing I recovered from the lab was Brianna,” Kellan asserted. “At the time I thought she was part of what was going on. By the time my backup arrived, someone else had beaten us to it.”

  “Do you have any leads? Any suspicions?” Brianna asked.

  “My bet was on Nehalem Bryson, but she booked passage on a luxury liner. If she has the nanites, she took them off-world without realizing they won’t do her any good. The nanites are programmed for a very specific type of energy and it’s only found on Protaria.”

  “Has there been any attacks? Any indication that someone else has been injected with the nanites?” Kellan asked.

  Fane shook his head. “Nothing. It has been frighteningly quiet. Usually a calm like this indicates a coming storm.”

  Kellan nodded. “Was Howyn really arrested, or was the news of his arrest some sort of ploy?”

  “No, it was real. I worked with Director Krentz from the Interplanetary Consortium to make sure the charges will stick. General Bryson will likely be given a lighter sentence. He’s provided much of the evidence we needed to move forward, but he will be held accountable for his part in the corruption.”

  “Then who’s running Sanctum?” Kellan scooted to the edge of his seat, his attention fully engaged. “With Howyn and Bryson both out of commission it must be chaos.”

  “I’ve tried not to care,” Fane told him. “The elite haven’t given a damn about our problems. It’s hard to feel anything for them. But…”

  “He’s mated to Howyn’s daughter Cassie,” Mal Ton provided with a warm chuckle. “Talk about unlikely couples.”

  “Cassie has helped me see beyond my prejudice. I’m as closed-minded about the elite as most of the elite are about mutants. The people of Sanctum are in need of strong leadership right now and it’s not going to come from Howyn’s board of directors.” He paused for a moment and stared at Kellan. “It might be time to revisit your proposal.”

  Kellan shot to his feet. “When I proposed an alliance before, you all but laughed in my face. You disregarded the United Territories and everyone in them as carelessly as any of Howyn’s elitist pigs.”

  “I was trying to keep the Underground compartmentalized, to make sure we were as p
rotected as possible.” Fane didn’t back down, but his tone was carefully modulated, his expression approachable. “Your people are scattered and you deal with too many different leaders. I saw no benefit for joining forces with you then.”

  “Why bring it up now? You obviously haven’t reassessed your opinion of my people. You think you’re better than we are. You’re as bad as Howyn!”

  Brianna stood and placed her hand on Kellan’s tense arm. She passed tenderness across their link, hoping to calm him. His gaze didn’t shift from Fane, nor did his expression soften.

  “You’re right,” Fane said in a calm, clear voice. “I didn’t take your proposal seriously. But I’ve recently learned that people don’t have to be mutants to be extraordinary. My first loyalty was and will always be to those of us who have suffered through transformation. What I’m offering is an opportunity to look at the current situation and see if there are ways we can help each other.”

  Kellan’s nostrils flared as he wrestled with his pride. Brianna gave him a telepathic push, not bothering with specific words. He glanced at her and smiled then released a long breath. “I would welcome such an opportunity and I would appreciate whatever assistance you can give us in sorting through the current mess.”

  Fane relaxed and a smile curved his lips. “Sean mentioned some sort of spirit, but I haven’t been able to drag him away from Sarah for a more lengthy conversation.”

  His light green eyes settled on her with a sly sort of knowing and she moved closer to Kellan. There was no way in hell she was letting anyone else into her mind. “If Sean doesn’t come out soon, I’ll go get him.”

  Fane accepted her decision with a slight incline of his head.

  * * *

  Nehalem moaned as Renn pushed his cock into her aching pussy. He’d spent the past twenty minutes on his knees, driving her to orgasm after orgasm with his mouth and fingers. The preliminaries were familiar territory. Renn was the first man ever to lick her cunt and he was the standard by which she judged all others. Still, this was the first time he’d actually fucked her.

  She was on her knees now, Renn kneeling behind her. He held her hips and moved with power and control, hitting every sweet spot she possessed. It had been so long since she fucked just for the pleasure of fucking. She’d nearly forgotten how wonderful it could be.

  Wrapping his hand around her throat, he drew her torso up and turned her head sharply to the side. “Suck my tongue,” he gasped, his fingers not allowing her to refuse.

  His tongue pushed into her mouth and she obediently sucked, sliding her lips up and down as his firm strokes rocked her entire body. One of his hands moved to her breast while the other circled her hips, keeping her back arched and pressing her ass into his groin. With a ragged gasp, she released his tongue, needing air more than she wanted to please him.

  “I want you to suck Ced’s dick while I finish fucking you.” The statement came out of nowhere, emotionally blindsiding her. “It’s been a really long time since anyone showed him kindness. Will you do it for me?”

  She tensed. He was asking rather than commanding as her husband had done, but the result was still the same. “Can’t we find someone to take care of his needs?”

  Renn’s hands moved to her thighs and he drove deep, pitching her body forward. “I don’t want to subject him to another prostitute. They treat him like a freak. I want you to comfort him, to show him compassion.”

  He stopped moving and her building arousal fizzled. She locked her elbows and lowered her head, hiding within the semicircle of her hair. His hard length still filled her, teasing her with the fullness he could easily deny her. All he had to do was pull out and walk away.

