Undercover(21)

Sera had a wit about her and a mischief that drew people. None of the other women appeared to be threatened as soon as they knew she was with him and Brandt. After all, she had no need to trade down to one of their protectors. Still, Ash had had to tactfully turn aside several pointed invitations from women looking to escape Nondal.

One such woman rubbed herself over him shamelessly as she repeatedly tried to grab his crotch. Brandt hid a smirk of amusement as he glanced back now and again, never taking his eyes from Sera for more than a few moments.

Sera looked up from the knot of men who’d surrounded her and saw him, raising a brow at the woman’s behavior. He sent her a pitiful look, and she patted several arms and made her way over to him.

“Excuse me,” Sera purred, waiting for the other woman to notice she was standing there. She did, with a slight jump away from Ash, guilt on her face.

“Oh, hello, Sela.” The other woman kept her eyes down, and Sera sighed.

“Branwen, is it? Yes, that’s it. I’m going to pretend this behavior isn’t beneath us both. If you want out of here, you must use subtlety. Especially if you wish to bump another concubine or mistress out of the way. That’s not going to happen with me.” Sera fluttered her lashes at the other woman. “Now, I believe your escort is in need of a drink, and the yellow-haired girl is trying to take care of that.”

Branwen’s anger at Sera’s speech died when she heard the last bit, and she jumped up and ran off.

“Thank you, Freka. Come and sit with me to protect my honor, please.” Ash patted the couch next to him, and she rolled her eyes before sitting, curling into his side.

“You’re going to have to be a big boy and protect yourself. Whatever will you do when I’m gone?” Her tone was teasing, but Ash’s brow furrowed.

“It’s a good thing we have no plans whatsoever to get rid of you, then, Freka.”

She waved his comment away, and Brandt sat on her other side, taking her hand and kissing each finger.

Ash felt her brush up against the link and opened to her. She leaned into him, her lips against his ear, making it look as if she were propositioning him. Instead, she spoke through the link to fill them in.

“I was able to attach the miner, but I’m not sure what I was able to procure. I did hear Stander will be here first thing in the morning, and he’s bringing a male guest. Someone no one here seems to know. Stander has referred to him as a business partner, and there will be meetings of some sort with the guest and Nondalese officials.”

It was hard to think with her so close, but the details sent his brain into analytical mode. “We’ll need to keep an eye on who this partner is. I think you’re right when you say he can’t be doing all this alone. The data they were able to procure to set up this last attack was so sensitive it had well-connected Family all over it.”

She sucked on his earlobe a moment, making it difficult for him to hold that train of thought. “I agree. The dinner tomorrow night will have this guest attending.”

He grabbed her hand and nibbled on her fingers before moving to kiss her neck and then up to her ear. “All this you got tonight?”

Her laugh was velvet seduction, rendering him harder than stone. “Never underestimate the power of breasts, even small ones.”

Brandt looked lovingly at the body parts in question and stifled a groan. “When you’re attached to them, I have no doubt.”

“Flatterer.” She spoke aloud, fluttering her lashes at him, and suddenly his need for her worked through his body, leaving him flushed.

“I think we should be making our good-nights, don’t you?” Brandt stood, holding out his hand for her to take.

“I don’t want you two to end your time before you’re ready. I was just fine over there with my admirers.”

He pulled her up and against his body. “We’re the only admirers who matter, sweet.”

“Indeed.” One of her eyebrows rose as she shot him a flirtatious smile.

Ash stood behind her, pressing her tight between them both. Well, no time like the present to be out as a threesome. “I know what you’re doing, and it’s not going to work.” His murmur was delivered against the flesh just below her ear and sent shivers down her spine.

She planted a palm in the middle of Brandt’s chest, vainly attempting to push away from him and distance herself from Ash, trying not to drown in them.

“I’m not letting you go this time, Freka. You’re mine.”

She pushed back a bit and laughed, a bit shaky. “Shall we go, or are you two planning on staying here?”