  “Fine.” Shame and hollow resignation washed over her in icy waves. How could she protest after all the things she’d done with her husband? Rumors of her sexual exploits were circulating all through the mutant community. She was an energy whore. She’d fuck anyone for the rush it gave her. Why would Renn hesitate to take advantage of her services? No one else had. “Were you lying in the bar?” His answer wouldn’t change the situation, but it would be nice to know where she really stood. “Can I feed without fucking?”

  Before Renn could answer, Ced walked into view. He was still fully dressed and looked almost as uncomfortable as she felt. His uncertainty soothed the worst of her misgivings. Life couldn’t have been easy for him. He was hoping for a little comfort, same as her.

  She sighed and pushed off the floor, freeing her hands. He was passably handsome. His boyish features made it hard to determine his age. Renn hadn’t listed lip-reading among Ced’s abilities, but she suspected he was not nearly as helpless as Renn would have her believe.

  “Come here.” She motioned him closer. “I can’t very well suck your cock until we let him out to play.”

  Ced’s smile was hesitant but he stepped in front of her and untucked his t-shirt. She unfastened his jeans and reached inside his underwear, grasping his shaft. He was already hard and eager for the promised pleasure.

  Momentarily releasing his cock, she tugged his pants to his knees. He twisted away and jerked the jeans back up, frantically arranging the material until only his cock protruded from his otherwise-covered body.

  “Is that a tattoo?” She’d only caught a glimpse of the elaborate design, but it made her damn curious to see the rest. The creature’s head rested on Ced’s hip and its serpent-like body spiraled downward along his thigh. “How far down does it go? What’s the creature called?”

  “You’ve never seen a tattoo before?” Renn asked with a droll little smile. “The name of the creature is sacred, as is the meaning behind each element of the design. Maybe someday he’ll trust you enough to show you, but it’s not going to happen right now.”

  Ced stepped in front of her, irritation obvious in his crystal blue gaze. He made a hand motion she didn’t understand then looked expectantly at Renn.

  “He’d like to form a link so he can send his thoughts to your mind,” Renn explained.

  “Will he be able to hear my thoughts too?”

  “Of course.”

  “Then it’s probably a good idea.” She looked into Ced’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. What do you need me to do?”

  His expression didn’t change. His eyes narrowed and his hand lashed out, grasping the side of her face. She gasped, instinctively grabbing his wrist. His hand pushed back and his fingers curved against her skull, the nails pressing into her scalp. Power sliced into her mind. Lights danced before her eyes and her ears began to ring.

  Terrified by the sheer force of the penetration, she rocked back against Renn’s chest and tried to twist away from Ced’s hold. Renn’s arms wrapped around her, pinning her arm against her side and pressing her downward until her knees ached. His cock felt all the more intrusive and Ced leaned in, grasping her chin with his other hand, keeping her gaze firmly focused on him.

  “Don’t fight him,” Renn advised. “Relax and let it happen.”

  “Why does it hurt?” she cried. “Telepathy shouldn’t be painful.”

  Ced’s being burrowed deeper, leeching energy and leaving tendrils, twisting threads of influence, capable of destruction or control. She felt her will eroding, succumbing to his persuasion and power.

  Ced’s hands suddenly moved to her shoulders and Renn grasped her hips. Ced pulled her head down and brought his cock to her mouth. Suck me. Pleasure me while I feed.

  Compulsion swelled within her. She hungered for his cock as if it were her last meal. She eagerly sucked him inside, laving his tip with her tongue and caressing him with her lips. Ced pushed her arms back and bent her elbows, guiding them into Renn’s waiting hands.

  Renn grasped her bent arms and pulled out of her core. He didn’t go far. His blunt cock head pressed against her opening, teasing her, building the urgency. She whimpered and wiggled, trying to push back and impale herself on his teasing length.

  “You love this
,” Renn whispered. “I don’t think one cock will ever be enough to satisfy you.” He thrust his full length inside her, forcing her forward, sending Ced’s cock deeper into her mouth. She gagged then moaned as excitement swept the last of her uncertainty away.

  She was a sexual being, fully surrendered to her carnal nature. Ced’s cock slid against her tongue, feeling hot and heavy and potent. They drove in together, each cycle forcing her arousal higher, building the sensations to an unbearable intensity.

  Open the conduit. Pour your energy into me.

  Her solo attempts had been futile, but Ced was with her now. He directed her mental movements, leading her to the source of her abilities. Once the path was identified, she instinctively understood what she needed to do.

  Imagining a faucet within her mind, she grasped it with both hands and turned.

  Energy flowed out in a staggering rush. Her nipples tingled and her pussy tightened around Renn’s shaft. His hand suddenly covered her mound. His fingertip circled her clit, encouraging and rewarding her efforts. Bursts of pleasure—not quite orgasmic yet undeniably pleasant—detonated as the energy flowed. She offered herself freely, intoxicated by the transfer, ready to surrender everything.

  Now close it. A dead conduit won’t do me any good.

  His careless comment brought reality crashing down upon her. She meant nothing to either of them. To Ced she was a source of nourishment and to Renn… She was what she had always been, a receptacle for men’s lust.

  After carefully closing the conduit, physical sensations came back into focus. Ced’s presence still blazed within her mind, but he seemed more interested in sexual release than exploring his new slave. And she was his slave now. There was no escaping the truth. She could sense the tether and she understood what it meant.

  Ced grasped her hair lightly as he moved in her mouth. She maintained steady pressure with her lips, secretly hoping he would finish soon. This was too confusing. They weren’t hurting her, but she still felt degraded, objectified, and used.