“When this is over, we’re having a long talk.” Brandt kissed her softly, reaching around her shoulders to put her wrap on. They made their good-byes, and Sera ignored the smarmy smiles the men wore. It was more than just two men sharing one woman. Two men sharing with each other was acceptable and even seen as a novelty in some quarters. Ash and Brandt had become even more desirable with the discovery of their relationship.

“I think we should enjoy the evening. Let’s take a walk.” Brandt bowed and she laughed.

Strolling down the wide plaza lined with trees and flowers, they headed back to their quarters. Each man had one of her hands, and it made her feel cherished and imprisoned all at once. She wanted to believe her feelings, wanted it to be an expression of how they truly felt, but she knew the danger in that and tried to remember reality. She’d locked up the link, needing the mental space from them, but she knew they’d only be patient so long.

“It’s lovely here. There seem to be quite a lot of outlanders here right now, though, I noticed.” Ash spoke casually as his eyes flicked around the area, taking it all in.

“Apparently now is the height of the year for the lights. It’s sort of a mini-tourism season for them, and the visitors then move on to Ceres.”

Brandt looked at her, surprised. “That’s interesting. I didn’t know that.”

She laughed. “People tell beautiful women things all the time. One of my admirers tonight was a sort of tourism minister. He’d love to create a resort, apparently, just for outlanders to come and watch the lights. He wanted to sell packages for connections to Ceres as well. Isn’t that clever?” The minister seemed very unconcerned about their proximity to the frontier. She’d faked a bit of nervousness about the Imperialists, but he’d waved it off far too comfortably.

“Yes. But I’m surprised they’d think so, this close to the frontier and all.” Ash’s eyes flicked over her quickly and then away once she’d nodded nonchalantly, answering his inferred question.

“Yes, darling. It’s so awfully close to the Imperialists. I’d be frightened if you two weren’t with me. But he assured me it wasn’t a problem. He said he’s got the support of powerful friends near the Center. I suppose that’s very clever.” She looked up at Brandt, wide-eyed.

“Brandt? Is that you? Ash?”

Both men froze at the sound of the female voice and slowly turned, bringing Sera around with them.

“Kira, what are you doing here?” Brandt let go of Sera’s hand and went to embrace the beautiful, ebony-haired woman. The woman who was once Ash’s wife. The woman he’d left Sera for.

Nausea swamped Sera, but she had to keep her damned cover in place. She tried to let go of Ash’s hand, but he wouldn’t release her. Both men repeatedly pinged her through the link, but she left it slammed closed. As if she wanted to have an argument in her head with them right then. Men!

“Sera, talk to me, damn it!”

“You said you couldn’t hear me unless I let you in!” At least her anger at Ash helped her to get past the nausea.

“Not usually. But I can break through the link if I need to. In an emergency.”

“I can’t do this right now, Ash. Don’t push me. I’ve had quite enough for one day, and we need to hold my cover.”

But before he could say anything else, Kira cleared her throat as she spoke to Brandt, looking Ash up and down as she did. Her lip curled as she took Sera in.

“I’m here with Perry.” She jerked her head toward the watery version of Ash who stood next to her, eyeing Sera like he was a hungry animal. “We’ve been at Ceres and are on our way back home. What are you two doing here?”

“We’re here to see the lights. We knew it would be something Sela would enjoy.”

“Sela? I suppose that’s the name of your little plaything? Or is she Brandt’s? Ash, really, you need to get over it already and remarry.”

Sera felt better when she dug her nails into Ash’s hand, and he winced. Brandt took a step back to Sera’s side, brushing her hair over her shoulder.

“Her name is Sela Carter. Sela, this is my sister, Kira Pela-Walker.”

Kira stepped back, her hand over her chest. “Brandt! How dare you? It’s bad enough you’ve had her in my presence and she’s looking at me. I’d certainly never lower myself to speak to her.”

Sera took a deep breath and yanked her hand free of Ash before turning and heading away. They both called to her through the link, but she ignored it.

Less than two minutes later, with the guesthouse in sight, Ash caught up with her, grabbing her around the waist and turning her in one easy movement. She had to fight her natural urge to defend and repel. She’d pushed it far enough by walking away, but there was no way she could have continued to stand there facing that horrid woman.